A WIFE BEATING CASE.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8806, 29 May 1894, Page 3

A WIFE BEATING CASE.

At the Kaiapoi Magistrate's Court, yesbefore H. W. Biehop, Esq.,, S.M., E. Feldwiek,Esq. (Mayor), and J. L. Wilson, Esq., J.P., John Martini, a Maori, who '.was only .recently fined for threatening behaviour towards Natives in a public; place, was summoned .on theinforma* tion of Louisa Martini, his 'wife, for violently assaulting her. Oα "the date of complaint she said her husband came home to the Kaiapoi pah from Woodeud at 10 p. m., and insisted she should get out of bed and accompany him to a bail at the runanga hall. After being, there come time she • went out, and defendant followed her; She told him she wae getting a drink of water for her toother. Mc struck toer ou the face and stunned her so that she had to hold on to a fence for support. Her 'nose was knocked on one side (which Was still a disfigurement in her featuree). Subsequently when she reached home he kicked her three times, and again struck her face, saying he would make tier spout blood. lEhe parties had .been .married eight months, and B,iice Odtober cbniplainahb" said her husband frequently ill-treated her. Mr Pappril appeared for the defendant, and admitted part of the statement regarding the assault, which had been greatly exaggerated,..and the defence waff that there were extenuating circumstances, as the complainant had gone with certain women with whom she was' forbidden to associate. The defendant, op oath, said he was anxious to contribute half a crown to the boys at the hall, and as he understood his wife's cousin and she had a double ticket he wanted to know when he came home why she was not going, and she got ,up and dressed and went. After h» wife and he had danced three or four times he noticed she had disappeared from the hall, and going I outside saw her in company of certain ladies ihe had told her not to speak to. It was for 'this he, boxed her car, end afterwards, aS , home, he also gave her a Blap, because »he f faad not given him a satisfactory reason for : leaving the hall; but next morning they 'kissed, and he considered she had forgiven him. The Magistrate said no language vu too strong to condemn defendant's conduct. He must have known his wife by consorting with her before their marriage, and I had undertaken to protect her, aod yet he evidently treated her worse than a beast. It was only the reluctance which the bench bad to sending persons to gaol for the. first time which saved defendant from a term ot imprisonment, but if any further assault was proved that would come to his lot. However, the Court this time would inflict the maximum fine of £10, to include costs; in default two months' imprisonment, defendant h>, find a surety of £100 and two others of BSD each to keep the peace for six months, L There was some applause in Court, which was promptly suppressed. The defendant's application for twenty-four hours. in which to pay the fine was granted, and Mrs Aiutu aud a Native man joined ux the required sureties.