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INVESTIGATIONS AT WHITECHAPEL 281
gathered all the money and worldly goods
she could muster, and, broken in health
through disease and dehauch, landed back
at Whitechapel.
The monster whom she called " husband '
was at first all kindness and consideration.
He proposed that they should buy a shop with
her money and end their days in peace. The
woman agreed. They bought the shop, and
she paid over her " devil's counters " as the
purchase-money. But the shop stood in the
husband's name naturally this was his first
concern. Once all was secure this man-devil
brutally told his wife that she must go on the
streets and earn something to keep the home
together.
The unhappy woman now broken in
health and suffering torments of pain
refused to further damn her soul, more
especially as a young, dark-eyed recruit to
the " "
sisterhood of the pavement was then
serving her probationary course with the husband.
In despair, the wretched wife appealed
to the authorities. But, alas for our laws !
which have taken centuries to make through
our Parliamentary system nothing could be
done to help the woman, because, it seems,
the delightful point as to the validity of a
wife's evidence given against her husband
though a contemptible "pimp" he may be
has not been finally settled. A celebrated
test case under this head is now before the
High Court, and will probably remain there
until it is forgotten, or until the schedule of