CHRISTCHURCHIANA

NZ Truth, Issue 474, 18 July 1914, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCHIANA

1 1 i. From "Truth's" Special Correspondent — — — If CHRISTCHURCH OFFICE, GLOUCESTER STREET. - Prompt attention given to communications.

HINES'S HAPPY HOUSEHOLD. '

A Wife who would Work. According to the yarn unwound last Tuesday m the Magistrate's Court, married life with Philadelphia Hines has not proved what it was cracked up to be. Fourteen years ago the lady with the Yankee handle hitched up with William Thomas Hines, and, although she threatened to leave him once before, William Thomas promised to cut down his' shicker "bill and Philadelphia took him again to her bosom. Lately William's promise had been blown to smithereens and he often went under to stagger-juice, at such times threatening to deprive Philadelphia of her existence. A fortnight ago she cleared out from him because he biffed her and he dished but a lot of sarcasm which Phil, didn't relish. On one occasion he had almost banged a loaded gun at her, but she really couldn't recollect how many times he had threatened her with razors, knives and such like. ' Backslack was apparently all Willie gave Philadelphia. His contributions towards her support ran into something like £1 during the last seven months. He preferred to spend his "hoot^" oh duck-shooting and other harmless sports. ' Costs Donnelly, on behalf of the defendant elicited that the whole trouble between her and her husband was that she insisted on going out to work and neglected the home. John Hop Hampton reckoned that William was a sober man and had always, seemed to behave himself properly. A 15-year-old female supplement of the marriage blew the ' shikker .theory kite high by stating that the old pot touched liquor only on rarfc occasions. The .youngster had never seen pa illtreat ma, although the duo didn't seem to rub along top amicabjy. together. Asked if she ever had. seen her father strike her mother girlie said, "Yes, on one occasion dad struck mum with a piece of newspaper." On another occasion he had picked up a shootingpiece and said he would "put an end to it." William then ventured a brief testimony on his own hook. He reckoned he was a fisherman and carrier at Redcliffs and w^U-known at the Christchurch fish market On an average he knocked £2-lps put of 'each week and carted .every penny of this home to his wife. During' the last' few weeks the flsh-oh biz. . had slumped a bit and William?s donation towards household exes had totalled no more than £ 2 a week. A young lady who lived next door to the Hines's was called. She said she had often been m Hines's house but had never seen the old man ill-treat-

(A watery Item m tho L.egal Lino.) You may call him a Wowser, an you like. Or a long wiry watery t.-V.o, But be ye sirs or madams, He doesn't care, does A-dams, And at your chaff he will not "get the spike."

the causes of the matrimonial dust-up. His wife was pretty thick with the Tomlinsons and a virtuoso named Hope. Thomas warned the crowd, but they continued to .frequent his hbuie while he was away from the house. When the irate hubby remonstrated with Edie about Hope coming to the house and borrowing "hoot" from her, she explained that she took pity on the poor fellow who was not able to do hard work. Thomas chewed things over, until a few weeks ago, when he went home to lunch. Edie was absent He frizzled his own chop and fed the kiddy when she came from school. As he was returning to toil he saw Tomlinson coming towards the house, but the joker sheered off when he saw the boss of the show. This aroused Tom's suspicions and he walked to the corner and kept his eyeballs peeled. Presently Edie and Hope -came toddling along. Tom's anger was thoroughly roused; he seized a tomahawk and chased Demisemiquaver, who hit out elferleather towards the. horizon. The pursued took refuge m a shop and the police were summoned. But the John Hops would not lay a specific charge against Stapleton and he went back to his work. In the evening he packed up his traps and cleared out to his mother's place. The following week he sent a carrier around and collected the piano which he wanted for the little girl. His wife then sold up the rest of the furniture and, .so far as Tom knew, kept the money. The S.M.- reckoned that the woman was Tom's' wife, however unfortunate the fact might be, and he would of course have to maintain her. He was ordered to pay 15s a week for her bare support The child was given into custody of its grandmother, Edie to have reasonable access. • .