PITIFUL STORY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 894, 13 August 1910, Page 5

PITIFUL STORY.

A WOMAN'S MARRIED LIFE. "SUFFICIENTLY PUNISHED.". (By Tdeeraiih.-Prcae Association J Auckland, August 12. "The tale which I have to unfold is most pitiful—as pitiful as one could conceive," remarked Mr. Earl in pleading in the Supremo Court to-day for leniency for Mary Josephine Malam, .'• who had pleaded guilty at Kotorua tocommitting bigamy. Shu was entirely penniless, said epunsol, who mentioned that he had been desired by llotorua residents who were acquainted with the prisoner to appear on her behalf. Tho story which ho had to tell, the Court would, he was sure, considerably mitigate tho otVenco of which she was guilty, and he did not think that his Honour would find, it in ..his heart to punish the woman, or rather to increase the punishment which she had already undergone. Prisoner was married' to Alalam in 1901, and they lived together ill various places. Malam was.a-wan-dering - character;*, ho worked spasmodically only, and their landlord shifted the household effects because of arrears of rent. Malam failed to provide a proper home and food and clothing. for- his wife aiid children, aud whenever he had a few shillings he preferred to go to a /hotel, and. make a good fellow of himself amongst his ' 'associates. Tho ulimax of the ill-treatment to which she had been subjected was reached nne night when'she- obtained hor husband's permission -to • go"to a social gathering—a place where "shabby •' clothua I'oulil.bo worn—with a, lady.

friend; It was.the first_that she had gono.to for years. On returning, after 11 o'clock, prisoner found that she was locked out, a,nd remained on tne verandah all night. In the morning she remonstrated with her husbjnd, and he said: "I am sick of you, and I;will'bo better without you." The woman was then desperate, and went to work as a waitress in different dining-rooms . in the city, subsequently going to '■ Rotorua, and always working hard, indusand honestly. She was denied possession of her youngest children, o£ whom there were four, and was also denied access to them, but when at Roto-

rua she mado frequent efforts to see them. It was at Botorua that she met - a man nameil Morse, and, yielding to the temptation of having a home for herself and her children (who were being grossly neglected), and a deep attachment having been formed, she consented to marry him. She had only been married a'short time when information was given to the polico, and she was prosecuted, pleading- "guilty" at once. ."The married life of this wo-. man," continued Mr. Earl, "has been : one of long punishment—one long misery—and it is extraordinary to my ■■ mind that she has held her head up so long under the trials to. which she has •".- \ been subjected.. Sho is weak, and low, and wretched, and has been so since : the'prosecution,was issued,against her. I urgo'on the Court to allow her pro- .-."■ bationi" It was added that friends of ;'■ prisoner's liad offered assistance to enable her to establish n small business and to support; herself aiid her chil- . dreii. . ■ : . • Witnesses were called to give particu- i larb of prisoner's unhappy married life, and tho neglect of her and her .children ~ by her husband, whom Constables Wain- : : house described as a "waster." - '; Sir. Tole supported, tho statement ■■ made by Mr. Earl, and said that all who knew prisoner. gave her an excel- ; lent' character for industry and hon- „ ; osty, while there' was nothing in tho ■ nature of reproach against her private '••.'■ character. . '. . • ■■••■■ • ~His Honour said that it was'not-ne-cessary in the interests of society to send prisoner'to .gaol. She had no doubt been sufficiently punished, but it , : ' should not be supposed that lenient * treatment would bo meted out in simi- . lar offences except in most exceptional cases. His Honour convicted' prisoner and. ordered her to come up for sentence when called upon. .."