A SPARTAN SPOUSE

NZ Truth, Issue 509, 20 March 1915, Page 7

A SPARTAN SPOUSE

COCKROITS CONNUBIAL COLLAPSE DICK'S DESIRE fOR MRS. DEILY RAISES THE DEll Battle Royal with Saucepans and Broom -Handles

That married life is by no means always based on pleasant lines appears to be the only possible summing up m the case of Richard G. F. Cockroft, who is employed at Moffett's InverkegvJUe lemonade factory, and Mabel Cockroft, his better half. Several times recently have they appeared before Beak Hutchison, and for somo reason or other no reports of the Court business have i appeared m the local dailies. The 3rd inst. was the fourth occasion on which the marital miseries of the illmatched pair were brought to light. Mabel sought a separation order from Richard. The story, m condensed form, Is as follows: It was m 1913 that Richard swore that he would, love and cherish Mabel, but from the commencement A DISTURBING ELEMENT In their matrimonial sunshine was said to exist because of Dick's desire for another lady. " Last year- Richard went to" Auckland , to play . for the Invercargill Hibernian Band at the band contest. He did not come back with the other bandsmen, but-forwarded his uniform. Mabel becoming somewhat uneasy, issued a warrant for his arrest, and as a result he was ordered to contribute to Mabel 30/---per week, .and was kept m gaol until he had found sureties of £100 that he would do so, hie brother Adin standing good for him. Nary a penny did Mabel receive, however, and again Richard was . . ■ * ■ YANKED BEFORE THE BEAK, and Mabel- was informed that' she could draw on the £100 belonging to Adin. After that Richard paid up ror a while, but on his arrears accumulating to the extent of £17, Mabel again resorted to Court procedure. All this time it was said by Mabel m evidence, he never came to pay his respects to his wife, but a goodly part of his time was spent elsewhere. Adin, finding his money gradually diminishing, thought to withdraw what was left of the 100 Boys., and allow his dear BROTHER TO GO TO GAOL. j Mabel evidently did not wish to be too severe, so, she, went to "Costs" "Bert" Macdon'ald, and" asked him to keep Richard out of the boob. Meeting Richard casually after she had saved his bacon, she agreed to again take him back. Richard kept reasonably good for about three months. It appears that Mrs. Florence' Deily used to visit the house of Andrew Fraser, a tramway motorman, who appeared m Court with ' % , I A LOVELY BLACK ORB. - ! Mrs. Cockroft conceived the Idea that Mrs. Delly had her eye on Richard, or that Richard had hlB eye on tho fair lady. Dick and his wlfo were living with Mabel's "mother *at this time, next door to Fraserfs. '■• ' •'•■•> -•■'' In December Richard 'and Mabel Bet up house on** their own account, hut about this time Richard conveyed the impression to Mabel that lie would not think twice about shooting her, to which Mabel rejoined that- If he was going to shoot anybody it had better bo Florence and himself, as she (Mabel) had the baby to look after. On New Year's Eve, ' Cockroft informed his' wife that he wasn't going out with her any more; that she could go her own way, and ho would go his. She could GET ANOTHER MAN, as he was done with her. He then levanted, leaving Mabel without food or money, and on his mother being appealed to, Mabel received a disappointment. Food that day was supplied by Richard's brother. The roaming Richard still continues to neglect his Mabel despite all the latter could do. When asked whero he'd been a-roamin' he would reply, "UP IN A BALLOON." A long series of domostlc discords culminated m a grand slam on January 27. On this night, or rather the noxt morning at 2.30 a.m., as dashing Dick had not come home to roost, his missus jumped on her byke and went round to her mother's, informing her that sho suspectod that hubby wasv at Fraser's with "that woman," and that she was going to watch for him. Mrs. Cockroft " alleges that at 10 minutes to 4 a.m. Mrs. Deily and Mabel's missing hubby came out Mrs. Cockroft had her mother's (who Is a cripple) walking stick and she openod hostilities by SMACKING FLORENCE DEILY across the face with it. They ran back and Mrs. Cockroft followed. Sho gavo them three chances to como out, or oho would smash the windows. As they didn't como sho was as good ns her word nnd smashed all tho Bide windows (15 panes). She next saw ] them In tho doorway of tho bedroom so Hhe smashed the front bedroom window. * Before tho close of tho battle, the two irate ladles are allenod to have had yet another encounter In the wee Btna' 'oors. ! This tlmo Mrs. Cockroft armed herself with a broom and Mrs. Dolly with a saucepan. Tho victory went to Mrs. Cockroft, who, having tho advantage of reach, trave Mrs. Delly something to remember. Mrs. Cockroft then stood guard with the broom what time Con- j stable Sinister camo up. She told the j John-Op that sho THOUGHT HER HUBBY WAS INSIDE. ' Mrs. Deily had meantime gone awny with a bag of flour. Later, Mr. Dolly returned and let tho husband -scoker, nnd tho Limb o' tho Lor m, but no trace of hubby could be discovered. The upshot of this little rumpus was that Mrs. Cockroft was served with a summons— for wilfully damaging tho windows of Andrew Krawer. At tho hearing of tho charge, "Costs" Mac Donald said that his client broke the windows because her husband was m tho house with another woman. I whose name had been mentioned before In Court. Tho Magistrate: Who is this woman? "Costs": Oh, her lawyer, Mr..Haggitt. wishes her name not to be mentioned. The Magistrate: Why, if It has al- i ready boon In Court, why not again? "Costs": Your "Worship, It will suit me as well If It Isn't mentioned, urn another cane 1» coming on noxt week. Tho Magistrate: What cano? "Costs": A coho for Hcpnratlon. Thon tho sergeant broko In with Mr*. Delly'n name nnd the magistrate waved bis hand Haying, "No names please." 1 However, ilrs. Delly wua ooun

