A CONTUMACIOUS COUPLE

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 3

A CONTUMACIOUS COUPLE

Ellen Ina's Winsome Ways

Housokoper's Claim for Wages Disallowed.

There was a bit of a field day at the Wangahui Magistrate's Court on Tuesday when Ellen Ina Williams proceeded against A. S. Hunter. Beak Kerr was m the crow's nest. "Costs" Thorpe was m Ellen- Ina"B corner, while the Rael MacKay held the towel for the hunted Hunter. Ellen Ina's claim stated m cash values was for £8 Bs wages, £5 17s money lent to the defendant, and £10 damages for alleged assault. The hunted Hunter counter-claimed £o for alleged assault, and 5s amount paid by him for a smashed periscope. Ina's concertina played to the following tune: ''He engaged me at 15s a week to keep house. I had to do the cooking:, cleaning, washing and mending. I had to get up at 3.30 a.m. to get his breakfast — he used to pull me out of bed — and then he used to want another breakfast before he would go to work. He growled because we used two poundß of butter a week. I lent him £ 3 15s to get a suit for Christmas. He Is wearing it nowj He's got bungalows m Wellington, and he had a win on the racecourse, too, the other day. His promises are like pie-crust— easily broken." Aiid Ellen shook her finger sternly at the haughty Hunter. The Beak: Never mind about the pierust. Ellen Ina: I bought him a hat and two shirts. He wanted to buy a hat at two and a kick, but the excellent Ellen said, "No, you have a good hat, a 16s one," and that was the price he paid. Hunter, declared the housekeeper, if not a man of "many means was a. mean man of many names. "He calls himself Hunter, McClintock, McKay and — " Lawyer Thorpe: Let's come to the assault. Ellen: Well, he kicked me at the fireplace, and said he would like to see me dead with the daisies growing over my grave. The Rael Mackay: Where did he kick you? — He kicked me first by the stove. , It was a nasty crofes-kick. He said, "I'm going away and leaving you." He used a nasty word, so I "upped" the table on him m self-defence, and spilled the milk and everything all over. him. I said to him, "I'll see the daisies grow- > ing over your grave yet. You are not a young man, though you do try. to do yourself up." The economical Ellen went on to describe how she had made the closehanded Hunter a pair of trousers out of a riding habit— -"a real good article," to use her own words — when "Costs" ported. her helm, and steered her into calmer waters. What happened after that disagree-' ment?— When the carter came he started to thump me behind the carter's back. I'm bruised all over. I could stand an examination now, m this very court The R"ael Mackay: Oh, no, not here! The excitable Ellen got m her oar again-: I tried to get a few smacks at him, but- 1 hit a window instead and broke it. ' Ellen then told how she had hunted Hunter up the road and m trying to hit him m self -defence haa orotten another periscope at Calvef's corner, "Coats" Mackay: Ay, and you were fined 20s for that. The erubescent Ellen: Well, didn't he pick up a kettle oft the stove, and pour the water m my ear? The keerful Beak: Nonsense! "Costs" Mackay, evidently upset at the awful outrage and the thought of what such an act might cost his client, asked with evident concern: Was tho water hot or cold? — Well, it was cold. I said to him, "There are plenty more pebbles on the beach." Here the unequalled Ellen cast her eagle eye round the court and added: "And if there are none better than him, they are not worth picking up." Then the Rael Mackay sent a shot right amidships: Where are you living now? „ Ellen put him wise. Did not the police warn you to leave thai place? — Not they; it was proved to them since, it >yas not the place they thought it was. Here the exact if' not exacting Ellen produced a note-book and was examined m regard to an entry m It purporting to be made by the defendant and to the effect that ho Would pay witness 15s weekly. The cute "Costs" Mackay then set out to tost witness's enlisraphy on a sheet of paper. "Write December Ist," ho commanded. "Is it e-m-b-e-r?" queried the unerudlte Ellen. Now write "horrowed." The entangled Ellen essayed. Cute "Costs" Mackny then handed j the specimen of Ellen Ina's chirography to the cautious koorful Beak, and pointed out that In two instances the word borrowed was spoiled "borrowered." Magistrate (to the agitated Ellen): Try again, and write a hit smaller. Don't hurry yourself. We are patient j people, and can wait. < ; This' little exhibition over, cute j "CoHts" Mackay took another tack. You arc described as a married woman? — I am a married woman. Where's your husband? — Well, he liar, boon "dolngr time/* But J\o is out : now. llci set fire to his own place. I And ypu arc separated from him?— Well, it happened because I was late feed Inn thr teuk-teuks and tho miniature cow.». Asked whether she had over pnssod under t»f» names of "Mrs. "McKay" and "Mr*. Hunter." the oxomblo Kllen. for at least the second time In her life, | blushod and nnnworofl: "Yos." A m<>«n sußgreHtlon tl>»t Ellen clrank irritated that very sober person "X- ( eecdingly. »n<l nlio offered to rlvo ' "Coats" Mackny on<> koUloii K«»n/jle If he couhl prove it. , '•("opi.%" Mackny: Wli^n the. carrier came. «l.ld you not ask him to pot some be«M'?— -Do I !<"»k a womun of that sort ! * ; Did you try nt the house to hit tho defendant?— l iricd to give him a | ••bash." That's how I broke the win- < dow. You spat In his face? — "Well, perhupn ' I did. said Ellen nonchnlontly. The engaging Ellen Ina then com- : mencod to make n long rambling u»atc- ' mont about defendant being a memoer of a secret society. Tho Beak (peremptorily): That will do. • ' Ellon (with dignity): Tnnr.K you, < your Honor. Dr. B. B. Parrltt said that the plainI tiff wnn attended by him. She hart a ! number of brulß«s on her !>n»ly, Mrs. A. Jnnaon Jet a little li,;ht m on thn relations of the contention* con- ! pie by tolling Uip court tlmt the plninj tiff ami dofrnilnnt UvoU at her plncf n.H "Mr. «nrt Mrs. McKay." Ellen t.;nl toltl her several tlmcH that defendum had treated her budly. The defendant, Arthur Somersetshire

Hunter,' said that.Jie was a.b,utcher by trade. On the instruction of "Costs" Mackay he wrote on a piece of paper the words appearing m the note- book previously discussed. Beak Kerr then examined the writing. Proceeding, the harassed Hunter said the couple had lived at Foxto.n under the name of "Harrington,"' which was changed to "McKay" when they blew to Wanganul. Hunter denied that he Had ever struck the obliging Ellen Ina. James Lawson, a cabinet-maker, saw some of . the disturbance. Ellen was trying to shove a clothes-prop through a window. He was sorry to suy lie thought Ellen was other than sober. Magistrate Kerr said a discreditable state of affairs had been revealed, and he was satisfied as to ttfe relationsmp of the parties. He believed the alleged agreement In regard to wages was a faked statement. He disallowed botn the amount of wages claimed, by trie plaintiff, and the amount claimed for assault, but allowed the amount claimed for money lent to the defendant, less costs. On tho counter-claim the amount of 5s paid by the defendant for a broken | window was allowed.