A SALVATIONIST IN COURT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1393, 17 September 1885, Page 1

A SALVATIONIST IN COURT.

There was quit? a largo Napier Police Ccmrt recently, Herald, the attraction being the t

in which a member of the Salvation Army named Hobt. Martin appeared as defendant. He was charged with failing to support his wife, the infonnuiion brine; hxM by his son-in-iaw, Sydney Hezekiah Jones. Mr Lee appeared in support of l!ie information, and stated that for a long time defendant had failed to support his wife, bnl had been much worse in ibis respaci since joining lire Salvation Army. Informant, a laborer, deposed hat defendant’s wife was at present being

oarer! for by witness and his wife. Defendant had some time previously left h'» wife chargeable to them for seven months. She was partially blind, and in other ways afflicted, and could not look after herself. Jane Jones, wife of last witness, and daughter of defendant, deposed to going to see her mother on Monday last and finding her unable to turn herse’f in bed, and with neither food nor water. On a previous occasion when witness went (o see her mother s' e begged for something to eat, and on other occasions when she had been without bread she had came to witness for food. On many occasions defendant had taken food out of the house and hid it in the yard before going out to attend Salvation Army meetings, and as his wife was infirm she could not get out for it. Defendant, who appeared in Court in Salvation Army uniform, applied for an adjournment, in order that ho might obtain a solicitor. His Worship refused i lie application, as the summons had been served upon defendant over seven days before, and he had had plenty of lime to procure legal advice. Upon being asked whether he would be sworn he said it did not matter to him, as he would rather die than tell a lie. He took the oath, however, and made a long statement in his defence. He said that ho bad supported his wife properly for thirty-nine years, but she and her daughter were accustomed to spend his money in drink, and the last money given to his wife for beef tea was spent in drink. He had objected to her being removed from his house for the good of her soul, as the Bible was opposed to man and wife living apart. For seven months he had only earnsd £4 10s, and had supported his wife by gathering pipis. Defendant concluded by exclaiming, “My trust is in God above,” and again urged that tne case should be adjourned to enable him to get a lawyer. His Worship said that there had been evidently neglect on the pari of defendant, and ordered him to pay to his son-in-law 10s weekly, the costs of the smu.lfttnsVand and solicitor’s fee of £1 Is, the order to he cancelled when defendant provided proper maintenance for his wife. At the conclusion of the case defendant "arnestly enquired of Mr Cullen, Clerk of Court, “ What can they do to mo if I don’t pay the money ?”