brought Into the btoc. She said she had been up at a quarter to four to clean windows and bake. The Magistrate:- Do you always get up at a quarter to four to bake? — Yes, sometimes. Did you waken your husband when you got up? — No. Did you waken him when you went home after the row?— Yes, decidedly! and told him what had happened. Constable Sinister was next called. He told how he had received the message, and went uparid found three very excited women, but.no man. He found PHASER'S BEDS IN ORDER, and tho house quite m order, 'and nb sign of a,; man having been there. Tho Court was then adjourned to hear both cases.- , ... Next Court day, Mrs. Cpckroft m the box, alleged that he¥ ( hubby had made threats of shooting her and cutting her throat. ' ' "Coßts" Haggitt: Now, Mr,s. Cock* roft, were you not jealous of Mrs. Deily?— Well, I think Mrs. Delly gave me -every cause to be, meeting him morning, noon and night, and , coming tomy gate and talking for three* quarters of an "hour: ■ The' Magistrate: Three-quarters ot an hour? — Yes, three-quarters of an hour, as I timed them and when I men* tioned it ho said he couldn't heip it. His Worship: Ferhapsji-he couldn't. "Costs" Haggitt: Do you know a mart called — r ?— Yes. . . v Now, why does he call you ."darling* and "still'- your rigl\t-hand man"? — t don't know, but thl? man ia away tq the war. » ' . .;_ - Yes, but do you write to him? — Yes, Witness said she, had kept company with this man before jshe mot her hus-< band and she HAD NOT SEEN H^M FOR 3 YEARS, The magistrate asked -what sort of oj man he was. v+.-v.. ■„.■■■ •■; _■■■>■ Witness: A young man, and a man If ho couldn't- do 'mo ia. good' turn hq would not. ..try to, dp me.a bad^one.. His Worship: No) I'' think hot, and you would have been better married to him than this one. - . v ,. „..,., Witness: It is mo that knows that. While _Mrs. Cockroft was m tho box "Costs" Haggitt said; '"You ■••'•heard' tho constablo say 'Tho beds' wero not disturbed'? • *'r'' .•••' • . ■'. Witness: They «ould-! have made «) dozen beds while "I* was outside walti ing for him to come...;*:." - - . ; . .< His Worship: Beds aren't always' necessary. . ■ j Tho Court was adjourned for a week,At the next hearjng t hubby Cockroft was put m the box^ .' The iria^fstrato asked him if his was a liappy marriage. Witness said he was quite contented.. , But is your wlfo?r*-Oh, she is one ofl those hard to content* . . Ib it true you call -your child a bas-« tard7 — No. • • *M,3*t-.