BRUTAL ASSAULT ON WIFE

Evening Star, Issue 21488, 12 August 1933, Page 3

BRUTAL ASSAULT ON WIFE

GAOL SENTENCE (Pun ILstted Press Association.] ROTORUA, August U. Remarking that the occuscd could count himself lucky that he was not on his way to tho scaffold, as probably he would have been had ho not been interrupted Mr S. E. Paterson, S.M., today sentenced a half-caste Maori blacksmith, Thomas Oneroa. to twenty-one days’ imprisonment, with a further probationary term, on a charge of assaulting his wife. On the night of August 2, while Mrs Oneroa, with a woman companion, was on her way to a dance, she was accosted by flic accused, who took her aside and commenced/an argument with her. Ho then knocked her down and kicked her about the head and neck as she lay on tho ground. He was interrupted by a passerby and made off into the darkness. He was not found for another five days, despite a police search, but’ was finally arrested at Horn bora, a Native settlement about twelve miles from Rotorua. When brought before the court on a charge of assault and molesting his wife during the currency of a separation order, Oneroa pleaded guilty. Tho Magistrate said that although Oneroa had had n good record as a soldier, there was evidence of previous assaults upon his wife. Ho had committed a most dastardly attack and one which was inexplicable in view of' his previous reputation. The accused was sentenced to twentyone days 1 imprisonment on tho charge of molesting, and was admitted to probation for two years on the charge of assault. He was also ordered to take out a prohibition order, and not to live in the same town as his wife during the currency of tho order.