UNGRATEFUL OFF-SPRING.

NZ Truth, Issue 177, 7 November 1908, Page 6

UNGRATEFUL OFF-SPRING.

Mrs. Bowen's Bad Luck.

Has to Sue Her Children for Support

A case was heard m the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Monday which reflects great discredit on the children of an old lady named Mrs Bowen, who is 78 years of age, is subject to apopletkfits," and has had two strokes within the last three years. The facts of the case were elicited by Mr Toogood, who appeared for Mrs Annie Ralph, a daughter of Mrs Bowen, who took proceedings against four sons and another daughter of the old lady, m order to make them contribute, compulsorily, towards their mother's support, what they had refused to do voluntarily. From t;he' evidence and statement made by counsel, it appears that each of the daughters were married to men earning at least £3 10s per week, and none oS them had been BLESSED WITH LARGE FAMILIES. The sons were all married, and also earned on an average £3 10s per week, and had only small families dependent on them. Out of the four sons only one, Harold Archibald Bowen, had the decency to agree to contribute to his mother's support, and the action of this young man stands out m striking contrast to. 'his brothers' actions. Charles Arthur Bowen, a coot who wont into the witness-box and admitted that, as a carpenter, he earned £3 15s a week, had the audacious cheek to refuse to contribute even two shillings per week towards tjhe support of the ap;ed mother who. had given him birth. lie pleaded that he had two children to keep, but Magistrate Riddell admonished him pretty caustically, and the affectionate Charles Arthur has formally been made to remember THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT, and ordered to ante up 2s per week. Two other sons, Wm. Whittie Bowen, a blacksmith at Christohurch, and Albert Bow. en, resident at Sydenham, filed applications to have their evidence tr-lren at Christchurch. "Truth" hopes that these applications are not intended for the purpose of resisting payment. Mrs A. Adams, of Petone, and Mrs Pullybank, of Wanganui, two of _ the old lady's daughters, 1 are credits to their sex, as they have voluntarily contributed towards their ' : ther's support. Mrs Ralph, the complainant-, also contributes, and houses the old lady. ' Mrs K. Barber, of Torystreet, Petone, however, is a .bird of a different color. She admitted that her husband, who is a drover, earned £3 10s per week, 'out she refused to pay anything because her husband objected to her doing so, and she had no estate of her own. Magistrate Riddell dismissed the information against Mrs Barber, on the grounds that she had no income, but all that "Truth" can say m the matter is that Mrs Barber is A MOST UNFEELING WOMAN,, and she ou&ht to be ashamed of herself to so brazenly refuse sustenance to the mother wlio nourished her at the breast and brought her through privation and suffering until she reached womanhood and became a wife. It is surprising to find that children m God's Own Country are so forgetful of the first laws of nature that they throw upon the State — and this means other mother's sons rad daughters— the burden of keeping their .parents^ It is to be hoped that m any similar cases the Magistrate will come dowii with a heavy hand on transgressors who, by their inhuman actions, defile the names of manhood and womanhood. The finest^ word m the English language is that of "Mother," and any child, young or old, who does not love the name and cherish the owner is not fit to associate with his or her fellows, and should be drummed out of society.^