A DESPICABLE COWARD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1810, 2 December 1919, Page 8

A DESPICABLE COWARD.

YOUNG DAUGHTER ASSAULTED. "You arc a coward—a despicable coward," said Mr S. E. McCarthy, S.M., to William Williamson, who was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with having' assaulted his daughter, Jessie Will' i;'son, by striking her on the forehead with the heel of a shoe. The accused pleaded guilty. Senior-Sergeant Cunimings said that Williamson was a barman. Last night, after his work, he went home drunk and quarrelled with his wife. In the heat of the argument he picked up a shoe with an iron-plated heel and threw it at his wife. The wife dodged the missile, but it hit the child on the forehead. The daughter, who was seven years of age, was in a Aery delicate state of health. She had undergone about 18 operations. Last night the child was in a very nervous condition, but she was much better this morning. Had the shoe struck the child on the temple it would probably have killed her, considering her delicate state of health. The Magistrate (to 'accused): You are old enough to know that if you get drunk you will have a row at home! Accused: I was not drunk. The Magistrate: .If you were sober you are a coward, ami a very despicable coward. What use are you in the world if, instead of providing comforts for your home, 3'ou pour your wages down your throat? I am not here to preach teetotalism, but a man should learn to control himself. The Magistrate added that he would adjourn the case for a week, so that accused could think over the matter. "And I will think over it too," said the Magistrate. The accused was remanded accordinglv, bail being allowed in £l2 10/- and one surety of £l2 10/-.

At the present moment a British fac.torv is constructing for British uso an electrical generator of 40,000 h.p.—a record figure for a single unit. The generator, driven by a steam turbine, is to be installed in a power station near London. This generator is capable of supplying sufficient current to light simultaneously 3,000,000 eight candle-power lamps.