THE FAMILY PURSE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2144, 29 July 1907, Page 1

THE FAMILY PURSE.

A DOMESTIC BREEZE IN COURT Tho question as to who should hold tlie purse was a problem which camo before Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., Christchurch, recently, when the wife of an old-age pensioner complained, that, her -husband was not allowing her sufficient moans of subsistence. The lady stated that her husband was employed in the slaughter yards, and during the last five weeks had not contributed to her support. He resided with her, and she was obliged to work, so as to keep defendant, herself, and two children, aged five and seven rospectivolv. j The husband, who was stone deaf, and, as the Magistrate remarked, appeared to be somewhat mentally deficient, then went into the box, and said, during the course of a long rambling. statement, that he had been married twenty-five years. “We got on without extra dispute or anything hk> that,” he continued, “and have never been separated. "We have always held one purse. Tho only thing wrong is that during those years I have had to put up with a longtongued, short-tempered, and an extraordinarily extravagant wife.” mucll (1 ° y°u earn?” asked tbs Magistrate, after tho defendant Im-J poured forth a voluminous statement about “an incident” of his wiles extravagance. I can t hear,” said the defendant. J. thought’ not,” remarked His Worship; “but you make up for it by talking. The man seems muddled awl the case will have to stand down till the end, and then we can hear ' hat he has got to say.” When it was called' later, the com-

plainant stated that defendant was an old ago pensioner, and was in reCO, J?. 10s a week.

The Court orderly said that ho would try and make the defendant hear, but even his stentorian voice railed to penetrate defendant’s deafness and he was forced to writ© the questions, which defendant answered b \'!° p " rpo - s ! "' ith great volubility. , Magistrate having become* ex<<n,!l tCCI t j? IS i,m o, remarked: Oidei make for 10s a week. An old age pensioner cannot he asked to coi'tnhutc any more than that. Court % ? d tL at fch? d ' and fol ' th "- ith ! -

T°Y I ,\ a,ve to pa.v 10s a week,” refomkmt. tllG defendant ’ s "' ife *o de-

_ “ Is t! ; at aII >” he replied, his deafsuddenly disappearing. “Why Is a the nf than l, paid before! is the case over? ,, Receiving a reply in the affirmaCot'u+l pair immediately left the riddle , eo “ plam “t to solve the riddle how to keep herself and tuo flndJiT f n 10s a "' oek > and the deling deaf. COngrat " lafco himse,f on