BROKEN UP THE HOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11026, 14 March 1914, Page 7

BROKEN UP THE HOUSE.

BYRON SHIVERS IN DOCK. "CIVE ME ONE MORE CHANCE." BENCH THREATENS ROTO ROA. Having broken his prohibition order repeatedly, and getting very drunk each time, proceeded homo and smashed up his furniture, and his wife, and frightened the children out of thoir seven senses, Arthur Edward Bryon appeared in the dock at the Magistrate's Court to-day to answer his eighth charge of breach of tho order to an irata and disgusted Magistrate, Mr H. W. Bishop, S.M. "I am very sorry," he began, shivering in the dock, and turning green with fright. "This man's wife says that lie went home drunk and broke up tlio furniture," said Senior-Sergeant Mathieson. "This is his eighth breach in three years."

His wife, a decent-looking woman, who appeared as if she had had her spirit broken by' ill-treatment, appeared in the Court, crying silently and hopelessly. "You have broken the whole houso up." she said to Byron, in heartbroken accents.

"Twill replace it." he said. "No, you cfin't replace it," she said, in dull despair. "You have smashed up all my furniture, and all my little ornaments that I treasured." "Yes I will. Nellie."

"You went and told a second-hand dealer I had run. away with another man," continued. Mrs Byron. " What do you want me to do with him?" asked Mr Bishop of the wife. "I lyill send him to Roto Roa if you say so "

"Please don't, Nellie," pleaded the accused. "Give me one more chance, please! T will bo a good boy." "You have promised so often' before," she said.

" I will boa Good Templar," he pleaded. "I will bo a good husband to you, Gome on. Nellie! Since I have been behind prison bars I have boon miserable.' I want to get free." " What do you want, mo to do?" asked'Mr Bishop of the wife. " Give rue a chance. for the sake of tb" little ones," pleaded Byron. It is for the sake of the little ones that. I have done what T have," said tbo wife, li I don t know what ■to do

In reply to a question, tho woman said that she had six children. "And he treats you like thatl" said Mr Bishop. After a lot more pleas from Bvron and the wife being unable to decide' tho Magistrate said that lie would or' der the accused to como np for sentence when called upon. "If l 1() jii_ treats you again," said the.Magistrate "I will send him for two years to Roto Roa."

"If he will promise——" she bean. "Yea, T will," began Byron eagerlv, ready to promise anything, " I will not ask him for a promise " said tho Magistrate. "I have no trust in these fellows. He has played on his wife's feelings here.''

Byron left the Court quite jauntily, having got a further lease.