AN IRISH RISE

NZ Truth, Issue 1192, 4 October 1928, Page 9

AN IRISH RISE

Bench Soon Settles Stent's Health

(From "N.Z. . Truth's" Wanganui Rep.) "The smith, a mighty man was he---." But Robert William Stent was the antithesis of Longfellow's hero. In order to build himself physically to the standard of the bard's immortal personality he left his wife and the little Stents and travelled to New Plymouth m company with an Irish girl. She paid all the exes. JHUS Robert, -who had left his wife destitute m Wanganui, was made to toe the mark before Magistrate J. S. Barton last Saturday when he was charged with failure to maintain.. "_Qhe sweet Irish colleen, Kathleen ,McFadgen, who had followed the recalcitrant ( Robert down from New Plymouth also appeared m court. She was charged with aiding and abetting Robert, a charge somewhat unique In New Zealand and possibly the first of its kind. Ka.thleen, who was tastefully attired sat rather nervously m court and shuffled her dainty limbs while Stent's wife said lots of things about her unfaithful spouse. Kathleen cheered him occasionally with a beaming, smile which Stent reciprocated. However, the smile came off his face later on m the box when he had to undergo a withering cross-fire of questions froiji the magistrate and from Police- Sergeant Sivyer. ; Robert admitted that he had been m hospital with pneumonia. He went away with the fair Kathleen and they stayed at Waverley, Hawera and New Plymouth under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Stead and Kathleen, goodnaturedly, paid all the hotel expenses. She even went to the extent of buying him a suit of clothes. Stent said that the reason he went away was because Dr. A.d.ams had told ' him to look after himself and he wanted to build up his health. Mrs. Stent informed the court that they had been separated for over a year and that during the last three months Stent's contributions to maintenance were not at all satisfactory and sometimes he gave her only a few odd shillings and never more than a' pound at a time. -When -he was m hospital she went to see him, but he told her to keep away. He wrote to her after he [came out. and told her not to bother about the' rent and enclosed £1 to buy food and clothing for the children. He did not say where he was going to. Sergeant Sivyer related how he had found Mrs. Stent and her four young children wandering about the streets destitute some months ago. For His Health There was no furniture m the house .peciipied by Mrs. Ste.nt except .'.- two 'Seats and a box for a ta!ble. Th_ family slept on the floor. Stent had promised to maintain his family and on that promise proceedings were withdrawn. "I'm lucky to be alive," said Stent when .his turn came in ' the box. He went on to relate . that owing to his illness, he was not fit to follow his usual . occupation. The day of his arrest he had got a job canvassing for the electrolux at New Plymouth and they had told him that he could make up to £17 a week In commission If he sold one every day. Sergeant Sivyer then commenced to ask Robert some nasty questions about the lady m the case and he replied that he objected to answering them. S.M.: You will answer the lot, and, what's more, I am taking a shorthan.d, note and if you don't answer truthfully you may t find yourself the subject of another charge. Robert said that he would tell the truth. You went away with this woman for the benefit of your health you said? — Yes, Dr. Adams told me to go. S.M.: Who paid the hotel bills?— My lady friend. Sergeant Sivyer: After this case is it your intention to go back ' to her? — That depends. S.M.: It depends on what? Is it your intention to go back? — I am easy about It. Sei-geant Sivyer: And you are also easy abbut your wife and family. Have you an arrangement about divorce? — I said if my wife divorced me I would marry Kathleen. Robert then swelled out his manly chest and remarked: "My lady friend over there was good enough to help me to get my health and strength back or I don't know what would have happened to the little children. She even promised to go out and work herself to help me to keep them. That's how good it is." S.M.: You are wearing a coat which is quite new. Where did you get that? — My lady friend bought it for me. S.M.: Just so. Robert was then ordered to pay £3/10/- per week maintenance to his family. In regard to the other charge, the magistrate said that it was typical of other cases, now unfortunately only too frequent, ' of husbands neglecting, their wives and going away with other women. He remanded Robert till Tuesday and said he would then give him the opportunity of finding a monetary security that he would' maintain his family or go to gaol for six months and work there during the latter' three to maintain them. / When Kathleen had her turn on the charge of aiding and abetting Robert, the magistrate suggested that the police offer no evidence, which was agreed to. He said she had been foolishly , infatuated Avith, this man and apparently did not want to be sepa--rated from him.