THE JOYS OF THE JACOBS.

NZ Truth, Issue 106, 29 June 1907, Page 5

THE JOYS OF THE JACOBS.

MADE HIS WIFE SLEEP IN A STABLE

While There Was Another Girl m the House.

The Girl Has Got to Go!

• A maintenance ; case listed for Court hearing at Christohurch on Tuesday presented a feature or two that lifted it out of the ordinary. Minnie Violet Jacob sued her husband, Bdward Jacobs, charging him with failing >to provide her with adequate means of support ; she was represented by Mr Hunt, Mr Cassidy appearing for the defendant. In opening, Mr Hunt, said that the couple had been acting as attendants at Haiuner Springs', and on returning, she bore a good character, and the husband the reverse. However, he obtained work at the Exhibition, but later he> made hds wife go out to toil. As soon as she made a little money he begged her to return home .; he was then carrying on with another girl. Subsequently he put has wife out, arid was now Jiving with this woman, who wasn't any better than she should be. When the wife returned she was made TO SLEEP IN THE STABLE, \vftiie the pair (and a lodger) slept inside. If defendant could keep another woman, he could could surely keep his missus. An information had been laid a few weeks ago, but it was' dismissed, the defendant offering the woman a home. ■■- • It seemied -from the complainant's evidence that they were going under the name of Kelly, but they were married m defendant's proper name, Jacobs. They arrived from Australia a few week's ago and went to Hanr mer Springs, and afterwards were at the Royal Cafe m Cforistchuroh. Wihert they started housekeeping subsaciuentlyy witness left home because another woman had been, brought m to live with them. Her name was Butterfield ; she was living apart from her husband ;• and they had met her at the Royal Cafe. Kelly (witness's husband) brought her to the house as a lodger. Witness didn't -care about her, but lived there for a long time, and then left. Later on she visited the house to make friends with hubby, but was 'unsuccessful. Secured a situation, and subsequently promised to return to Kelly if he would PUT THAT GIRL OUT. As the cause of the trouble didn't go, but was still kept on, she refused to have anything to 4° '.with Kelly, but kicked up a row with -him', chiding him for his conduct. He was then living m Victoria-street, and she got another situation, but was always on to ham- about the business. A fortnight or three weeks ago the gentleman once more approached her, and asbed her to come home on Saturday. She complied, but nobody answered the door, and a wait of three and a half 'hours followed. Then her noble hubby stated that there was no room m the house, and he put her m the stable.- There she stayed for a week, but it Was very cold, there being no fire or comforts, so she cleared out. "We were always all rig-ht together until this woman appeared 'on the scene," concluded the complainant. Mr Cassidy : How many times have you- left your (husband— thJffee or four ? —No, only once, and thai was m South Africa, and was owing to drink. We hadn't been- long married then. ' , Didn't you leave ton m Wellington? •—No, I left his company, but didn't leave the house. Didn't you bring thiis woman you complain of to your house yourself ? —No. Didn't you engage her ?— No. How long did you live there with her ?— Six or seven months. Isn't it your' idea to get maintenance out of your husband ?— Well; I must live on something. Do you know a man named Siwith who, had something to do with the Exhibition organ ■?•— No. •Did you not go ' down to New Brighton with him ?— That's not so. Or make appointments to meet him (there ?— Not correct. Haven't you .gone back to your husband, and gone away, come back, and departed again ?— I slept -there one night. I didn't think the woman would stay m the house. Magistrate Day remarked that it was a most extraordinary thing for a man to keep a ■woman m the house against THE WISHES OP HIS WIFE. She was justified m not going home under the circs. After Constable Allan, of Sydenham, had given evidence, Mrs Field entered the box and said that she knew Mrs KellT- as a respectable, hard-working woman, and had given tier a room when she left , her . " husband. The woman was, on one occasion, terri'blv marked about the body, and was laid up ' for two days. She had interviewed Kielly at has ice- 4 cream cart ataout his wife, and foe promised to call on witness, but do so. When she called at his house she found it barricaded up, and a. dog m charge outside. , . For the defence. Mr Cassidy said that the complainant had once been m the asylum for six years and ! for another , period of three, and she had these frequent fits of running away from home. The name Kelly bore here was a nickname whioh he got when fighting m South Africa with one of the contingents. The girl m his house got 7s. a week wages; and cooked and kept house while he and his assistant w,ere away from, home selling coke. He hawked all day. The statement that; Kelly made his wife sleep m the "stable was untrue, and he would swear so. His wife and Mrs Field had been doing every thing m their power to MAKE IT HOT FOR HIM. They had been visiting his house, and got the police to visit it, and the landlady had asked the police jwho her tenant was ; and m fact the . police had -.been pestering the life -aut Of the man. / .;■■ The defendant here entered the box, and said that ho was always willing to give his wife a home. He was aJbout to proceed with his jdtory when the S.M- called the wife forward and. asked her straight if she would return home if tbegirl i&ft." Very reluctantly she replied/ in l the Affirmative.- It was then .agreed that , the case should stand adjourned for a week to allow the matter to be settled. Speaking W the defendant, the S.M. said : "You/ will have to get ri l oE that girl ;/ynu have no right to Vepp her there. I am surprised 'that you have done it so/ lone." /