DIVERSION IN COURT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11593, 11 January 1916, Page 5

DIVERSION IN COURT.

ROW OVER POSTCARDS.

A DOMESTIC FLARE-DP.

The ordinary hard-luck stories of maintenance defaulters wero relieved this morning at tho Magistrate's Court by an unexpected diversion, caused by a man and his wife.

The husband, for whom Mr Cuningham appeared, s"aid he was quite willing to pay the £2 arrears if his wife would stop sending indecent and suggestive post-cards to him through tho public post.

Mr Bishop said that the post-cards di'd not alter tho fact that the man was £2 behind in his payments. Mr Cuningham agreed, but said that tho post-cards were indecent, and had made the man the laughing stock of the district.

Mr Bishop: Oh! indecent. That's a different matter. Let me see them.

The cards were handed up to tho Magistrate, who commenced reading: "Tho look on your fa'co reminds me of old times." (Laughter.) Mr Bishop: Well that's not so bad. The face probably did remind him of old times. (Renewed laughter.) Tho husband: It wouldn't be so bad your Worship if she paid the postage on them.

The Magistrate: Oh! You have to pay tho doublo postage. Mr Bishop (reading another card). To err is human, to kiss divine." (Laughter). Further reading of the manuscript on the cards revealed suggestions that the husband had separated from his wife and was living with, or preferred another woman. Mr Bishop said that the writing did not appaar to be tho woman's, although he thought that the address was. The husband: No, your Worship, she's too cunning to write them herself. She gets someone else to do it for her. But she sends them all right. Mr Bishop (to the woman): Look here, you know you can't send things like this through the post, or I shall siispend the order. To Mr Cuningham: I suppose the Post Office sees them.

The woman indignantly denied that sho sent the cards, but admitted that she had previously been warned about it. The Magistrate (to the husband): Are you willing to pay the arrears? If you are, I'll make no order. The husband: Yes. The Magistrate: All right. No order.

The wife: Please, your Worship, may I say a word? Mr ITlshop: What does she say? The court orderly: She wants to know if she can say something.

Mr Bishop: All "right. What is it? The wife: He (indicating her husband with a toss of her head) used to keer> French pictures.

The husband: Your Worship, that's a d lie. The wife: You had them at Halswell. Mr Bishop: Well, I don't know what French pictures are, anyway. The wife: Oh, you know, those filthy things. The husband here commenced a tirade against his wife, finishing up by calling her a bpast.

The wife (flaring up): Yes, your Worship, that's just what he' used to call me at home.

The belligerents were still spitting venom when the next case was called.