A THOROUGHLY WORTHLESS HUSBAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9184, 13 October 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A THOROUGHLY WORTHLESS HUSBAND.

Mr. Collier held an inquiry at the Town Hull, Poplar, respecting tno doath of Sophia Hill, aged 43, tho wife of a surgeon's assistant. William Hill, tho husband, statod that his wifo followod tho occupation of a mantlemaker, ho ab present being disengaged. On Tuesday, July 31, sho roturnod homo late and complained of fooling very unwell. ITe had noticed her getting weaker for want of food for some time past, as he had been unable to procure tiutlicient to sustain them. Ho earned nothing, and his wife'e earnings were not nioro than 6s a week. On the Wednesday morning sho got worse, but refused to allow him to fetch the relieving oilicer. He had no money, so called in Dr. Harvey, who prescribed brandy and left the money to pay for it. No hopes were given of her recovery, and ab hftlf-pasfc seven she died. It was not truo that he was in the habit of ill-using his wife. Ho did not get drunk and waste tho money that should havo gone for food. In answer to questions by the jury, witness said that some time ago he applied to the Charity Organisation Society for relief, but, owing to the fact that his wife was in work, they refused to help him. Eliza Schubert, the landlady of tho house where the deceased lived, stated that the Hills had occupiedafurnished room for about eight months. Mr. Hill remained in bed all the day while his wife went to work. At night ho would abuse her, and she had often heard blows struck when the two were alone in the room. Hill used to get drunk at times ■when he could get the money. On tho day that Mrs. Hill was said to be dying she asked to be allowed to see her, but tho husband refused her request. Sho then sent a friend for the relieving oilicer, but it, was too lato to do any good. Frances Hill, daughter of tho deceased, deposed that for some time past they had had very little to eat. Her father was out of work, and had been for three months. Sho had seen him ill-use her mother, tho last time being a fortnight before her death. He was also in the habit of getting drunk. Dr. Frederick Harvey, '22, Steinway Road, Poplar, deposed that he had examined the body of the deceased. He could not say that she had been starved, though she had not apparently had the nourishing food which she required. The cause of death was the bursting of an abscess in the abdominal cavity The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony, and added that the husband was deserving a severe censure. Mr. Hill was then called into the room, and the coroner, addressing him, said that it was clear from the evidence of his own daughter that he had been in the habit of ill-using his wife instead of helping her along in their adversity. The neglect which tho poor woman had been subject to was almost incredible, and he trusted that this would be a warning to him for the rest of hie life.