BROUGH'S BAD TIME.

NZ Truth, Issue 78, 15 December 1906, Page 5

BROUGH'S BAD TIME.

COWARDLY CUR WIFE-BEATER COPPED. " You Have No Honor m Your Composition. Magistrate McArthur is Indignant. One way or another the pi.'.iuo and criminal courts of Wellington have ■ during .recent months had a great deal of the troubles of a man and wife named Brough before them, but it is extremely doubtful whether after the dressing-down Joseph Brough received from Magistrate McArthur m the S.M.s Court' last Monday, Joseph ■will relish another 'appearance at Court, and if he does bob up serenely again he will deserve all he is bound to get. A Chinese ally row is a mere circumstance compared with what happens when husband, and wife fall out and periodically air their grievances m open court. These Broughs have evidently led a miserable cat and dog life, and probably nothing would ever have been heard of their, domestic differences had not, some rn^^^^ (^ H j^^hi« bosom£aflf j ose pft dragged before^* fj^liSe Court and subsequently before' sjire Criminal Court ,on no less a "■Sfharge than'thS perpetration of an un- J natural ouenoe upon, her, and oi which charge, a jury considered. Joseph not guilty. Being acquitted, on a charge of such a nature and .. m which the wife was Very naturally the only witness, happiness and love m a cottage was impossible and the next move was that Joseph found himself once again before the Court to show cause why he should not maintain his missus. He could not show cause and was accordingly ordered .to pay 10s per week for heir support. Joseph became remiss m these payments, and the fact was impressed upon him last Monday, when he made yet another appearance before the beak, this time for assaultina; his wife, and at a time when she is en a fair way to become a mother. In addition to the charge of assault sureties for his good behavior were demanded. ■':• ••- The story of the wife, Alice Brough, was that one day last) week, Brough came to the house where she resides —she. of course, lives apart, from him —and without any stated cause caught her by the throat and banged at her. He kn^w the condition she was m, and it was further made plain that Joe is m the habit of molesting her, and always seeks her out at her residence. "Have you any questions to ask your wife ; you hear what she says?" said Dr; McArthur. • "Yes,": replied Brough, who thereupon wanted to know from his wife, "did you say you could do what you liked with your mm body?" Dr. McArthur : What do you imply by that ; that you can do anything with her body ? Brough : No. Dr. McArthur : Well, leave that alons. Yoti have . a maintenance order against you and why don't you comply Ayith it ? , Brough next wanted to know if he had not merely pushed her, but she (repeated her story of his attempt to throttle her. There were no witnesses called and Brough's version . was • - demanded,, whereupon he laconically expressed the desire that his wife should return to him and gave it as his story that lip had merely pushed her. Dr. McArthur : Why don't you leave the' poor woman alone ; you know slv> is nearing her confinement ? — I do not. The Magistrate here found himself m a difficulty, because if he ordered Brough to find sureties for good behavior, and he was unable to do so, he would have to go to gaol and the woman would then be bereft of her maintenance money. The' difficulty was temporarily removed by the Magistrate adjourning the case for a month and advising Brough that if lie did not pay the maintenance and did not desist from annoying his wife he would order him to enter into and iind heavy sureties, and failing to do so he would go to gaol for a long time. "If I 1 send you to gaol now she won't get any money from you. You're a wretctod specimen of hunismity," bitingly said the Magistrate. Broußh (imploringly) : Your HonDr McArthur : Never mind your Honor. Your honor, you haven't got such a thing m your composition. You will have to pay something to support Wiis poor woman. ■This scathing comment brought Joe to his senses, as he immediately dived his hand into his pocket and expressed his willingness to pay somal money there and then., Dr McArthur : Yes, we'll have some on account. Brough paid over 10s" to thet Clerk of the Court and this was promptly given to: the wife. Before Brough left the Magistrate ae;ain cautioned him and reminded that the: case was adjourned for a ruonlh . „ . :