BURGESS AGAIN IN COURT

NZ Truth, Issue 1180, 12 July 1928, Page 5

BURGESS AGAIN IN COURT

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Christchurch Representative.)

P RE the ringing scorn of the coroner's scathing comments on his callous conduct had faded, William Burgess, the former Christchurch taxi-driver, whose heartless treatment drove Emily Martha Forward to suicide, was again facing the cold scrutiny of the law. He was called upon to answer the charge of his {egal wife that he had failed to comply with a maintenance order m favor of herself and two children. Ten days after the inquest, when he had stood unmoved under the whiplash of Coroner Mosley's censure, Burgess was back m ..the witnessbox, explaining his [axity m providing for his wife. He told a tale which was not calculated to impress Magistrate H: P. Lawry. Although he endeavored to appear cool and collected on his second appearance under the glaring light of publicity, he could not conceal the fact that he was somewhat 1 1 1 — at -ease. : . Gone was the oI d manner of self - assurance which was a distinguishing feature of tho man . when he faced the coroner at amazing inquest fully reported Jn a recent issue of "N.Z. Truth.". The charge he was called upon to answer on the information of his wife, Florence Rpwena Lavinia Burgess, was that he was £298 m arrears on > orders made m her favor by Magistrate Wyvern Wflson m 1924. ■■•.-. When called into the box by Maintenance Officer Percy Jones, Burgess said he was now working as a truck driver for a man at Amberley. He was earning £3 weekly with his keep. From the beginning of 1927 he had paid under' the order an average

of £I. ls. 6d. every week he declared. When employed by Rink Taxis, he had earned £4 12a. per week, but had considerable expenses to meet. Maintenance Officer Jones wanted to know whether, m 1927,. when hft was getting into arrears, he was mixed up with "this unfortunate young girl at Brighton." Burgess replied that it was not until the latter part of 1927. He was then questioned concerning two baches m which he had been interested at North ißrighton, a line of examination w h 1 c h prompted the magistrate to ask what he wante d wl l h these baches. Burgess replied that he had been let down by a .man named. Maine m oonneotion with one of them; as he had cleared out, he had to pay up the arrears himself. "The ben oh: "While your wife and children went without, you were oarrylngon these baches?" But. B urges* replied, some-' what vaguely, that he only had the baches for week-ends and casual visits by himself. Mainr tenance Officer Jonos: And did you think it a fair proposition to. ba Interested m two baches: -while your wife and children, battled along as best they could 7-^-Nb, 1 1, don't think It was a fair proposition. V; The bench: 'f/ou have no possible reason' or excuse for -having two baches and letting your wife got on as best she could. You will be sentenced to, three months', imprisonment, sentence to be withheld so long as you pay current maintenance and half-a-crown weekly off the arrears." I And so another chapter m the life of this heartbreaking sheikh was