A WHOLESALE FATHER.

NZ Truth, Issue 64, 8 September 1906, Page 4

A WHOLESALE FATHER.

Watts' Wicked Wooings.

A bright young scoundrel is Harry James Watts, who was up before the Christchurch Police Court this week on a charge of having failed to provide for his illegitimate son, the progeny of a blue-eyed, short, mincing girl named Dulcie Barber. Henry James admitted paternity, but he said he was poor. Well, the girl looked poor enough, but she was represented by Lawyer Leatham, who said he. desired to ask the young man a few questions. So the gay deceiver was placed m the box, and when counsel said that they had some trouble about finding him he admitted that he had done a guy to Geraldine after leaving Christchurch.

"Why couldn't you support this child ?" asked Leatham. "Well, I've got married since then."

"Oh, have you ; how did all this happen ?" "Well, I had my present wife m trouble at the same time."

Fancy the blackguard making a statement like that ! It throws a very bad reflection on the woman he is married to, and no wonder Magistrate Day said : "That's a nasty statement to make ; it's a wonder you didn't keep it to yourself."

However, Watts had admitted his double amour, and showed himself up iii his true character. Theje is nothing like being candid m the box, but it is only a scoundrel that would give his own wife away. It appeared from his own evidence that this fellow Watts had been working m a cordial factory and wasn't worth his salt. At any rate he swore that at Geraldine he only got 30s a week, and that at present he only made 25s a week. A waster, right enough, if his own evidence is to be believed. He said he had no particular trade, and that he only made money now and again, and lived with, his brother. At this stage some women sitting at the back of the court laughed, and the court orderly's abrupt remonstrance made them soon realise that they were committing a breach of the Fresh Food Act, or something. Then it transpired with great velocity that the accused had not paid the incidental expenses m connection with the confinement ; also, that two doctors attended the girL She was confined m a nursing home. The Magistrate ordered -Watts to pay 5s a week, and to find a security m £50 that, he'd na^ up. otherwise six months quod: / He gave him a week m order to find the security ; if not he will have to go up. The man who seduces two girls at one time is an ass, and when he's collared it is only right that he' should pay for his "trouble."