TIED HIS WIFE UP

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 19 September 1934, Page 6

TIED HIS WIFE UP

Said to Have Thought She Was Possessed of a Devil WHOLE STREET IN TURMOIL ASSAULT CHARGE FOLLOWS 'Hy AdieijrApli—Press Association.} AUCKLAND, Sept. 19. “It is alleged that this man yesterday assaulted liis wife and tied, her up, as he thought she was possessed of a devil, and said that lie would beat it out of her,” said Inspector Edwards when Bernard Benson Byatt, aged 36, a labourer, appeared in the Police Court charged with assault. A constable said lie was called to the house and found accused being held down by a /man. Accused said he could not get his wife to accept Christ. He also objected to her smoking cigarettes. The whole street was in a turmoil, witness added, and for accused’s own sake, if for nothing else, witness arrested him.

Accused, who admitted the offence, denied telling the constable that lie couldn’t get his wife to accept Christ. He said his wife took a heavy ruler to him.

Replying to the magistrate as to why he assaulted his wife accused said: “It is a case of one will against another.”

The magistrate asked if the wife was present. The police said she would be unable to come to court for two or three days. The magistrate remanded Byatt in custody until Saturday.