HALF-A-CROWN A DAY.

NZ Truth, Issue 100, 18 May 1907, Page 6

HALF-A-CROWN A DAY.

Selling Tea for the Salvanhy.

A weird caricature of a man strode into court with giant strides the other day at Christdmrch to answer a charge of disobeying a maintenance order. His name Avas Charles William Johnston ; he showed a long, thin face, an abiuiidance of hair, and spoke m a loud tone of voice. His manner throughout the piece showed him to be an eccentric, and those m court, including the magistrate, formed the opinion that he wasn't quite right m his nut., At all events he admitted not having contributed towards the support of his wife, Grace Ellen Johnston , and that he was m arrears, but he averred that h3 couldn't help it ; he had earned no money. The order was for a weekly payment of fif'tee-n bob, but according :to defendant's statement he couldn't even earn that much to keop himself, let. along give his -missus and two children money foivtheir keep. Why woman ' marry men of this stamp is an all-fired -mystery. As an excuse Johnston said that he had got bis hand injured m a sawmill—strained, it was. So h® liad to knock; oH work there, a«d te started selling tea for the Salvation Army ; a ,'nice. light, easy job, which was played out long' ago. '•'How much did you make a day ?"• asked the Be noli. . About half-a-crown a day. And how do you live ?— Well, I live on very little, indeed. Where have you been ?— At, Timaru. That's ' where the 'bobby ga-ve me the summons.

Who did you say gave you the summons ■?— The bobby.

That is a slang word ;• you mean constable ?* ■

The wife said she had two children, and he was always making; excuses like that, and never supported them. The S.M. took up the sledge hammer of . reproof and sailed for this curious customer, bald-headed.. He said he Wouldn't allow men like him, who married and begat children and then failed to support them, to escape their lawful responsibilities. After a few more remarks m a similar strain, Mr Bishop blistered the bummer with a sentence of 21 days' gaol/