DOUBLE CHARTS AND DICE FLUTTERS

NZ Truth, Issue 1188, 6 September 1928, Page 8

DOUBLE CHARTS AND DICE FLUTTERS

GLADYS MARGARET MARTIN, charming young wife of James Martin, the A r ery Much Younger, S.P.Q.R. bootstoreman, of Wellington, experienced all those sensations, as well as the , pangs of neglect and indifference arising from, her husband's attitude. . If she was unsuccessful m securing a separation order, at least she achieved the satisfaction of listening to Magistrate Salmon bestow ' an oral spanking upon her somewhat immature husband. . Martin, asserted the bench, had little or no sense of responsibility as a father or a husband. His wife was justified m leaving him as a protest against his conduct and general neglect of her. The silly, flippant life which he had led, exemplified an existence, which, the magistrate believed, received inspiration only m the mind of a modern novelist. Martin's' folly could be cured only by the passage of years and worldly experience. It was his duty to adjust his perspective and make some material advances towards a reconciliation, but until that was consummated he would have to pay his wife £2 per week, so that she and their one child should not be reduced to a state of destitution. Since their marriage m 1923, said Mrs. Martin, they had lived m various parts of Wellington, until finally her husband purchased a house m Coutts Street, Kilbirnie, on the mortgage plan. The reason why she had applied for maintenance orders m respect of herself and the child was because she had no means of sub- • sistence; nor had she any. regular income, even when she and Martin were living together. Apparently, it was his custom to give

Flashlight Photograph Gave Martin's Game Away

SIX NIGHTS A WEEK SHALT THOU STAY OUT! niMiimiiHiiminiiiiHiiiiimiiiiiiiiHiiinnMiiiiimiHiiMiiiimiimmiu '. (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) When Suspicion, grey and forbidding, sits upon the chimney pots, chattering and leering his mocking story of some infidelity, the young wife whose heart is alight with the joy of new responsibilities, laughs at the shadow e of ill omen, believing that the story holds no significance for her. But the harsh cackling is so insistent, that at length she feels constrained to listen. Gradually, she traces the suggestion of coincidence m her own husband's conduct . . . and she begins to doubt. And when Doubt stalks across the threshold, Discovery proceeds amain to belabor the senses with enlightenment— and Disillusion plays havoc with the weapons of Discovery.

When they moved to Kilbirnie, she begged him to stop his gambling at the club, but he replied that he hoped to make more money there. At four o'clock one morning, he came home drunk, giving the stumbling explanation that his visit to the club had been more protracted than he anticipated, when, as a matter of fact, she knew he had been to a party elsewhere. A few days afterwards she was passing a photographer's shop m Vivian Street, when she noticed a flashlight photograph of a convivial dance, :n which her husband seemed to be prominently featured. He was well to the front, with a lady from a visiting revue company affectionately poised on his knee. Some time later he came home at midnight, slightly the worse for drink. As he came into the hall, he asked: "Did you have a bath?" "No," she replied. "I thought not," was his answer. When he came Into her bedroom, she I hit him across the mouth for what she oonsidered was his disgusting comment. Three or four weeks ago, he. went to Paremata for the week-end, without saying a word to her. 7 When, on the Monday morning, she went into the shop and asked him why he had not let her know, he replied that he did not decide to go until late on Saturday. > iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiii|iiii!iiiiuiiiiiiiiir

This man Harry is a barman, i6n't he?— Yes. Hightly or wrongly, didn't your husband object to the presence of this man m your home? — Not to me. Mr. Harry was there only on my husband's invitation. Didn't Martin say he didn't like Harry to be there, as he was a bit of a "Shrewdie" ?— No ! (m a surprised tone). Is It correct that Martin alleged that you had misconducted yourself with Harry? — Yes, but it wasn't true. Her counsel: How often has this man Harry been to your .

