A WOMAN'S DOWNFALL.

West Coast Times, 24 November 1915, Page 4

A WOMAN'S DOWNFALL.

I _ . _ I'ATHKTIC STORY TOM) IN COCiKT CHARGE OF BREAKING AND ENTERING AND THEFT. CHRISTCH t'RCH. November 20 A case presenting some unusual tvatnivs was beard at tbe magistrate's ('unit tbis morning, before Messrs Clarke u.id 11. Crowther, J.P., Margaret Cusworth, a married woman, was ebarged that on tbe 10th day of November, at Spreydon, she did break and enter tbe dwellinghonse of Vivian Orant, and did steal therefrom a gold wristlet watch valued at £6, and bottle of whisky valued at 7s Od. Mr. A. T Donnelly appeared fcr the accused. E lith Mamie Orant, residing at -‘id H -dnilh Avenue. Spreydon, gave evideiiee that on Wednesday, November Hull, she left her house at about 2.0 p.iu., locking the house and placing the key under a blanket on a table in the wash-house. On retiirning at about 1.40 pm. witness found the key where she had left it, but the back door was unlocked. She missed the nroperty mentioned, and found traces that the house had been entered. W line->, knew accused personally. Detective Ward said he arrested the accused on Thursday, November llth. She denied committing the theft, but afterwards admitted il. She said she was hiingrv, and had sold the watch li, a seciid-hand shop for Is. Witness areoinpanied her to the shop and discovered the watch. In her statement to him accused said that she had been married 'for over six years and that he»* husband was a music teacher. About two tears ago she bad found that her husband was going with another tvonia". She started drinking, and in May this year her husband told her that she had better go to work. She worked up country for six weeks, sendIn,, her wages during this time to hei husband. She came hack to Chnslchurcli because her baby was ill. and found her husband living in the same house as the other woman. She asked him for hoard, bul he told her to get h.ard where she liked. Since then she thev were living together. Slfe had vi.Mled the place where her husV/ld lived and gone on her knees to both him and the woman, but bad received no help. She committed the offences because she was starving and had nowhere to go. On the night before sbe bad walked tbe river banks. Her husband had encouraged her to drink. „img her money for the purpose when they were living togethed. She had also stated that she had boon m service since coming to Christchurch from the country.

Mr. F. W. Johnston said lie "’as representing the man. He could not make a statement, though tli c Imsband was quite, willing to do so. The husband's lips were sealed, as he , could not give evidence against his wife. Mr. Donnelly said the husband . would have an opportunity to make a ’ statement in future proceedings. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence. The accused was also charged that on November Oth. she stole from the residence of Vivian Grant, a greenstone and gold bangle valued at £■> I Os. After evidence was heard, accused = pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for sentence, to remain in charge of the Salvation Armv Home in the meantime.