-,. »*.?..; '"Costs" McDonald asked .him was it: true what his wife- had stated about the revolver and razor? Witness said., it was not true. ■ His Worship: What explanation can you give as to your wifo'B story? Witness: One night I was Bhaving and sho said, what 1 a nerve I had td, flourish •■■■*. THE RAZOR ABQUT.. JAY THROAT. [ told her if sho didn't liko to see m'u to go out. ■ • ■;; ;• . • ;, His Worship: Oh! sho wad sort of admiring your bravbrV^^Yea. "Costs" MacDorialaV 7 Whero iB tho rovolvor? — It was broken, so I got rid of It In tho estuary. . * Mrs. Delly was tho next m tho wIU ness box and aaid m effect that Mrs, Cockroft . HAD BEEN TELLING LIES. His Worship remarked' that she had] given a yery circumstantial story andj had her mother as, a witness. ; "Costs" MacDonaldt • Why dp you alwayß snoer at. Mrs. Cockroft -when you moot her?— l doti't; she does at me. His Worship: You liko Mrs. Cock* roft? — I don't disllko her. Tut, tut, Mrs. Deily, don't Bay you liko this woman after all you say sho haa said about you.— l don't disllko her. Next m tho box was the complainant. Ho said ho was staying at Dolly's whilq his .wlfo was away. Ho stayed at nig own placo on the 21st. His Worship: Is that to say you contradict Mrs. Cockroft's mother, whd said she saw Cockroft and Mrs. Dolly, leaving your place?— -Yes. Couldn't they leovo your placo just the samo? — I wan'thoro alone. How do you remember so well?—. Mrs. Cockroft told mo about it when X went about tho windows. Carl Dolly, sworn, said his wifo waft an early riser, and any timo from 3.3Q to 4 o'clock sho would get up. * ( SHE ALWAYS WOKE HIM, ' as she had to climb over him to get out of bed. Cockroft was always' woU come to his placo—wlthout his wifo. His Worship: Well, It ia not for m« to say, but I don't think much of a man that encourages another married nuui at his placo liko this ono docs. Do you go to another man's placo without your wife? — No. Still, you nKiko another man wel-i come. "Costa" MncDonald: You and you* wife get on well together? — YeH. His Worship Bald ho couldn't suy what Coekroft was liko as a workman, but uh a father and husband ho wan not up to much. Ho believed ho hnd mado tho threats, but ho may not havo meant them. In tho matter of Cockroft being: at Fraser'a with Mrs. Delly, thoy wero two to two; Mrs. Cockrofi and her mother — Mrs. Delly and Cockroft As to Cockroft's word, his belief was ho was there. To him It sccmod that Mrs. Dolly had boitio power over Cockroft. She could do this with him (twisting ono thumb round tho other). Ho did not say ■ ANYTHING IMPROPER HAD TAKEN PLACE. His Worship then mado ao order for 30/-, along with a separation order, and asked "Costs" Mac Donald if he required £100 or £200 bond. "Costs" Mac Donald said £100 would do. His Worship: Mri». Cockroft wjll havo custody of tho child, and you have a week to find sureties of £100. Sonlor-serffcunt Homer then suit! ho would not n«k for a conviction, an ho believed Mrs. CockrofVa story. Tho Magistrate: >»*o, I discharge h*r —she would never have Bumshcd thoao window* If Cockroft. hnd not been thi'rn. She had no jrrudjjo nßulnHt Fruser or hIK lIOUHC. ThtiH i-tulod tho latent chapter lv thl.t matrimonial iuU-up,