DOMESTIC TROUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1158, 20 June 1911, Page 5

DOMESTIC TROUBLE.

4 DEPLORABLE STORY TOLD IN COURT. (By Telegraph,—Press Association.) , Dunedin, June 19. Tho children are half starved and there is no furniture in the house," said a wife in the Police Court this morning, when she applied for a separation order against her husband, William Newton. Jane Elizabeth Newton, the wife, said there were four children, all half starved I hey had no furniture, only a wooden bedstead and one chnir. Somo cooking utensils were given them. Defendant had not provided them with food or clothing. The children had gone to school without breakfast. They had cri«d with hunger. She had seen them cat raw cabbage and raw sago. Her husband had kicked and struck her, bruising her, and bleeding her mouth very often. He had thrown the only chair they had at her breaking it. He had thrown lots of other things at her. He had held a razor over her throat, with the children cn-inn-round. He also used most filthy laneun4 in the presence of tho children. * Silo had gone out to work, and had been illtreated when she returned home at night Defendant would not work. He had also ill-treated the children. Witness denied that trouble was caused through a man named lreston. Sho had run to his house for protection when defendant threatened her with a razor. Evidence was also given by ilarold Newton, Sergeant Emnierson, Constable Herd fji!' ir l ' I'Uphpmiu Neverson. Die defence contended I hat the wholo trouble had been caused through Preston and defendant's wife. When Nowtou came back from Duntroon, whore ho had been working, he caught Preston in the house, and gave him a hiding. Defendant said he was prepared to maintain his Wire if she would keep away from Preston. . 1 lie children were hnlf starved because his wife was too lazy to cook for thorn.

A separation order was granted, defendant to pay JSI per week for maintenance mid the wifo to have custody of the children. On a charge of assaulting Preston Newton was lined .£l, with costs <£1 Is.