BRIDE ACCUSES HUSBAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 February 1937, Page 4

BRIDE ACCUSES HUSBAND

“JEALOUS OP THE BEST MAN.” LONDON, December 31. A bride of three months accused hei husband of repeated ill-treatment when she applied to the Broxton Cheshire, magistrates yesterday for z separation. Appearing for Mrs Clara Vera Hodgkinson, now living at Whitchurch, Salop, Mr F. S. Butter, solicitor, said that on their wedding nighi her husband accused her of taking more notice of the best man than she did of him. Mr Butter added that the husband Edward Thomas Hodgkinson, 27, oi Coombes Farm, Harthill, Cheshire was exceedingly jealous and badtempered. A week after the wadding they went to Chester together, and the husband accused her of turning round to smile at someone in the street. For punishment he took her straight home and struck her. Later he told her to go home to her mother. Mrs Hodgkinson was on her way when her husband followed her, took her back and ill-treated her. One night he refused to allow her to gAt into bed, and she had to lie on the floor. He had also struck her with his braces. On another occasion he struck and thumped her because she spoke to the baker’s man. There was another incident when they went together to a missionary tea. He became jealous because of something that took place there, and on the way home he struck his wife several times on the face and mouth. Mrs Hodgkinson, in evidence, said that her husband had also threatened to shoot her. In reply to Mr W. F. Youde, for the husband, Mrs Hodgkinson said that she was afraid to live with her husband, and would not go back to him. Mr Youde: What was the trouble about the baker’s man?—My husband said that I was sweet on him. I-le said 1 was not to go to the door to answer any callers as he was going to’do that himself. Mrs Hodgkinson declared that she had done nothing to provoke her husband. She had “stuck up for herself. ’’ and had struck him once or twice. Mr Youde: What did you do on the day before you left him?—l hit him on the hand. The Magistrates adjourned the case indefinitely in the hope that the husband and wife would re-unite. The probation officer was asked to use his influence with them.