AN ILLOGICAL VERDICT.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 309, 20 April 1877, Page 4

AN ILLOGICAL VERDICT.

(Chrtatchuruh "Star.") According to the telegram from the Times'" correspondent in Wellington, another inexplicable verdict has been brought in fey a Coroner's jury. It appears from this message that the particular jurors in question regard inhuman treatment by a husband as a " naf.nr.it cartas " of death—a thing to- express their horror at, but not to bo regarded m the tight of manslaughter. A a to the nature ot' the treatment which this gentle consort inflicted upon his wife, we have the evidence of the deceased woman, herself,. and ot' an independent witness. No words can add force to their statements, which were made on the occasion of Michael Litlin Being summoned for an assault npon his wife: "Complainant stated that on March 26», four days after her eoncinem«nt, prisoner turned the nurse out of doors and struck her across the head because she told the doctor that he (prisoner) had not given her anything- to eat. lie threatened to- murder her with a knife, and said he would torture ht-r to death, as he wished to get rid of her as well ivs himself, because he could not get any work. She then haul to get out of bed and escape with her baby t« a neighbour's ketne. He had struck her many times, and there was a mark on the baby's tye where he struck it. Iter life was a life of persecution. C. A. Wyatt, a lad about 12 years old, stated that he was present whsnLftfEu struck his wife in bed. u? s.d I *Take that/ and gave her a nasty blow in t he face." Thiu case was heard on April 10, when Mrs. Laffin obtained a protection order against her lord and master, it now appear* that she has since died of the injuries and exposure consequent upon his Conduct, and the jury has freed him front any penal ccr.aequencea. He, therefore, has successfully accomplished that which that which he desired. He has "got rid of" his wife. In Auckland, the man M'Grath, for brutalities to his wife, not ao atrocious or so deadly, has received three years' 1 penal servitude, it would be grossly unfair to argue that Wellington people generally sympathise with the wifetormentors. But it is clear that if anyone desires to kill his partner, or shamefully abuse her, he should choose Wellington rather than Auckland for the scene of his operations. In the former place there mil be some chance in case of an inquest, that the jury will think a display of the whites of their eyes, and an expression of horror, together form a sufficient condemnation of the deeds of the man who does his wife to death by his cruelties. We mention this for the information of some residents in Christchurch. There are localities in this city, and houses which could be pointed out, over which th-i air is •very evening loud with the cries of stricken wives. Neighbours know it, but have no power to interfere. The end of tuch cases is a tragedy similar to that

above reported. We do not think any Christcfonreh jury would have viewed that case quite so leniently, and therefore we recommend the wife-beater.; to remme hence to Wellington before their mercifi.l exercise of their man's prerogative rer.chej its conclusion. The community of Christchurch generally will readily spare them, although it is just possible that some few sympathetic soub might be found to present thein with a testimonial.