ALCOHOL OR ASTHMA?

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 4

ALCOHOL OR ASTHMA?

Wealthy Squatter's Spouse m Trouble. Trl«d Twio«— Prohibition Order Issued A most peculiar caao came up for adjudication before his Worship, Mr. D. Q. A. Cooper, S.M., m. the Wellington Magistrate's Court on Monday morning last. A very respectable looking woman was docked on a charge of drunkenness. She proved to be the wife of Timothy O'Connor, one of Taranaki's wealthiest settlers who, m the years that have gone, has displayed, m a very high degree, the hard-headed man's 'proclivity, FOR MAKING AND KEEPING MONEY. Being undefended, and m view of the fact that she had been charged four times previously within six months, she was promptly fined two quid. Later on, Lawyer Percy Jackson ap-. peared on the scene and. requested his Worship's permission to speak a piece for the lady. He explained that when the case was called on he had been out m the back room, receiving instructions from another prisoner and, consequently*, had not heard .'"the call." The accused was accordingly placed m , the box once more, when Lawyer Percy said, "The woman is the Wife of a .wealthy man m Taranakl, who pays- her £1 a week for maintenance. Your worship, SHE IS DOGGED BY EMISSARIES employed by her husband, who is determined to get rid of her and has her brought up as many times as possible. By thla means iie hopes to get her sent to P,ak-a-toa Island, when he will be enabled to. make application for the discharge of the 'maintenance order." His Worship, interrupting, said, "Do you suggest, Mr. Jackson, that the police are parties to such a proceeding?" ,'.:.'•■ To this, Lawyer Percy replied, "1 don't/know, sin but it seems peoulior. The woman suffers from asthma which often makes her appear stupid. On Saturday last she got four shillings from -me. With this she had one drink, and gave a shilling to two women who were on the verge of starvation. Some time ago nor husband had her placed m a lunatic asylum, but the doctors discharged her after two days, as there was nothing wrong with her except asthma. The woman has brought up a large family who occupy responsible positions m town. She is a thoroughly respectable HARD-WORKING HONEST WOMAN. If she drinks it is no wonder. The annoyance she has been submitted to by her husband is enough to make anyone drink. Inspector Hendrey 1 thereupon placed a young fledgling John''6p In the box —quite a boy m appearance — who, one should judge, had mighty little knowledge as to a flne distinction between drunkenness and illness. He told his story m the usual glib, cock-sure manner. Lawyer Jackson: Did she appear to be 1H? — * could not say. Lawyer Jackson: Was she speaking with a squeaky voice? — Not at all. To Inspeotor Hendrey: I do not know her husband and have never conspired with her husband to get her charged with drunkenness. Another John 'Op. on duly at the Mahnors-street watch-houso, said that the woman had been brought In drunk. She had called m the mornIng to sco if there wua any inatnton* ance money from her husband, and she wan then under the Influence. Lawyer JuckHun: I do not doubt, your Worship, that the polioemun l« saying what he bolleven to bo true. 1 gaw the woman m my office on Saturday morning. I *new she had had no drink then, but »ho might have boon takon to have had some, Mrs. O'Connor then took ilu» wlt-ncsn-box. She said that on Saturday last she went to Lawyer Jackson's office to get 48. She wan then sober. Out of that money sho paid 6d for a glass of beer, spent 6d on a tolojrrani and ifttvc 1h <3d away. She had only tho one drink that day — that was at tho Brunswick Hotel. She wo» v great sufferer from asthma* She had to take Inhalations of asthma powder and THEY ACTED LIKE CHLOROFORM. When nho was sent to the asylum Ui<» doctors said that there was nothing wrong with nor brain. Wonknesn :»ml asthma wore her two trouble*. To Inspector Hendrey the wltneM said that »lio wa« locked up about throe o'clock. When *»ho visited the* watch-house m tho morning, nhe h»<l hud no drink. Shu wan Muttering from th« effect* of the powder. To hid Wornhln ihn wlinpmt *nld that ahe vt&B r«»fut»<*<i a drink at the Albion Hot<»l becuujHt nhe wn* too VI Hi* Worship: Tho »vidcncu of tbo comuolck (X too mronir ttgftln«t you. The £i nn« mu«t Mtnrid. A* you have been four time* eonvleiml. n prohibition order will bo Unued Hgnlnul you.