STORIES FROM AMERICA

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 21, 13 June 1914, Page 9

STORIES FROM AMERICA

SLIT SKIRT SPLITS GOU'PLE. Emil Watson, a young miner, living on the American river, California, nas warned the public as follows:—My wife, Emma Watsoi\, having left my bed and board, because 1 kicked on her wearing a slit skirt she bought in Sacramento, because it showed her shins, I will not be responsible for debts." DRAMATIST AND HUSBAND. Miss Eleanor Gates, author of the clever play, "The Poor Little Rich Girl," which has been seen in London, is being sued for divorce in New York by her husband, Mr. Walton Tully, who wrote I "Omar the Tent-maker." The .parties were secretly married in 1001, after the lady had graduated at the University of California. In 1002 a separation took place. The wife then declared that there were no matrimonial or financial dilliculties. "We are friends." she added, "but I suppose, I am old-fashioned, as 1 am an idealist." A FARMYARD ON WHEELS. The Bassano Board of Trade recently officially welcomed 80 newly-arrived Colorada settlers with a banquet. The expedition was probably one, of the. most uiiii|ue treks of home-seekers ever oc- | curling in the annals of the Dominion. The settlers left Denver about a week ! before on a special train composed of every kind of rolling stock, from cattle, car to Pullman sleeper, Which brought the farmers, their families, and their live stock and effects to their destination. The dining car was supplied with milk and eggs by milch cows and hens on the train. The settlers have purchased *27 Veaily-niade farms on the' Canadian Paciiie Railway's irrigated track near Bassano.

WOMAN CONFESSES L'OISOXIXG. . Mrs. Edith llaw'i y has confessed to tlie police at Portland, Oregon, that she sent -.six boxes of poisoned candy through the mails in an attempt to poison her three stepchildren and Mrs. Alice Bently, at whose home 1?. 11. Rawley, her husband, had boarded since he Separated from his wife recently. 'I don't like them." Mrs. llawley told the 'officers, "I haven't any use for the whole family. T saved enough of the poison to take if it killed any of them." So heavily impregnated with poison was the candy that, City Chemist ("ialloway. who tested it, was overcome, and was saved by-.antidote. Mrs. Haw-ley is held on a charge of attempted murder. SHOULD HUSBANDS RE SPANKED. The dictates of humanity and the persuasions of common sense would seem to require that a woman should lrot spank her husband, even occasionally. Spanking never reformed a .husband and never will. Xotw.ithstanding, the practice seems to be slow in dying out. Only the Qther day John Berger. of Suiiburv, Pennsylvania, who weighed 00 pounds, was in court to complain that his wife, who xyeighs 300 pounds, had assaulted and battered him. "I surely did." replied ills. Berger, when i|iiestioned in the court, "and f will do it again. We have six children and ho earns 12dol a week. Last week he got out and spent 2dol of it on drink, and when he came home I laid him over my kriee, and. furthermore, he ate his breakfast standing up."

ROMANCE OP SLAVERY DAYS. Willis West, aged 97, was married at Xew Orleans the other day to -Marceline ■ Brady, aged 107. Both are negroes, and their romance dates back three-quarters of a century. In slavery times they were the property of wealthy Louisianians, owning adjoining plantations, but while still ymnift' were put 011 the auction block, one, being sold into Kentucky, and the other to South Alabama. Years after the war tliey drifted back to New Orleans. West accumulated property valued at CIIHUI, and then met his old sweetheart. It was many years before J[a recline would give her consent; indeed. only on the wedding day did she profess willingness to submit to the restraints' of marriage, and the ceremony was performed twenty minutes later. : DETECTIVE AS AIRMAN. A detective named Shade, who owns a hydro-aeroplane, with which be is wont to amuse the guests at fashioiibale hotels at Maimi, Florida, gave a demonsi ration of a nc'.v use to which the machine could lie put by Hying twenty-one miles after a .steamer in chase of a I supposed thief, a negro bov. who had left en route for llermuda. The negro was wanted 011 suspicion of having purloined a valuable diamond brooch, the liropcrty pf one of the guests at a hotel at whicii- lie was employed, and 011 Shade boarding the vessel tll'e brooch was found iu the boy's pocket. Shade at. once brought hiiji back a prisoner, the whole adventure'occupying less than an hour. The .steamer was equipped with wireless, and the detective was Unfit enabled to learn before starting that the boy was 011 board, and that the vessel had been delayed bv the lowncss of tides.

AIILI.ION'AIRE'S DIVORCE SUIT, The marriage of .Mr. Raymond Relmont, son of Mr. August Ticlimmt, the millionaire banker and racing magnate, to a young woman whom lie is alleged to have deserted three days after the wedding, i.s the subject of an action in the Supreme Court at New York which is attracting widespread attcnlion. After trying for two years to secure restitution of conjugal right,s the voung woman is now petitioning for aliinonv and a separation. The young husband is. at present in F.iigland. while, his immensely r ; ch father is attending (lie trial in Xew York. The laic told to the Court, by the plainlill' was to the cUVcI that three days of married life cost the son nt the millionaire Mime C2-.HIIII. lie then asked her if she would accept GOO a month for life and allow him to go his own way. "Yon talk like your lather." was her reply. "I don't care if Mr. August lielninii.t oilers me CiOOO a year. I want you." lie left her. Airs. Belmont admitted in cross-examination that before her marriage she signed a document releasing Air. Raymond Relmont from all financial claims upon payment of £4OllO. Ol' this sum she now had t"200 left, lie allowed her 040 a mouth (he lirst year. This was increased iu 1010 to C.')o a. month and in 1011 to Uil> a month. She refused to continue living on that amount, and he then proposed marriage, saying that he had an independent in-, come of Cl.'iOO a vear and cofild allow 'her £SO a month to run the household. | Mrs. Raymond Belmont's plan, which vas sketched at supper at an expensive Xew York Restaurant. wa.s to live , in the country and raise beagles. he go into details about housekeeping affairs'?" asked, the, lawyer. ?Yes,'S;vas the reply;."l'- 1 verythirigfrom pots, piths, tnt nc„9r bottles.": ~jl