DARBY AND JOAN TO DATE.

NZ Truth, Issue 240, 12 February 1910, Page 7

DARBY AND JOAN TO DATE.

DUBIOUS DAVID DILLON.

His Wife-bashing Proclivities.

Kate's Peculiar Story.

Punched m Two Continents.

The Dillon .family at Waimate, Canterbury, found on Christmas last that • the sentiment of peace on earth and goodwill to men was a mere mockery and an empty whisky bottle on a dry Sunday morning. Old Catherine and David Etfllon battled through the fearsome experiences of life side by side, and did their duty by their country and themselves by rearing a family, but late m the autumn ol their existence, when they might be looking forward to a tranquil ending of life's journey m the company of each other, disruption arose. Impatient with the weaknesses and infirmities of each other, booze was imported into the case to soothe the ruffled understanding, and Sheol was the portion of each. As a result thereof, old Kate asked Magistrate Hutchesori to grant her a separation order with a reasonable income from David, who" was accused of persistent cruelty.

Solicitor Ongley placed the aged female m the box, and she volunteered the information that the whole of their long married life had been knocked out of shape by slabs of cruelty on the part of;. tier, brutal, husband, the ., climax ; coming .on Christmas. Eve, when he tested the ' strength, 6*f a stick ,on her aged body. Even m the Old Dart, before they saw God's Loan Country, he lifted his hand to her and exercised his punching ability, but m recent, years it became a habit like the .pipe or his daily meals, and she wasn't so young as she used to be. A fortnight before Christmas be hurled a stick at her, and she had to take refuge m the house of a neighbor. She had^ been : compelled to fly from his wrath like this on several occasions. His language was so \vajm when this happened' that vegetation m the neighborhood was; scorchedi-as by contact with a comet, and his impious imprecations were awful. Once he struck her when she was pregaant. At Christmas time her husband was mad with drink, used the timber mentioned on her, and drove her into Mrs VO'Shea's. ' "HJer son Jack and his missus were up ffora Oamaru at the time. ..■*-...

The lady .was cross-examined by Lawyer Middleton, and denied that she herself had got outside of any liquor. She wouldn't allow the 'Obnoxious stuff m tho house. -

Annie Dillon, wife of Jack, a son of the aged couple,' gave evidence from which it would appear that the old buster was keeping up the Nativity on Chrjstnias Eve, and about 1.30 a.m. hit his unof-. fending missus with a stick. She sought shelter m Mrs O'Shea's. The old- lady., returned m twenty minutes, bleeding about the face, and as old Dillon threat* ened to become murderous again, they went to his room and put their backs to the door to prevent his getting out. He threatened . .to do for the missus, who thereupon again sought the hospitality of the obliging Mrs O'Shea. At breakfast, Dillon remarked toTMrs Jack, "I'll give her a blow that she'll remember all her life." Once Dillon came home boozed, and when the floor rose up and bumped him, his wife was all sympathy and went -to pick him up. Far from appreciating this kindness, however, he cursed her, and, arming himself with a pitchfork, proceeded to look for gore. The family, terrified by bis bloodthirstmess, hid iii the cowshed and remained there all night. This was nine years ago, but was an excellent sample of the old man's conduct.

William Dillon, another son,, gave evidence. " \

Ear the defence it» was submitted by; Solicitor Middle ton tftat the Christmas; rejoicings, which had the assistance of! ardent spirits stowed m the shed, culminated m a fight between the old maa and Jack, and when the woman interfered the father's stick grazed the face of his elderly spouse. This sort of trouble arose every time the sons Bill and Jacfr visited the family rooftree, wMcft was disgraced by their quarrels.

(Patriarch Dave confirmed the intelligence that he and Ms son. Jack paid frequent visits to the bottle m the sited on Christmas Eve, and they evetrtnally found- themselves' at war. Of course, the old. man wasn't to blame. Jack made some remark, pa replied casually, whereupon the inebriated John delivered an unwholesome left .on the countenance, and his' venerable dad measured his length on the floor. He was annoyed. The old woman and Ms daagnter-in-law came out and endeavored to drag him away, when a stick he had m his hand touched his wife's face and made it bleed. The hoary ancient said he was 78 years of age.

. In reply to the SJtf., Dillon said the whole trouble was that there < was always' swank, m the house, and bis aged missus was responsible for bringing it there. He admitted breaking the window, but his object was to drive his wife and son out of the house. "I never struck my wife m my 'life,", he declared.

Catherine here broke into such a stream of astonished, expressions that she was suppressed with difficulty.

Dillon admitted he had attempted to strike her on one occasion.

The S.M. had by this time got a pretty fair grasp of matters, and epitomised his conclusions. After further questioning, David made some observations, from which it was understood that the women objected to having liquor m the house on Christmas Eve. Accordingly, a bottle of whisky and a bottle of brandy .were planted m a shed behind the house, and as the evening wore on, Jack and the old man, moved by a mutual overpowering thirst, visited the rear at frequent intervals, until the aged one became boozed and imagined himself to be Bill Lang for the nonce. He didn't know what he was doing and struck his missus, who sought refuge with a neighbor. His Worship said he couldn't for the life of him understand how the police report could have been so favorable as to induce him to grant old Dillon a pension. He held that a man who would strike his wife was unfit to have the monthly allowance.

Constable McClinchy, who used to be the terror of motor hogs at St. Albans, Cbristchurch, explained that he didn't know the people very well when he first went to Waimate, but from inquiries among the neighbors he learnt that Dillon was a respectable old man, and had so reported when he applied for a pension. Eecehtly, however, he had on three occasions been called into the Dillon establishment owing ,to the old man's capacity for shikkur. On Christmas nforninjg he found Dillon's countenance covered with dry blood, although there was plenty of "water on the premises. He thought the old couple would get on all right if the sons kept away from them.

It was mentioned that Dillon owned, a property valued on the rate-roll at £283, and the S.M. expressed the opinion that his pension must he cancelled at the earliest opportunity. Meantime a separation order was granted, and the violent ancient was ordered to pay 5s a week towards the support of his missus; with costs £1 Is.