A WIFE'S BROKEN ANKLE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 145, 19 June 1906, Page 5

A WIFE'S BROKEN ANKLE.

HUSBANiD CHARGED WITH ASSAULT. George Keeaan, defended by Mr Skel* ton, pleaded "not guilty" to a charge, brought by the police, of having assaulted his wife so as to cause her actual bodily harm, and also to having resisted Sergeant Moore -while executing his duty.

Sub-Inspector Gordon, who prosecuted, stated that in order to prove tha case he would have to call a number of witnesses, as the victim of the assault -would make no statement, being actuated by a peculiar desire to shield her husband.

Dr. Walsh, senior resident medical officer of the Auckland Hospital, stated that Mrs Keenan was admitted on May. Ist suffering from a fracture of the left ankle. She was treated for a little, more than a week, when she left at her own request. There was no other injury, and the broken ankle was healing properly.

Louisa Lee, of Brown-street, Ponsonby, 'stated that Keenan lived in Fed-eral-street. On May Ist witness, from a neighbouring yard, saw Mrs. Keenan lying in the back yard of her house. She was screaming "Murder." Keenan picked her up, ran her to the door, holding her by the throat, and she dropped down. Then he kicked his wife. Witness called him a coward, and suggested that it would be better if the accused fought a man. This caused Keenan to come after her and use bad language. Examined by Mr Skelton, witness said that Mrs Keenan could not rise from the ground, so the accused picked her up in his arms. She struggled, and Keenan held her by the throat.

A cab-driver named Joseph Johnston, who corroborated, said he was five or six yards away from the parties. In reply to Mr. Skelton, the witness said Mrs. Keenan threw a box at her husband, and ran at him. She was a bit violent.

A sailor named Southerland, who boarded with the Keenans, said that on the afternoon when the assault was alleged to have occurred, he fetched a Roman Catholic priest at the accused's request. Keenan asked the priest to stop the disturbance. About an hour later witness heard the accused and his wife abusing each other. He saw accused pulling his wife a couple of yards, holding her hair with one hand, and grasping her arm with the other. Witness called Keenan away, and Hhe accused left the woman, but he almost immediately went back and kicked-her about the legs. Mrs. Keenan continued to abuse her husband, who made as if to strike her in the.face. Witness did not actually see the blow, but there was blood on the woman's face. In reply to Mr. Skelton, Southerland said Mrs. Keenan, who was a very heavy drinker, was drunk on that occasion. She was very violent when drunk. Keenan was sober.

Mrs. Keenan was called by the police. She denied that her husband was responsible for the injury, and explained that 6he must have fallen down while she was drunk. She did not remember any assault by her husband. Sergt. Moore, who arrested Keenan, said the accused resisted violently, swore he would not be taken, and had to be handcuffed and taken away by force. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial, reserving his defence. Keenan pleaded guilty to wilfully resisting the police, and was. sentenced to a month's hard labour.