SHACKEL SHACKLED.

NZ Truth, Issue 110, 27 July 1907, Page 6

SHACKEL SHACKLED.

A Bookie That Split Firewood. ■ The minor fry of the bookmaking fraternity have a rocky time of it occasionally, so tbey say. And they say it pretty often, too, but not viery often m. the Magistrate's. CourtRobert Stephen Sbackel did so at Christchurch on Tuesday, though-,. when be was charged with failing to provide his wife,, Fanny 'Sbackel, with adequate means of support. Mr Hunt told the . bench that the defendant was a bookmaker, and lived at. New Brighton. The couple had been ten years married. Awhile ago be started to neglect her, and was « always out of the house. Eventually he got, her out of the place altogether, engaging a housekeeper before she left. The wife sued him at the Magistrate's Court subsequently, but no order' was made, defendant agreeing to take the woman home. That seemed a lair proposition, but . when she got home he chucked her-, out again. •He agreed to give her ten shillings a week, and had kept up his payments regularly until last Christmas, when be discontinued them. Mr Sbackel went out to work,, living with her parents, but she got unwell, and was still ill and couldn't continue in' employment. An order for ten shillings a week was asked, or that ' the defendant take the woman home to ber children again.

The complainant, m her evidence, bore out the opening statement • bycounsel. She was unable to work at present. There were five children of the marriage, but only, three were living.

In reply to fMr Donnelly,- Mrs Sbackel said she' had been 'earning fifteen bob a week during the last few months, but knocked off three weeks ago. When s_re went -back to Shackel's house

WITH THE 'SYDENHAM POLICE and her brother, be wouldn't, receive her,, but said -he'd give her ten shillings a week to go away. He chucked her out.

The defendant, Shackel, went into tbe box arod said he was a bookmaker.

You don't find it very lucrative business, just now, I understand, said counsel ?— No.

The S.M. : Then, why don't you take something else ? Sbackel : 1 have heen splitting firewood. ' &

Counsel : That's harder -work than bookmaking.. '

The S.M. .: But much more healthier.

In reply-to further questions,' defendant said be had no means at all ; tilings were very slack. He just managed to pay household expenses. As to what bis wife said about only having worked three months. She had been working the greater part of the twelve months. He mentipned her various situations.

Mr Hunt : He has been following her round to see what she does-

Defendant said be had been unable to pay his missus ten shillings a week any longer. He kept a housekeeper and three children.. His wife wouldn't go back to bim. Mr Hunt : You would throw 'a bucket of water over her if she did. Witness v She wanted to throw one over me. Didn't you treat your wife badly, and weren't you always out ?— No. Weren't you co-respondent m a divorce case ■?— Yes. Very well, then, isn't, that treating her badly ? . Defendant said he paid 16s a week rent and 10s a week to his housekeeper. . Where is your 'stand m town ?— I have no particular stand or any office m town. What; do you do ?— Oli, I LAY LITTLE DOUBLES, How muoh do you make a week" or a month laying little doubles ?— Well, I cannot really say ; not muoh. Would you' take £3 a week and relinquish laying little doubles ?— Yes, .1 would take it to-morrow. Tlie S.M. closed the discussion with thc observation that a man who could afford to lay little doubles could afford to keep a little wife. He would make an order for ten shillings a week. The writer would like to see a bookmaker splitting wood ; it would be something of a, novelty. However, there isn't salt to be made at tbe game by an* amateur," and his hands wouldn't look very picturesque after the first day or two. Anyhow, let .it be recorded m luminous letters tbat there it a bookie m Christchurch who has at least tried hardwork. ' Unfortunately, he found it wanting. •