"THANKS FOR BEARING NO MALICE"

NZ Truth, Issue 1031, 29 August 1925, Page 7

"THANKS FOR BEARING NO MALICE"

I Lyall Bay Lady's Magnetism Demand for Delivery: Knotts Get Tangled On the supposition that Leslie Knott, lately of Gisborne, left that town en route for other climes, his wife Bella Aimie Leoni , Knott caused a warrant to be issued ati Gisborne, and the ' police located Leslie about a day's journey southward, at Wairoa. There, while at lunch, he was arrested, and was brought back to Gisborne. The Magistrate at Gisborne ordered that he be placed on probation for two years, and that he pay £1/10/---a week maintenance. ■ During the Court proceedings letters were read vindicating that a Mrs. McCarthy, of Lyall Bay, Wellington^ has recently presented Mr. Knott with a son, named after his father ; and that quite recently Mrs/McCarthy was '''pleased to hear" that Mr Knott was "coming home" (the said liome not being Gisborne).

I ESLIE KNOTT and his better halfL, (writes "Truth's" Gisborne rep.) have been washing their dirty linen m the Magistrate's Court at Gisborne. Bella Aimie Leoni . Knott, who had taken Leslie for better or for worse, told a harrowing story, which certainly seemed to • bear out her contention that . she haft not seen much of the "better" part of matrimonial bliss. ■ A lady of Lyall Bay, Wellington, a Mrs. McCarthy, figured prominently m the case, the aforesaid dame being m the habit of writing affectionate letters to 'Leslie, and usurping Bella Aimie's right t 0 call him hubby. Senior Sergeant Fitzpatrick conducted the case for the police, Leslie having been located at Wairoa, en route for other climes. The 'complainant was represented by Lawyer J. S. Wauchop. Another Woman. Lawyer Wauchop said that the reason for the case being laid under the Destitute Persons Act was 'to. -prevent' Knott leaving the country. The nuptial knot had been tied by the Knotts m August, 1921, and the life thereafter had not proved the proverbial bed of roaes. The Magistrate: Whaf s the real cause of the trouble? — Another woman who calls herself his wife. I don't know whether she really is or not. Knott: Sho is not. My only wife is m Court. ' Continuing, Lawyer Wauchop said that the woman m question,'- Mrs. McCarthy, of Lyall Bay, Wellington, was making' arrangements to go- and live with Knott's mother 'in England, and there was. no doubt that defendant intended going there also. There had been plenty of letters passing between Mrs. McCarthy and Knott. Samples oO these letters wore read out m Court, these expressing the languishing' feelings of the 'Wellington lady, waiting for her Leslie to show

up on the horizon. A typical example read as follows:—

My Dear Hubby Lete, — Just a line m h»aste to answer your welcome letter, aflso wire. Lies, I am so pleased, to hear 1 , you are coming home next week, i am very excited, and long for next \week to come. I have found it very hartd £6 keep up, but now you are coming h6me I. shall be relieved of all duties. What day will you be coming home? 1 will write again before you come hoime. I shall [talk for a year when you c*ome down; you will want to tie my tofigjue down. Leslie is doing well, and >oh I am longing for you to see hinr. We are shut up m the house as the Fleet is here and .... . We are ipot going to see the Fleet. I always' lock the house up before dark so as toi be safe. Well, .dear, I shall tell you all the news when you come home. All join m sending love and kisses. Nok-v, dear, I shall have to close to catch tl-jie mail. With love and kisses, . To My Dear One, Your fond and loving wiSe, . LiOU. It was explained that the "Leslie*" referred to m the letter was a child born to Mrs. McCarthy and Knott last March. The defendant could not of course explain whether he would hiave wished to tie Lou's tongue down as she suggested, for the simple reason that the rude interference of the police had upset his plans and postponed his intended visit to Wellington. Counsel for the complainant incHicated that Knott had acted with regrettable deceit towards his wife, far on the Monday when he was ■ quietly making off for the Queen City, he told her that he had ■ got a position as a driver for the Vacuum Oil Co. Apart from the cruelty disclosed by his dealings with other women, Knotty had often thrashed his wife, doing sex | as recently as the • previous Wednesday. , . , • ■ :

Bella Aimie Leoni Knott said that their married life had not been happy, and m June, 1924, Knott had left her while they were m Wellington. She saw him one ,d.ay m the car, [ and asked him to return, and as I he -would not tell her she followed him and found that he was stay- | ing at Resolution Street, Lyall Bay. She later came to Gisborne, and Knott returned. Soon after he arrived, letters began to come from the Wellington woman, one of which she had sent on to her mother-in-law m England. The daughter of the woman m Wellington had written to witness, and, m response to the reply sent by witness, had said that it was her place to send Les back to Wellington. She added as a postscript, "Thanks for bearing no ! malice?" On the previous Wednesday, when she and her husband had quarrelled over the letters from Wellington, he had thrashed her so badly that she was il! for several days. When Tempers Meet. Knott: You say that it's my illtreatment that made you go to bed? — Yes. Kno'tt: I know 1 should not have lifted my hand to a woman, but, with a temper like mine, and a temper like yours, and your continual nagging, it's no wonder. Are there any more letters? Are there any more letters? Wasn't it a bad colcl that you went to bed with? — No, and you know it. i Defendant then made a suggestion about his wife, connected with her character. Mrs. Knott (yelling loudly): Prove it. Prove it. Knott: "What about the photo on the Avail? I know the doctov is dead, but you and your people want to crush me and drive me to suicide. I'm fed up with it all. You want to crush me like that," concluded the witness, clenching his fist. Mrs. Knott: Prove it. Prove it. • The Magistrate: That will do now. I've had a good insight into both your natures. Mrs. Knott (m fiery tones) : I'll make , you prove your words. The Magistrate: Be quiet. Giving evidence, Knott said that he and his wife had separated for a time, and he went to stay with Mrs. McCarthy, being then under the impression that his wife did not want him any longer. When a telegram came to say that a child had been born, letters followed, and his wife kept on saj'ing: "Any more letters, any more letters?" "I'm fed up with it all," wont on the witness; "I'm tired of living and I'm up to my neck m debt. I had a job offered me with the Harbor Board, ( and then one at the hospital, but my wife would not let me take it, because I had to sleep up there, cind she was afraid I would get out with the nurses. It's pure jealousy, and I'm fed up of being here. I have no intention of leaving the country, whether a bond is taken out or not." The Magistrate ordered that defendant be placed on probation for two years, and that .he pay 30s a week maintenance.