TRICKY TUCKER.

NZ Truth, Issue 170, 19 September 1908, Page 4

TRICKY TUCKER.

A Well-Deserved Sentence.

Laughter and tears are bidden to irrupt m Christchurch Magistrate's Court sometimes. Notary Salter espoused the cause of James Tucker's wife receuti) ,' . when that plain and humble female mentioned that her husband, who had tein ordered to pay^lss a week, v was now £20 m arrears. ; The unfortunate woman hadn't received anything for nine months, and had one young baby, ..which squawked with lusty llrngs during the proceedings. She only wanted support for the kid ; she was willing to graft fcr her own keep, and had been compelled to do so since marriage, for that matter. Magistrate Bishop was surprised at the amount of the arrears (£2O), and wondered at the woman permitting it tj accumulate without protest. But Tucker declared she had protested, and Tucker had also protested by doing a month m gaol rather than pay. 'ihat was no good to me," remarked the woman, miserably. Obviously when a man was m gaol, the wife couldn't get any cash from him, a point admitted by. his WorslW), who, nevertheless, observed , with truth, "If a man won't work for his wife ?nd child, he must be compelled to, work for the State." As a rule the State has to maintain the; 'wife and : kid, but apparently not m. this case. /, .. His Worship added that if he sentenced the husband TO A TERM OF IMPRISONMENT, the pclice would feel 1 o.blige'd' to do something for the wife at>d child, 'who were entitled to charitable aidV Further ouestioning made his Wprship thpuehlful, although it didn't alter his decision. Magistrate 1 Bishop : -How: long; have you been married ?— A year last, Good Friday. . ■••>,•■ Eh ! How old ,is the. child'?— Thiitien months, . Sir. How old is the father ?— He is supposed, to he fifty, Sir. ; , A case ' of sowing his wild oats m his old age. How old are you •?—Thirtytour, Sir. , . H'm. Where were you Hying when he got into trouble ?— ln Dixon street. His Worship remarked that it was a case. of purely sensual affeclioD. Ih"; | man didn't care a brass farthing f.-r the woman, and married her merc-lv tc escape the legal consequences '. of bis immoral act. Remarking that the -mm would have to work for the State at any rate, his Wcrship pent-need Tucker j to six months' imprisonment.