TROUBLES OF TENANTS

NZ Truth, 7 June 1924, Page 7

TROUBLES OF TENANTS

Saturday Night Stems h

Wife Overlooks Husband's Assault.

The disagreeable, discreditable behavior of a drunken husband, which was responsible for his appearance m the Magistrate's Court m Auckland last week, was set off only by the conduct of his ill-used wife, who was stated by one witness to have been badly treated, but who, when it came to her hubby being arraigned on two charges of assault, maintained her loyalty and said she was not harmed. The squabble took place m Anglesay Street, and from the appearance of the principal dramatis personae it must have been anything but a bloodless victory. Robert William King was the accused and he went into the dock with his head and right eye swathed m bandages and. his head looking as it no doubt felt — about twice its normal size. He was charged with assaulting Arthur Ernest Clarke and his own wife, Alice Amelia. Solicitor Sullivan appeared for the bandaged one, while Senior-sergeant Rawle was on deck for the prosecution. The charges were denied.

The first witness, the complainant Clarke, dame to light with his right fist heavily bandaged and a few scratches on his jaw. He stated that the prisoner and his wife and two boys were tenants of his, and on the evening m question the accused came home the worse for drink. He had only got up the stairs when his wife came down m a state of excitement and asked him (witness) for protection. Mrs. King was carrying a ball of silver paper, and when she returned to the family quarters upstairs she threw it at her husband. She said she would mark her husband with it or do him m. Mrs. King came to the witness's room shortly afterwards, followed by her husband; the former rushed into, Clarke's breakfast room and hid below I the table. King remained outside, and charged Clarke with harboring his wife, which Clarke stoutly denied. However, Clarke said he did not want any commotion m his part of the house, and requested Mrs. King to return to her portion of the dwelling, which she did. Clarke, however, thinking by the look of things that he might probably be required, went upstairs to his bedroom and waited there. In the meantime he had sent one of King's boys for the Ponsonby police. "While awaiting the arrival of the police, Clarke heard Mrs. 1 King call out and saw her husband strike her. A little later on he saw King kick his wife on the stomach, and later still saw the husband kneeling on his wife and grasping her by the throat. This was too much for the witness and he then lammed into King to drive him off his wife and to release her from the attack. When Mrs. King got free she smacked the accused on the face and body. King divested himself of his coat, and, coming out on to the landing, set to with the witness. Clarke said that he could see the accused meant something serious and he tried his best to put one across over the solar . plexus of his adversary but without success. He tried to render the accused unconscious till the police would appear, but he did not manage that and the struggle went on with the [contestants rolling about the floor. While on the ground the accused gof his hands at the -witness's mouth and tried to tear it open, while he seriously damaged his right hand against the bed rail. At last the police ca,me on the scene. Witness had to go to the doctor and it was feared that one of the small bones of his hand was broken, and as ho was a carpenter he stood to lose m having to be out of work.

To Lawyer Sullivan: There had not been ill-feeling between him and* the accused. He had to give King notice to quit, as he was in s arrears with, his rent. The. bailiff had gone m that morning, he believed. He admitted that he struck the accused first to get him away fronx^rs. King, and on the second occasion In self-defence.

Lawyer Sullivan: Did you not hit him m the eye and knock his eye out? Witness: I don't think I did. Counsel: Did you not see his eye rolling on the floor?

Witness: I don't think I did. Senior-Sergeant Rawle: It is a glass one, your Worship.

The senior-sergeant stated that he did not wish to put Mrs. King into the witness-box. Counsel stated that Mrs. King said that her husband did not assault her. It was true that they had had words on the night m question but that would happen m the best regulated families. The position was that the complainant interefered between man and wife, and, as had often happened, he did not come out with any thanks to himself.

The Bench: He was quite Justified m doing as he did.

Counsel stated that Mrs. King waß quite prepared to. resume ordinary relations with her husband.

Senior- sergeant Rawle: If Mrs. King is not desirous of pressing the matter, the police do not wish to make the breach any wider.

The Bench: Yes, if she wishes to put up with him, we don't. Ho imposed a fine of £5, with costs, 421 Is doctor's fee, and ordered that half the flne bo paid to the witness Clarke. On the charge of assaulting his wife. King was ordered to come up for sentence when called upon In the next twelve months and m the meantime is to abstain from liquor. If he does not, the Magistrate promises him two months. Ho, had his wife to thank that ho was treated thus, remarked the Bench.