A CANTANKEROUS COUPLE

NZ Truth, Issue 508, 13 March 1915, Page 5

A CANTANKEROUS COUPLE

THE CANNY CALEDONIAN AND HIS CARES

WHAT HE WANTED AND WHAT HE WAS GETTING

The Burst-lips of the Browns

Business m Mr. C. C. Kettle's Court .on Friday, sth inst., was unusually quiet and only one pair with a domestic difference lined up to air their grievances. The parties hailed from Eden-terrace and use the common cognomen of Brown. . Elizabeth, an old girl of 60 years, reckoned that her. man George bad failed to maintain her and was an habitual inebriate, so she asked for a separation and maintenance. Elizabeth had engaged Lawyer Simeon to argue for her, but as he arrived late be did not FIGURE IN THE PICTURE much. Elizabeth's tale was that nearly two years ago she got spliced to .lordle. she, at that time, having references, liv that she had already experienced married life and while her first hubby existed bumped the census up six. One of the family, a chap of 21 years, was an Invalid, and was living with her; but the others had either got someone to keep them or were battling for themselves. 'Liza and Jordle plugged along together till about two months ngo. when 'Lisa reckoned she had had enough of him and gathering up the pot and pans and the rent of tho home. Including her son, hooked it and took rooms. Mr. Kettle: Why did you leave him? — Because my llfo was In danger and 1 could not live with him. What was the cause of the trouble? —He is ALWAYS GETTING DRUNK. How long has he been drinking like this? — Ever since. 1 have known him. Does he glvo you his wages? — Sometimes when he works he gives me. the wages. But he has only given me 5s the laHt couple of months. George, an out and out Scot, was then waved to line up. Mr. Kettel: Now you hear what your wife says: what have you to say? — As far as I run concerned I have a homo and am willing to keep her. Well, she nays you are continually coming homo drunk. George (.to Ellzubcth): Have you not sent mo out two or three times <t week to get. drink for you?— No. Mr. Kettle: Ih that true? Mrs. Brown: Only once 1 sent him out to get me »omu Htout. 1 had lu>»n out working hard nil day and 1 thought :i bottle of stout would do mo good. Ho i« continually bringing home drink nnd stands over me and make* me drink It. Ch'orfiC Jbon wont on to any thtit Hll?.nbeth'.M tali? wan made up of li<\*». nnd there wan no truth m the Ktatcnvnts. Mr. Kettle: When were you married to h«*r?~/Not two .venrs aK>>. Arc tbore. any children?-- Ne». Have you any fault to find with her?

I married her to be a wife to me and A WOMAN I COULD TRUST. She has never been either. Mr. Kettle: Where did you first know her? — How I came to know h«r was through an advertisement she. had m one of the papers. She said she was a respectable widow woman. It was a matrimonial advertisement? —Yea. How Jong did you know her before you got married? — Only a couple of months. I married her to gain nothing because she had nothing for me to gain. You knew she had a family? — I understood they were all married, but one who was to stay with us and pay his board. , But she says he Is an invalid? — You only want to set* him and you wculd say he was able to work as good an yourself. You say there i» nothing wrong with him? — There 'is with his speech. I married her to be good to 'her and keep her, but I did hot marry the family. Well, what Is the trouble? — The trouble is she thinks morr of the son than of me and doos not treat me right. 1 married her to get a quiet life, but never got it. She says you drink too much? — It's not true. She told me her LAST HUSBAND ALWAYS GOT BKEU i for l\or and she didn't sec why I couldn't got it. She says you have fallod to keep her?— l nnl quite willing to keep her, but I won't keep any of the family. I have nothing to say against her, but 1 want the boy out of the house. Mr. Kettle (to Elizabeth): How old is he? i Why don't you got him to take lodgings somewhere? — The. reason Is he is suffering with St. Vltus dance and It i.s not safe for him to be nlone. He has been a good son to mv. and I don't see why I should not help him. .Mr. Kettle: It Is you and the boy against this num. Elizabeth: 1 am against him over his treatment to me. Ho uses the most übusive language to mo. Brown: As fur as abusive language is concerned *he would kill mr dead with abusive language. I cannot hold a candle to her. What does she call you?— She calls me a thing, a contemptible thing, and rvekonw I am not » man. And you sometimes call her names? Cleorge admit ted one name he hud called her. I/iwyor Slmxon: You \\avo her bangle nnd watch-chHin?— They are nut IHTH. .Mr. Kettle: Did you give them to her? — Yo«. And you have them now? — No, I

gave them away. Who to? — I can't say. You made her presents 'of them? — Providing she was a proper wife tome. And you took them back? — Because