THRASHING THREATENED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23107, 5 February 1937, Page 16

THRASHING THREATENED

DOCTOR’S WIFE AND PATIENT

A doctor's wife admitted at Manchester Assizes having threatened to thrash a woman patient of her husband. She was Mrs Lilian Billing, of Church street, Blackpool, who was sued for alleged slander by Miss Gertrude Hull, of Elizabeth street, Blackpool.

Miss Hull said she was accused by Mrs Billing of being immoral and unchaste.

Mr Gorman, for Miss Hull, said Dr Billing was a friend of the Hull family, and he went away for a shooting trip with Miss Hull, and Miss Hull’s niece and brother.

When they came back Mrs Billing raised her umbrella, threatened, to thrash Miss Hull, and said to her: “This is the last time you will go away with my husband.” Miss Hull, in evidence, said she went on the shooting trip to be with her brother, and had never been in a car with the doctor except when her brother or another man had been there.

Alice Cassells, formerly maid at Dr Billing’s home, said that one day Mrs Billing asked her for a whip, and she said to her, “ Oh, don’t do that.”

She also alleged that on one occasion Mrs Billing said that her husband had been away with “that old across the road.”

Mrs Billing, in evidence, said she knew Miss Hull as a patient, and had seen her in her husbands car on many occasions.

When Miss Hull came back from the shooting party she said to her:— ,

“ This is the fifth time this year you have been away with my husband in his car. If it occurs again I will thrash you before your neighbours.”

She denied threatening Miss Hull with an umbrella, or having said or suggested that she was an immoral woman.

Cross-examined, she said that she had called Miss Hull an ugly thing, but she did not call her an ugly rat.

She had never intended to attack Miss Hull, she declared. The hearing was adjourned.