A MAINTENANCE MATTER.

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 4

A MAINTENANCE MATTER.

GAY DOG'S GAY DOINGS.

Frank Curtis' Curious Conduct.

Deserts Wife aud Children and

Runs a Harem.

Some scorching remarks were made at the Christchurch Police Court during the 'hearing of a maintenance case the applfcant for alimony, m which was Mary Curtis, the defendant being Fiank Curtis, otherwise Frank Webb, medical spiritualist, of G<huz-nee-street, Wellington. Mrs CuTtis was represented by Mr Leatham, who gave Curtis, or Webb, a beautiful character. He said . that the man got 18 months' gaol atDunedin and that his wife stood by him and worked for their three children. On his release, however, Webb didn't evince much partiality for the sooiety of his family, and the wife ultimately got an order of the Court for the payment of fifteen shillings a week towards the support of the children. There was no. arrangement as regards 'herself, but he gave her money ma spasmodic sort of way. He was m business m Christchurch for \ time and then went to Wellington and set up there. Counsel alleged that . when Wehb left Christchurch, he took with him the daughter of very respectable p/arents. but what had become of her he didn't know. However, he was now /

LIVING WITH ANOTHER WOMAN', , •- - who had servants to/ wadt on her. Seeing that his wife was m want and that he had left her destitute m Dunedin, his conduct was most 'shameful, particularly as ne was paying 10s a week each for two illegitimate children m Christchurch. This last statement made the Bench sit up, and listen. Mrs Curtis went up to Wellington' recently and found that her husband was paying £2 l£>s for his place m G-huznee-street and £1 15s a week for a private house. She called at the house and asserted herself, but Webb's fancy woman told her to begone or she would send for the police, as she was an intfpostor. The speaker who yapped this out m a tone of indignation said that she herself was Mrs Webb, and that there was no other, and ass she could get no satisfaction the aggrieved wife returned to Christohurch and initiated the present proceedings. Counsel characterised Webb as being the most unmitigated scoundrel m New ' Zealand. Mr Cunningham, who appeared for the defendant, - .-

MADE THE EXTRAORDINARY ' STATEMENT

that Webb was only earning from £2 to £3 a week as a canvasser, and that he could only afford- to pay his wife 15s a week. Magistrate Day said that a man who kept a woman could afford to keep his wife, and he made an order for a pound a week. Now Lawyer Leatham is issuing an other summons m regard to the three children Webb only pays fifteen bob a week for, whereas he parts 10 bob each for his two illegitimates, so Leatham wants the legal children raised to the standard of the love children m regard to keep. Webb is evidently a pretty gay dog.