WIDOW’S WEAKNESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16940, 15 January 1923, Page 7

WIDOW’S WEAKNESS.

A COURT VIGNETTE. A tall, gaunt woman, clothed in widows’ weeds, with a straggling necklet round her thin throat listened impassively to a. son’s story of her weakShe had been drunk for weeks it was stated, and last Saturday, for the first time in a life of toil, she fell into the hands of the police. To-day she had to fate a Magistrate for her offence. The charge was read and there was a stir in the Court, but no policeman came forward to give evidence. The woman stared in front of her and then, as she turned her head to one side,, she saw her son in the witness box. “Yes.” he began.” she’s been drink ing for months, for years. She lives by herself and T know that if she is left alone in liquor, she will be burning her house and killing herself. I want her put away for her own good. Father had often spoken to me about it. but ho’.i been dead n fortnight now, and I thought I’d better do it.” The woman listened and little but a convulsive movement of her mouth showed her emotion. Perhaps she was thinking how sad a thing it was foi- a woman to hear her son talking against her. even though it might be for her own good. With head bowed and eyes glistening with tears, she listened to the Magistrate » analysis of the son’s accusations. lie said she was a poor, lonely woman, stricken in years, and as for her life, to the knowledge of the police, it was blameless. He then spoke quietly of lie?- recent widowing, and a few minutes later the woman was Jed weeping from the dock, not listening to the strictures out upon her by the new issued prohibition order