ORSBORN'S OFF-SPRING.

NZ Truth, Issue 125, 9 November 1907, Page 4

ORSBORN'S OFF-SPRING.

—*. ABOUT TO TAKE A TRIP HOME.

He Has to Pay for Baby's Support.

It is fully eightpen months since an extremely youthful person named Percival Orsborn, of Wellington, experienced one of the things that puzzled Solomon— the way of «a man with a maid. Th* girl was a domestic, and by a =inguhir fatality her name was Eva. The fall of the fig-leaf garbed lady m the Garden of Eden was a mere circumstance beside Eva's indiscretion, because Adam immediately tcok on Cain's maintenance, and there were no neighbors m those early times to be scandalised at Eve's improper conduct. The modern Eva, on the other hand, became unpopular with her Adam, who failed to contribute anything to the kid's support until it was eleven months old, when the aid; of a stern Magistrate was invoked. Solicitor Ward, who is. the Beau Brummel of the fashionable suburb of Muritai explained that the young man acknowledged responsibility for the embarrassing harvest of his wild oats, and the only subject of dispute between the parties was concerning the weekly amount he ought to pay towards the support of the passion fruit, which had been named Percival Cecil. It appears that Orsborn's parents are m sufficiently affluent circumstances to meditate a trip to the elderly country, and had actually made arrangements to take their dairy-fed hopeful with them when Eva TOOK ALARM OR THE INFLUENZA, or something, and consulted a solicitor. A week ago the prospective excursionists oilercd to adopt Percival Cecil, but this arrangement didn't meet with the approval of Eva, and it was withdrawn m favor of a proposal to pay the same old 7s Gd a week. It was represented by Ward that the youthful father wasn't getting a princely wage and couldn't afford much m the way of maintenance. Lawyer Neave pointed out for the other side that the young woman was employed m the city and had had to support herself and child on sixteen bob a week. The youngster was born on January 27, and she had to pay 10s a Week out of her pittance for its" keep at a home at the Hutt. Orsborn had said all along that he would make provision for his progeny, and when ib was found that he meditated departure for England the Society for the Protection of Women and Children stepped m and asked him, per summons, what lie meant by it. As soon as he received the bit of blue, Orsborn left his employer without explanation AND DISAPPEARED FROM THE CITY. The police subsequently discovered him at Carfcerton, and he returned to Wellington an unwilling captive. His father, who appeared m Court, stated that it was his intention to proceed to the country where they can't play football, and to take his rapid son with him, wherefore counsel prayed for an order and provision for a bond compelling the erring youth to contribute 10s a week towards the support of his undesired offspring. Mr Neave said that the girl couldn't manage on less than "half a thick 'un," which was a reasonable contribution. It was really out of consideration for Orsborn that proceedings had not been taken before. Instead of that bright person giving the girl money she had given him cash, on the understanding that he would make due provision for his family of one cither by marriage or by some other means. The' request that security should be found was justified by the fact that the machinery of the law had been set m motion and the police were used to bring Orsborne up to the scratch, and as he was on the eve of departure from Eva for the antipodes, Orsborn the elder should be asked to enter into a bond of £150. Magistrate Riddel 1 : Are there any medical or nursing expenses ? Counsel : The girl has paid them all. We make no claim for those. Summing up, his Worship remarked that both parents were liable for the support of their child, and as the girl was also somewhat to blame for the happening, she should contribute something. He made an order for the payment of 7s 6d a week, with solicitor's fee .£2 2s, defendant to enter into his own recognisances, m the sum of £100. or two approved sureties of £50 each. it at Parry's second-hand shop. The statement that she obtained- .a sovereign for some silver was a base imputation. Jarman's mania for silver increased with the thirst of the pair, and, at his request, the woman obtained another twenty shillings for a sovereign at the Royal Tiger. In both instances she handed over the cash to Jarman. They left the nub, Martha going up Haining-street, followed by Jarman, who again proposed that they should enter into a state of sinfulness m the house m Tory-street. The gay Lothario increased the tariff to ■ 30s, but the CHOW'S VIRTUOUS MISSUS rejected his blandishments with scorn and proceeded to ''her home. Jarman went along the street to his lodgings a chemist's at the corner, and he didn't come and knock at her door, as had been alleged. When he returned with a policeman she was m bed, and had been asleep. She was rather dazed when she sat un. and didn't at first recognise Jarman, but afterwards remarked, "Oh, you are the young man who bought the fruit at the -Chinaman's." She invited the police to search the premises, but they didn't do so. Magistrate Riddell said the evidence was against Martha, who would be convicted. The police then produced a long list of previous convictions, dating back to 1894, and including theft and drunkenness. A sentence of three months' imprisonment was imposed.