TERRIFIED FAMILY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 117, 27 February 1931, Page 5

TERRIFIED FAMILY

CRUELTY OF HUSBAND. WIFE DRIVEN OUT OF HOUSE. MAGISTRATE GRANTS SEPARATION'. A pitiful tale of the cruelty, of a husband was told by a frail woman in theAshburton Magistrate's Court jthis morning, before Mr H. P. Eawry, S.M., when she applied for separation from, her husband. On the grounds of persistent cruelty, an application was made by his wife against William Thomas Angus for maintenance, separation and guardianship orders for herself and her children, Mr R. Kennedy appearing for complainant. * Defendant denied the allegation of cruelty. In the witness-box, complainant said the parties were married in England in 1919. He had been very cruel to her all the time,.and drank persistently. He usually turned her out of the house, and one night the house was burned to the ground. He had boasted that he set the place on fire. She lost all her things. 'He had since treated her like a dog. He had no love for the children, and used filthy language toward them. She was fearful for her own safety and that of her children. He accused her of foul things which were not true. She could not bear the conditions any longer; they were too terrible. She had been badly bruised by her husband, and had had to go to the police frequently. He had told her that he would make things so hot for her that she would have to leave the house. He had often thrown his food'into the fire. He had turned the clothes out of a drawer and burned most of them. On occasions she *had thrown things at him. Defendant said he would ask no,questions, but he would say "No" to all that had been said. '. '.,,, Constable J. E. R. Myers gave evi» deuce of the terrified state in which he had found complainant. Last Monday night defendant had turned his wife out in the rain, and witness found the children sitting up in bed screaming. •' Defendant declined to make a *state~ ment regarding the case. • - • - Complainant said she could manage with 30s a week. The Magistrate: That, is not enough(To defendants: You had better: seef that you keep that up, or you will have to account to me for all' you. spend. The applications were granted, defendant being ordered to pay 30s a week and £3 3s costs of the case.