THE DOUGHTY DOWDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 473, 11 July 1914, Page 7

THE DOUGHTY DOWDS.

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST A HUSBAND. BROKEN LIMBS, BEER, AND WHISKY.

Some extraordinary Cross-Swearing.

With Mr. C. C. Kettle, S.M., busy on a nautical inquiry all worries over marital misfits were- bumped down to Mr. E. C. Cutten, m the Magistrates Court. That gentleman could only manage to see one . lot of linen put through the wringer,' but it was very, very dirty. The parties were Ceciiia May Dowd (Lawyer Qahill) and John ,Thomas Dowd Lawyer Holmden), and- Cecelia asked for; separation, maintenance and guardianship of the three olives. She alleged cruelty on John's part. Cecilia May Dowd said her John Thomas and she were married about 15 years ago. Ever since they were married he had ■»■ MADE FREE WITH OTHER WOMEN and of course Cecilia strongly objected. He had a vii£ temper and at times she thought he was either intoxicated jor fit for a lunatic asylum. Once m i Union-street John bashed her with such force that he had broken her jaw | and Dr. Inglis had to fix her up. Once when he was going too far with a Mrs. Jebb, Cecilia protested, and he punched her black and blue and almost choked .her.. About 10 weeks ago she had" to undergo an operation, and on thetway home she said ''This is all your fault" and Dowd then threw her down m the car and spat m her face. On arriving home Dowd punched her" right and left and banged her against a gate post, the knock necessitating two stitches m her head. She then went to Mt Pleasant Hospital. This was the end of it with Cecilia and she left Dowd and went to live with a Mrs. Cato and also a Mrs. Wynn. Plaintiff owned a house for which she received lls 6d a week, and this had to keep her and the children. Dowd bad not paid her anything since she left ' Lawyer Holmden'. . How long ' ago was it when your husband broke your jaw and blackened yottr eyes? — About four years ago. And the assault m Mrs. Jebb's house? — It was not m Mrs. Jebb's house; it was m my own. - Do you drink at all?— I can take a gloss of/ stout When dW you have your last drink? — Before I went to the hospital. Now this assault you allege m the taxi; who was with you? — My husband and Mrs. Wynn. Whose money was it that paid for the piano? — Money that my husband gave me KEEP THE HOUSE GOING. What money did your husband give you when you were living with him? — An average of £2 15s a week. Did you not so one night and break the wihdows of his place? — No. I went once to ask him for clothes for the children. I asked the taxi-cab

(Wollinjrtou Ma^rlstrate'a Court—late of DunocUn). In accents bland and'softi Thin ffent, repcatoth oft, "Coata seven Roberto," aa he looka o'er his glasaos, ' . From him tho Jays Pay loam To look Korvere and atorru And keep thomsolvcs from bolng awful asses. i ] |

the boy for a broken arm. Lawyer Cahill: ' Could the brdken jaw have been caused by a blow?— Yes. And the boy's arm by a blow with, a broom? — Yes. What else have you attended Mrs. Dowd for?— A sore throat. Could it have been caused by gripping the throat? — Yes. Mrs. Dowd made a statement to me and her throat seemed. to bear out the statement > Lawyer Holmden: Could thefbroken jaw have resulted from a fall against a bedstead?— l hardly think so. GIJI said on April 16 he received .-.a summons to go to !No. 11 England-street, where Mr. and Mrs. Dowd and Mrs. Wynn got into his car, and he took them to Dry'Stride'shouse. On the return journey he bearfl scuffling m the car and Mrs. Dowd saying. "YOU DARE SPIT \[N MY BkcE." Dowd wanted witness to stop tie car, but Mrs. Dowd said, 'Tm paying you, drive straight home." When tliey arrived at the house witness told} Dowd to leave the woman alone and 'he replied that she was holding him. ( When they got,ou,t of the' car he saw Dowvi rush at his wife and she* struck her head against the-' gate post She lay stormed and helped to pait her bock In the car and returned >to Dr. Stride; who after ■ stitching xfo the wound sent her to Mt Pleasant Hospital. „ . s ' ■ ■ The def encevwas- a complete denial of cruelty, ; John Thomas Dowd,/ the husband, said he was a driver. ou.»a Priestman dredge, m the Auckland |i Harbor.' 1 and was married to his wife 'fifteen*; and a half years ago. They lived happily till Cecilia began drinking anil then the trqubte -.starred and had continued ever since. Her, jaw was broken by her falling against a bedstead when under the mfluence ot liquor and John 'had pushed 'heir "awiy. Wbin she was drinking she accused him of all sorts of things. The incident m the taxi was all Cecilia's doings. On the way home from Dr. Stride's she suddenly made an onslaught upon him aud began spitting ija his lace. . On, getting out of the taxi she picked up a piece of wood And rushed at John. ' V v Lawyer Holmden: Did you see your wife after ,*he left the bbslpltal?— At Mrs. Cato's and afterwaods at Mrs. Wynn's. " Did you offer to take her home? — Yes. ■ ... .•■ ; .. ,' ! What did she say?— -She objected. While she was inHhe hospital did you look after, the children? — Yes.' And do you think YOU HAVE DONE YOUR DUTY to your wife?— Yes. And you are willing to take h«r home again now?r— Yes. When you went to see her at Mr*. Wynn's what did you think of your wife's appearance?— She looked as though she was getting over a drinking bout Lawyer CahlU: You remember what you saia last Court day. Do you deny saying, "I deliberately broke her jaw"?— l don't remember. You say that she woa frequently out m motors. How do you know? — I have been told. Your own boy says he has seen you strike your wife?— lt is lies. So that all the boy has told the Court is false? — Yes,^be has been tuned up. Now you have not given your wife any money during the last 10 weeks? —I gave the boy £1 and told him to tell the wife that she would get no more - unless she came "back. ■ Did you. ever show 1 any of your temper,' if you have any, towards anybody olbo?— Onco'whaxl Baw'ti woman being given whisky by ber son. And you were, fined?— Oh, that is another occasion. Another occasion! What was the other?— One Saturday night my father, a cripple, was at my house and I went and got flvo bottles to do 'him on Sunday. Coming back I met » man who .had " BEEN VISITING MY WIFE. , , He was waiting for me. And from what followed you wer» arrested? — Yes. And though he was waiting for yoa, you were the ono fined? — Yes. Mrs. Hilda Cato, board taghousekeeper, of Upper Union-street, said Mrs. Dowd boarded with ber for -about a month, but owing to her drinking habits Mr. Cato gave orders that Mrs. Dowd should be emptied out Edith Wynn, who was dressed up to resemble a pretty paroquet, said she lived m Elgta-streot, v Groy Lynn, and had often visited Mr*. Dowd's place. Edith had noticed /beer symptoms about the premises and knew that Mrs. Dowd drank. Witness woa m ' the taxi on the trip to the hospital and back and said the bother m the car was all. Mrs. Dowd'a doings and John Thomas (hubby) only tried to pacify her. When Mrs. Dowd was staying with witness she once came homo m a taxi with a young man. Sh» appeared lo havo been drinking, but witness was not quite cortain. On Monday Mr. Cutton gave his decision. His Worship said that ho waa convinced, from the evidence that the i^wifo was given to drinking. On the other hund, the husband was sruilty of cruolty, but his Worship did not think it- was a cftHo.for an ord^r.'nnd th« parties should go and think. tho mat* tor over. It they came together again, tho woman should lako a prohibition order out against herself. At present i tho case would be adjourned, Nino die, ; to bo brought on at throe days' notice.