WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN.

NZ Truth, Issue 243, 19 February 1910, Page 6

WIPING THE SLATE CLEAN.

A Fresh Matrimonial Start.

I "The sorrows of the Christcfattrch eauple, Emma Mabel Johnston and Alfred Bibest Albert "Johnston have come to an end, or the end is so plainly m sight that a Lick observatory telescope : isn't necessary to. discern it. " i&ncefortti they, will be nothing to each other, 'and Aitred Ernest 'Albert will be v entitled /to taKe unto himself another Kfe partner, fr- be is so minded, and 12mma Mabel may Have better luck m the future m regard < to a husband, if she hasn't got hiia already. Johnston, on Tuesday, was sued :tcr arrears of maintenance amounting to £30 odd, and was defended - by Law?ei: Donnelly, who said that the liability a pas admitted, but the man couldn't meet the claim. Emma Mabel obtained a divorce some time ago, and counsel wasn't sure if she wasn't 'married again. He * called upon Mr. Leathern to produce the ./ decrea Bisi. '■''*■ ' '■'■ Mr Leathern said he didn't hz&e the important document. The ycon|£ woman deposited it with the Registrar of Marriages when she got married. Tie decree was granted on. accbont of Jiohaston'3 habitual drunkenness. . ./■• <■• Johnston's " story has bees vtben told, and was related again by Mr Ihaenetty. The man is an iron worker, ioeA -was .-obliged to go to Auckland for ■ waploy- , ■ ment. He was; dragged down ob , a c&acge ■• of theft, and ihe missus took tr» opporitunity to serve hen with divores papers. The case was so> flimsy that tJ ie judge: permit it to go to a jM*y« ana die was discharged. It was teue. he was >not a sober man, but was knoc ffed owb of Ms employment at £3 awe eJf , and as he could find naStiftg to do iar«hristetrarch went back to tite Narttl Island andf sent '£10 of tber money he earned to : |Ehe cteck of the' cwsd,. Then he/ vasputl ,«vt of lite job' again, and had • jbraja took- • ring tor toil ever since. Johnston's father [bad had to pay for > his son' ls' defence, •and also bad to find him a crcjs* while be resided m ChristchJKeh. He w^ws a decent old man, Johnston senior,, and was xnuch exercised m mind about, tike arrears. He had o&ered to psfir \£Q& m |faY satisfaction of the claim, KtetTrouKn't give a. penny misre. Counsel sb«w*ated upon the circumstance that feavlsg re- ' tomtrfed Johnston's late hooseac ML boss might not have really been his ? if e when -some of . the arrears had accronul Magistrate /Bishop, m the serenity of. iis vast experience, strongly adv Ised Mr ILeatliem to: accept , the £'14. .. , j ■ Counsel jcinped at the chance, i C the of- ( Set were, still open, and the M;»gistrate adjourned the case to. permit of 'fibe arrangement being made.