"A BEAUTIFUL HUSBAND"

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 241, 17 February 1911, Page 6

"A BEAUTIFUL HUSBAND"

■DRUXK PRACTICALLY EVERY NIGHT. WOMAN'S SAD STORY OF DOMESTIC MISERY. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Tuesday. "He has not been sober two nights in a week for the last five years," said Annice Duncan to Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., at" the Magistrate's Court this morning, when she was applying for a separation order against her husband, James Duncan, on the ground that he was an habitual drunkard. "Then it is a wonder he is alive," came the response from the Magistrate, The complainant, in reply to questions from the Magistrate, gave the barest" details of her life with her drunken mate. They had been married for over thirteen years, and had three children, one of whom was blind. He was forty-three years of age and she was forty-one. For many years ho had been drinking, but now was hardly ever sober. He had lost his cab-driver's license through intoxieation, now he had no settled occupation, but went out every day with an old horse and cart only to return drunk practically every evening. "What money does he give you?" asked Mr. Bishop." "Sometimes 2s (id and sometimes 35." "What do you do?" "I ilo charring, and can make from 15s to 20s a week, hut 1 have to ke->p the children." "When did he last give von monev?" asked the Magistrate. "Three weeks ago he gave me 35," she answered. "Three shillings three weeks ago! Yon have a beautiful husband!" exclaimed Mr. Ilishop. 'M suppose the rest of the money has gone down Ids throat." The Magistrate ordered defendant to pay l.»s towards the support of his wife and children. 2s fid to go towards the maintenance of the blind child, which is in a liovernment institution in Auckland