AN ONEHUNGA SCANDAL. Remarkable Charge Against a Bridegroom.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 133, 19 December 1885, Page 5

AN ONEHUNGA SCANDAL. Remarkable Charge Against a Bridegroom.

One of the most romarkablo accusations that has over come bofore a criminal court in the colony formed the subject of a prosecution at the Onohunga R.M. Court on December 15 Lewis Thomas was charged before Messrs M. H. Roe and Bell and Colonel Dawson, J.P.s, with committing a brutal and unnatural assault upon his wife, Eliza Thomas. The parties in the prosecution wero married about a fortnight ago, and. both are considerably more than forty years of age. Mrs Thomas had not been married previously, and was what was commonly known as an old maid. Sergeant Green prosecuted, and Mr W. J. Napier appeared for the def once, and pleaded not guilty. Accused was an olderly man of strong build. It appeared from the statement made by Sergt. Green that prosecutrix came to the colony about two years ago, and went to reside with her brother at Paparoa. In consequence ©f representations that were made prosecutor came from Paparoa about a fortnight ago, and was married to prisoner in Auckland. He took her to live in a small room off his workshop in Arthur-street, and since that time had subjected her to continued cruelty. One day last week ho committed the special act of cruelty with which he was charged, The assault was of an indecont nature, and cannot bo described. Sergeant Greene explained that he desired tho case to be taken as a summary one, because if mado indictable he did not believe the prosecution could succeed. The prosecutrix was called, and gavo evidonce to tho effect that she had only known defendant some weeks. On November 26th last she received a letter from accused asking her to m arry him. She came in from Paparoa, and was married to him in Auckland two days later. She went to live with him in a small compartment off his workshop, used as kitchen, sitting, and bedroom. He never treated her kindly, and repeatedly ill-used her. She lived with him until Sunday of last week. Last Sunday week he perpetrated the cruelties with whichhe was now charged. Tho treatment she received on Sunday caused her to bo very ill on Monday, and worse on Tuesday. She had been washing on Tuesday and that caused her to be worse. At this stage of the proceedings there was some difficulty in understanding the witness. The prosecuting sergeant endeavoured to assist Col. Dawson, tho chairman of the Justices to elicit the witness's answer, and was sharply told by Col, Dawson to be quiet. Immediately afterwards Mr. Napier complained that Col. Dawson, who was taking down the deposition, was interpreting tho answers given by the witness and amplifying them on his own responsibility. Ho asked that the exact wording of the evidonce should bo recorded.— Colonel Dawson retorted that ho would put down what ho chose, and would not be dictated to.— Mr Napier : Then I shall object to the validity of what you say.— Col. Dawson : You can do what you please.— Witness, in continuation of her evidence, said she got away from her house on the pretence that she was going to visit a noighbour. Sho at onco gave information to the police, and by their advice went to Dr. Scott on the followingmorning. In cross-examination, witness said her trouble was so great that she had told her husband that if it woronotforher soul she would commit suicide. She did not ask her husband to chop her head off, nor did she express a wish that, like Queen Mary, she could have her head taken off. Sho denied consenting to the cruelty, and had remonstrated and resisted with all her strength.— Dr. Scott gave evidence to the effect that the nature of tho injuries was suoh that he could not then determine whether they would not be followed by serious or fatal consequenoes. a repetition of and enquiries would very likely provo fatal. The woman was now out of danger. a-The evidence of Constable Haslett having been taken, ]\tr. Napier addressed the Court in defence, and called defendant who presented himself as a wheelwright and coachbuilder carrying on business. in Onohunga, to provo consent on the part of the prosecutrix, , After the alleged cruelties, they continued to livei together as usual, and sho made no complaints of having been ill-ueed.~Eergeant Green asked the accused how many others he had asked to marry him before the prosecutrix— Prisoner :— " What has that to do with you?' Replying tothe Bench, Dr. Scott, who was re-callled considered it impossible for the injuries from whioh tho woman waß suffering to have been self -inflicted, or, caused, with his oonsent. Colonel Dawson, for 1 the Bench 1 , said that after considering the evidenoe, they did not think the case, if broxight at* alll Bhould have loome before? them. At all. all events they were satisfied that any prosecution s>quld Have been tor an indictable offence. Tno case would, therefore be dismissed without ;prejudioa;« At the Sanie time no language-could -convey^ arm idea ot the disgust of the t whole affaikrsMr.Napie^said. he thoroughly oonqur: if ed%"thfs opimoh. *; '\ " ' " ;, „; V

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