SAVAGE FIGHT OVER A WOMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 2, 3 January 1925, Page 5

SAVAGE FIGHT OVER A WOMAN.

A remnrknble case in which, 'n the language of Sir Henry Marlilocks, "they go down fo the primitive instincts." engaged the attention of Mr. Hollis Walker ("commissioner) and a jury at Derby Assizes. John Thomas Cox (47), a farmer, of Foston. Leicestershire, was charged -with assaulting Cyril Charles Perkinson, also a farmer, of S.-ropton, Derbyshire, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm. Tbe trouble arose, counsel explained, over a woman who was at one time in prisoner's employ as housekeeper and who had •been co-respondent in divorce proceedings taken by his wife. In October, 1922 the woman Ic:"t to become housekeeper to the prosecutor, and in the following February she gave birth to a child of which the prisoner was the father. In August of that year prosecutor married her, but three weeks later she returned to the prisoner, who represented that he was ill. She returned tr, her husband, went back to prisoner again, and once inure rejoined ber husband. Letters passed between the partins, nnd in June Inst prisoner called at prosecutor's house, where the wife was then residing. It was alleged that prisoner struck b:m with a stick, threw pepper into his face, and tried to gouge his eye out I during the struggle. Primmer in the witness box. said he was I a memhe- of the local Board of Guardians. When he called on prosecutor, they were quite friendly until the wife appeared on the scene. When prosecutor accused him of turning the woman out high words arose, and what happened was in self-defence. Sir Henry Mnddocks, for the defence, suggested that prosecutor offered the woman marriage as a bait to get her away from the prisoner, who. being already married at the time, was unable to make ber his wife. The jury, after an hour's absence, returned a verdict of guilty. The Court was then informed that prisoner was a man of independent means and that he had five children. The Commissioner, expressing surprise that a man of prisoner's character should jbe a member of a Board of Guardians, I passed a sentence ef 18 months' imprisonment with hard labour.