A TRAGIC STORY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20781, 29 July 1929, Page 12

A TRAGIC STORY.

CHARGE AGAINST FARMER. ALLEGED ILL-TREATMENT OF WIFE. - ELMSLEY COMMITTED FOR ' TRIAL. (Special to Daily Times.) AUCKLAND, July 27. The hearing’ of the charge against Peter Alexander Elmsley, aged 67, of Wacrenga, of failing to provide his wife with the necessities of life during the past four years was concluded at the Police Court to-day. Chief Detective Hammond prosecuted. The accused was represented by Mr Noble. This orning’a proceedings were even more pathetic and sensational than those of yesterday. The youngest daughter of Mrs Elmsley was called, and gave evidence. As soon as Mrs Elmsley saw her daughter she hid her face in her hands and wept bitterly. The daughter admitted that she did not like her mother, and also that she had called her names and stuck needles into her. This witness further corroborated the mother’s evidence when she said that the accused had struck Mrs Elmsley with a stockwhip. Dr W. H. Buchanan, of the staff of the Auckland Mental Hospital, who was' a . member of the police party which visited the Elmsley .home on. July 20, said that Mrs Elmsley was insufficiently clad and ill-nourished. Her weight was out of all proportion to her height. She was particularly reticent when witness and Dr Tewsley spoke to her. Witness attributed this to fear.

Mr Noble: Did she appear to be Vcak in intellect!—No, certainly not. Robert Henry Bruce, farmer, of AAaerenga, said his farm was situated about a mile and a-half from Elmsley’s house. About four years ago witness formed the opinion that Mrs Elmsley was not getting sufficient food. Other members of his family formed the same opinion. He had seen Mrs Elmsley pulling titree. This was a man’s work. She was kneeling to her task. , Witness frequently saw her sledging cream down the paddock and chopping and carrying firewood. He had never seen Elmsley do any work. Elmsley was a lazy man. Air Noble: How did you find out that Mrs 1 Elmsley was not getting • proper ! food!—Well, anyone with half an eye could see it. I have known her for the last 13 years. She used to be a big woman and well built, but this last four years she has been getting thinner and thinner. Justina Alice Elmsley, the youngest daughter, aged 15J, was the next witness. She said that she and her sister did the milking on the farm. Clarice always got the breakfast, and all sat down together. Her mother nearly always had some food. Once or twice she had to go a little short. - Witness never went short of food. • Her father and mother never got on well together. Twice she had seen her father strike her mother, once with a stockwhip. Asked if the accused called her mother names, witness said lie called her vermin. ’ AVitness also called - her names. She did not like her mother and her mother did not like her. Counsel: Did your mother ever say she was starving!—No; but she said she was hungry. In answer to Chief Detective Hammond, witness said her father had often told her mother to leave the place. AVit--11 ess wanted her mother to go. ' Vou and your sister have struck needles into your mother?—Yes, but not lately. AAhy did you do that?—Because she annoyed us. AA’iiy did your mother have to have her food given to her? AVhy could she not get it herself?—Dad and ns made it the rule. James Bruce, farmer, also of Wacrenga, was the next witness. He said that one night the accused came over to witness’s house and listened to a radio set. AVitness tol.i the accused a ,joke which was broadcast about a man selling his wife for a glass of whisky. The accused sa.d. “J.would sell mine for less than that,' 1 ■ would give him a glass to take her awav.” AVitness accompanied Constable Rimmei l on his long vigils of observation underneath the window of the'Elmsley home. He described what occurred, corroborating the constable’s evidence. Mrs Elmsley had been in failing health for several years. For a long time past Airs Elmsley had not visited witness’s house. Elmsley refused to let her go. Witness had never seen Elmsley work. He used to sleep nearly all day. When Mrs Elmsley came to witness’s place she always ate ravenously. Matron‘Eden, of the Auckland police, who accompanied the .detectives and doctors to the Elmsley home on July 20, said the house was unlit for habitation. Airs Elmsley was very thin, and wore very thin clothes. She was very reticent.

Constable Douglas, of Mercer, said that as the result of a complaint received on November 0, 1925, he visited H aorenga and met Mrs Elnisley on the road. Mrs Elmsley said she was not getting sufficient food. When asked the reason she became agitated and did not reply. She added that she was afraid, as her husband had threatened to shoot ,her with a loaded revolver which he had in the house. The only reply witness got to other questions was: “My Cod, if Peter knew he would kill me.” Witness then went to Elmsley's house and questioned him about the revolver. He admitted having a loaded revolver, and said he kept it to shoot a rat which came in the house, a Witness took the revolver down from the wall and extracted three cartridges. , When told of Mrs Elmsley's complaint about an insufficiency of food, the accused said there was plenty and she could help herself. On November 25, 1925, another visit was made to the house. Mrs Elmsley said that things had improved a little since witness had been there. The accused said that someone was trying to do him an injury and was putting°untrue tales about. /Further complaints were made by neighbours in April and May, and as a result witness reported the matter to the police headquarters with the result that special provisions were made to have the house watched. Evidence of the arrest of the accused on July 20 was tendered by Detective ■Sergeant J. Bickordyko. Witness said that when he called at the house the accused was sitting in front of the fire with two sacks around his shoulders. After the warrant of arrest had been read to him Elmsley said: “I have always treated my wife well.” The house was in a shocking condition. Above the accused's bod was a safe where provisions were kept. There was a doublebarrelled gun aijd also a stockwhip near his bed. On the way towards Auckland in the car Elnisley said: “My wife and I are not mated. She can’t work to keep herself. 1 have often told her to go.” He also said: “ She’s an honest, truthful, and moral woman, and anything she tells you will be the truth.” He added that he would like to make a statement. The accused’s signed statement was then read. In it, Elmsley said his wife cut most of the firewood. She always find her meals with the accused and Ids daughters. The accused denied that he had ever locked" her out of the house. He said that Mrs Elmsley never took

any interest in the house. He hail often told her to leave. The farm was in-his wife’s name. He had never given her any money for the last three or four years, and admitted telling her often that she was worse than vermin. The accused again said that Ids wife was very truthful and moral. Elmslcy pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was allowed in two sureties of £2ot) eaeh-