PARKER v. PARKER.

NZ Truth, Issue 127, 23 November 1907, Page 6

PARKER v. PARKER.

Is the Woman a Pro,?

A . rare old tale of sin was told at the." Christchurch ' Police , Court, when a, maintenance case, Parker \\. Parker, was dealt with. A good while ago Charles Parker, who now drives a fish cart, was ordered , to contribute 7s 6d per week towards the support of his wife, Mary. But this hasn't been done, and it wasn't until £56 was owing that shq took action for the recovery of arrears. Mr Donnelly, who appeared for the defendant, said that the man couldn't be .expected to pay anything at all, as she went to live with another man, and had been leading a scandalously bad life. In short; ■ she was a prostitute, and wasn't entitled to any consideration at all.- :

The complainant said the money was owing ; he had paid her nothing;. At present she was suffefih'g from bad eyes, and was> under the' care of two doctors. She had been working m different places— at Marton and m the Waikato, but had bad to relinquish it.. ■..'•■■ ' ■ ,

Counsel : Haven't you been convicted of keeping a brothel ?;— No.

What have you .been convicted for, then ?— Only for drinking; a 'bottle of beer on another maii's premises^ m Wellington. : : ■ '

How many times ?— Oh, it doesn't matter how many 1 times. Oh, doesn't it ; well, didn't A CHINAMAN PAY THE FINE ? 'No. he didn't.

Who are you staying with now-.'— With Mrs Davis at Halswell— a friend of mine. '

Don't you come to town at night ? —No. .

And haven't you been seen m town with, black eyes ?— Never.'

Have you not been warned by the police about your conduct •?— No.

Aren'.t you classed by them as one of those undesirable women who frequent houses of ill-fame— houses they are . always keeping; an eye on ?—De-, cidedty not.

The defendant, m the course of his evidence, stated that 'his wife was at present living with- a man at Harwell. He had seen her with men on the ri*rer bank two or three times, ami going ;into the gardens. She had been hunted away when drinking -beer with three. men m one of the local square's. The witness then went on to say that the w oman used to live with a Chow named Joe Lee m Wellington — a nice consort, to be sure. Further, that when going along ' Ma-dras-street at' six o'clock m the morning,'he;'had- seen madam walking along 'with her hair' down accompanied by three men. She was a , beer soaker, and "even if he could pay herthe money wd.uld only go m beer, or be spent m the bad houses of the town. When she left him she sold the house over his head. •

Magistrate Day said that as the woman hadn't* chosen to enforce ' th« order • ;f or . $ucli .. . a . : long period, he would ■kridck £50 off it, ' leaving £6 ss^ due. Defendant must go on- paying the 7s. 6d ordered, and 2s Gd off the remaining arrears. What he 'should have done when he knew of his wife's conduct was to get the order cancelled. Mr- Donnelly said this would be done.