Alwkys In Debt

NZ Truth, Issue 1202, 13 December 1928, Page 5

Alwkys In Debt

thoug-h defendant had tried hard to get away alone. The climax of their disagreements came on October 7 last, when, after abusing his wife, Patterson told his father-in-law that he was "Too good for his daughter." Two. days before the court proceedings, defendant had come to witness' father's place, where she was now living, and acted like a "madman." "Do you go to races?" asked defending counsel, m commencing a lengthy cross-examination. Complainant replied that she did not, nor did she drink, as she. did not believe m either habits. Counsel: You are a prohibitionist, I suppose? — Yes. Do you suggest that you are entirely blameless? Have you been an., ideal wife? — We all have our faults. How often has your husband come home the worse for drink? — About four times a week. Has not the -whole trouble been through religion?— No. Didn't you absolutely get your husband fed up with religious stuff? — No. How many nights a week do you spend a<t the church? — One night. "Witness admittedthat she was closely connected with various branches of church- work, but not to the extent that it occupied four nights a week of her time. Counsel: Do you know this young fellow White — by the way, he's no relation of mme — he belongs to the Green Island sect, doesn't he?— Yes. How many times has White come back with you from these meetings? — Not so very often. My husband knows. During the last four months, how often — twenty or fifty times? — No. Not nearly twenty. Isn't it a fact that he has stayed at your home until nearly midnight?— No. Ten or half -past would be the latest. Witness could not affirm counsel's suggestion that Patterson had handed her £5 each week from his wages. Counsel: Why did you get him to mortgage the section for £30 ? — I didn't get him to mortgage it. The reason was because he was taking bets for a bookmaker and a man gave him three pounds to put on a horse, but he kept the money and the horse won ... It cost him thirty-two pounds. • Are you m debt ?— Yes. We have been m debt ever since we were married. Then why did you not pay your debts out of the' £60 you had saved up? That was a very dishonest thing for a Christian lady to do?— I did pay off a bit on each, but if. I'd had any brains I should have paid them all.

home and discuss Biblical matters with her? — Yes, sometimes. How often?— ' Once a week, perhaps. Did you ever stay until midnight ?-rNO. You usually stayed pretty late? — I did not. And you noticed this man trying to restrain his temper? — It appeared so, yes. Would you be surprised to know that you are cited as the sole reason of this trouble? — He spoke to me once that I was the cause of inducing his wife into the church work. Why did you have to see Mrs. Patterson once, a week?— Well, ther§ are certain matters a superintendent could see the secretary about without calling a meeting. Did you have prayer meetings there? — No. • Did you have a discussion on Bible matters when you had lunch with her to-day? — No. To Lawyer Barnett, witness stated that Patterson had once asked him if he wanted his wife. Counsel: And what did you say? — I said that by the help of God I would never have anything to do with a woman who had a husband walking this earth. Simeon George Griffith, pastor and land agent, said he had been interested m the Patterson couple for the reason that he had administered the marriage rites for them. - About three months ago, witness had been asked to interview the young couple with a view to "patching things up." "The result of the interview was that Mr. Patterson acknowledged that he had been treating his wife ' m an unfair fashion, and that he had once pushed her behind . the door with his foot." In announcing that Patterson denied the allegations laid before the court, Lawyer White referred to him as "A Daniel m a Den of Wowsers." Furthermore, his client was strongly opposed to a separation order on the grounds that .five adults and two children (which'included his wife andfamily), were now living' -in a dwelling which had only one bedroom. Patterson told the -court that he had earned over £500 m 19 months, but since August of last year he had earned only £4 a week. . Of the first £30 loan, witness had spent £10 on races,- and had no idea of what his wife had done with the balance. ' , The second loan money he had handed to his wife to pay off their debts, but it bad all gone m clothes. There