house? — Not half-a-dozen times. Has he ever been there when Martin wasn't home 7 — Only once, and that

was when my husband gave him a parcel to take home. He stayed for tea on that occasion and then went out with my husband. Herbert William Harry said he had known Martin for about six months. Lawyer Scott: You are supposed to be the bone of contention, aren't you? — Yes. Have you ever heard that Martin objected to your going to the house and that he made certain allegations against you? — Yes, but as. soon as I heard it I ceased going to the Martins' house. Did he ever ask you to take home

Husband Objected

a parcel for him?— Yes, he got some fruit from somewhere and he asked me to carry it home for him; I don't know whether It was conceit or laziness on his part that prompted Mm to ask me. He was a good friend of mine till recently. Have you ever been with him to the Courtenay Club? — Yes, I am sorry to say, I have. How often have you seen him there? —Oh, well, Innumerable times.

If he says he has been there only twice? — Then he would say anything. He used to borrow the key of your house, didn't he? —Yes. Have you ever seen him m your house? — with a girl.

Yes, he

Any signs of conviviality? — Well, they had evidently been lubricating themselves up for the evening. With what? — Port wine. They were m a little back bedroom off the kitchen. They seemed quite at home. How often did he borrow the key? — Three or four occasions. Do you remember being at a party m Mrs. Martin's house . ' . and then you and Martin taking two girls home? — Yes, we went to my place. How long were you there? — Oh, about half an hour. • ' Lawyer Leicester: You know very little about the life of the Martins, I

was

suppose? — No, and I don't want to know, either. The defendant, a fair-haired stripling of 27 years, with a bumpy forehead offset by a rather petulant mouth, denied that his wife had wanted for either food or clothing. . ,I'he suggestion that she possessed only the clothes which she wore m court was absurd. Those stories of his going out every night m the week were nothing less than a string of lies, as he had taken her out at least twice a week and always received her permission to go anywhere. > He declared -.that Harry was a favorite every time and that the relationships between Harry and Mrs. Martin were such that at length Martin told Harry he must not come to the house when he (Martin) was not there' The extent of his gambling was an innocent game of billiards, said Martin, and he had not been there more than three times m all. Sometimes he would go home to tea, to find nobody at home and no food m the hoVse, so he was obliged to go out and buy something. His wife neglected him entirely and had no interest m the house. Nor had he ever visited Harry's house m company with other women. He suggested that the reason for Harry's making such a statement was because Harry had been warned to keep away from the Martins' house. IHIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

If your wife says that you told her they played dice there? — She is a liar* I see! Then she Is bad-tempered, a bad cook, one of the frying-pan brigade; she neglects you, she is a liar . . . and yet you want her back? — (A muffled "Yes" from the direction of the witness-stand). Now, who* was m that party •to Paremata ? — Harry Lloyd, the jewelled, my brother and his girl and I. Did you spend the night In a small bach?— Yes. . You would be the spare wheel of the coach, wouldn't you?— (Mumble). That Jeweller friend of yours?— He Is no friend bf mine. But sufficiently a friend for ypu to take him to Paremata for the weekend!— They went In my brother's car. Oh, I seel 80 you drove out there alone I (sarcastically)— Yea (renewed laughter). Isn't it a fact that you asked Harry to take home some bananas for you?-* Yob, and he took home a bottle of gin, too. Did you have any?— No, It was gone when I got home. Good heavens! Was your wife sober? — Oh, yes. fc She must be a fairly heavy 'drinker to have drunk half a bottle of gin m an afternoon!— Yes, she does drink a bit. ' You objected to Harry going to your place that afternoon, even though at your request? — It isn't a proper thing to do, you know (with an injured air) . It isn't a proper thing for a girl you don't know to be sitting on your knee, after a pony shandy, either? — (Positive gurgles of laughter from the public rail). ■"-_-. 1 . Have you ever seen- any familiarity [between Harry and your wife?— No. Don't you think it is an extraordinary