ALICE, WHERE ART THOU?

NZ Truth, Issue 299, 18 March 1911, Page 5

ALICE, WHERE ART THOU?

When John Gilbert Patch took unto his manly bussum a wife -called Alice, he knew riot that life's patch thereafter would be very variegated ■for him. Alice's weaknesses were for beer and bad company, and, after putting up with Alice's sweetness for 14 years, John' applied to Mr Justice Williams on Monday last to be judicially untied, from, the lady. Lawyer Tonkinson appeared for John, and he told his Honor that the Voice duly breathed m Presbyterian manner over John, and Alice m the small Dunedin church called after the rigid sectarian, John Knpx, m 1896. Alice was at that time a widow. John and Alice lived together for three months wrbhout a break, and thereafter, at intervals, as .Alice used to go away with evil persons and get swanked. Alice finally left him m September last. Since 1696 Alice had been habitually addicted to liquor, and . neglected the 'appy 'ome. Twelve . months ago John had threatened her with a judicial separation, and hati taken her back many times on promises of reformation. John sMd that his patronymic was Patch, but sometimes he was known as Cook, as that was the . name of his step-father. Since marriage Alice had stayed with Mm two' or three months at a time, and having gath*ered sufficient money, would go away; and spend it on beer. Alice made a practice of this about four times every year. When Alice returned after her' good times she was mostly) dirty and verging on the /'horrors," and on one occasion, some ' nine months ago, he had to call m two doctors to the lady, as SHE . WAS SEEING THINGS. when he was away at work, Alice generally climbed m through the window, and planted herself m bed. To buy swank. Alice had pawned the sewing-machine, the clock, her ring, the household furniture, and every year Alice got worse- On several occasions he had taken Alice out of houses of HfHfame, and the last time he brought her home he found her m a bachelor's cottage. Joseph Eugene Pledger also told of Alice's awfulness. . Clerk of Court Miller said that Alice had at various times been convicted mi n the S.M.s Court on charges of swankey, under • the names of Alice Cook, Jenny Miller, and Annie Cook. A prohibition order had also been issued against the fair Alice. Hugh Henry Butler, court orderly, said he knew Alice Cook untdl five or six months ago, when he heard that her name was Patch. He .could not say if a woman called Jessie