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Observer, Volume 2, Issue 36, 21 May 1881, Page 385

Mrs. Lawlor, the wife of the bigamous butcher, who has recently concluded a term of enforced retirement in Mount Eden, and who was sued for maintenance last week, tells a piteous story in connection with the pursuit of her recalcitrant spouse. It appears the pair, ie., Lawlor and his first wife lived for a long tiin°.in Melbourne and got on capitally. Business, however, went wrong, and Lawlor came over to Auckland and started as a butcher in Wakefield-street. He wrote regularly to his Avife for three years, sending her money and addressing her in most affectionate terms. At length there came a time when Mrs. L. got a letter from him, saying he was going down South, and requesting her not to write to him till she heard his whereabouts. This seemed reasonable enough, and for three months the wife (though alone and almostpenniless) waited patiently. At the end of that time, beginning to feel anxious, she spoke to Captain Logan, of the "Hero," who, to her astonishment, said he had seen her husband in Auckland, and knew lie was doing well. Something in the Captain's manner roused Mrs. Lawlor's suspicions, and she made further enquiries, which resulted in her being told that the faithful and affectionate Lawlor had been married for three years to another woman. At first the outraged wife could hardly believe the story ; but the statement being fully corroborated, she took ship to Auckland and confronted the guilty butcher. Instead of showing himself penitent, Lawlor was fool enough to try and cow Mrs. L. He told her she couldn't prove she was his wife, and pretended to be indifferent to threats. This, however, didn't answer, and at length the fellow was driven to offer to keep her in a cottage in Auckland, retaining the other wife at the shop. The woman, however, would be no party to such a compromise. " Out of your house that too man goes," she said, referring to Mr. Lawlor's second matrimonial venture, " or into Mount Eden you go." Thinking he would soon bring her to, Lawlor pooli poohed this ; but, to his horror and disgust, his wife went to the police, and into Mount Eden he did go. The fellow is now out again, and his wife thinks he meditates bidding a fond farewell to Auckland. Hence the prosecution last week. "But," she says, "he won't get away from me. Wherever he goes I'll go ; and what's more, he'll have to

maintain me, too."