DOMESTIC INFELICITY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12487, 13 March 1909, Page 2

DOMESTIC INFELICITY.

WIFE CHARGES HER HUSBAND . WITH THEFT. _ At~the Police Court yesterday morning, before Messrs R. B. Jackson anil J.»F. Hardey, Justices, Walter Ernest Haines was charged on the information of his wife Lilly Emily Annie Dimes Haines, with the theft of two door keys, of the value of two shil- v lings. Mr Houlker appeared for the I informant. Defendant pleaded guilty. Mr Houlker unfolded a tale of domestic unhappiness, and said that the present information was the result of a long series of troubles. Defendant and his wife had not lived happily together and in 1907 the latter obtained a separation order, which onty held good for a year. When the time expired Mrs Haines gave her husband another chance, and they lived together for six months, when his conduct became so bad that she had to tell him to go. Haines drank heavily, and while in drink went to Mrs . Haines' place recently, and made fearful rows, and his conduct was so violent that the neighbours complained. On 2nd March last Haines went to the house and took the keys of both outside doors. Last Saturday night he was mad with drink, and went to Mrs Haines' house, where he remained until ten o'clock. On' Wednesday he was there at 1.30 in the morning, and created such a violent disturbance that it became the talk of the whole neighbourhood. Mrs Haines was afraid of a repetition of the occurrences, and Mr Houlker asked that defendant be bound over to keep the peace. . Mrs Haines gave evidence in support of the story outlined by her solicitor. When Haines came at 1:30 in the morning to her house he smashed the windows and made a fearful disturbance till 2.15. He had also threatened to throw her ov.er the Collihgwood Street bridge. Constable Drummond gave evidence in regard to the keys. Haines told him that he had thrown them over the wharf. He had also seen Haines under the influence of .liquor seyeral times.

Defendant . admitted that he had created a disturbance at his .wife's house, and that he had smashed the windows as alleged. He denied having threatened to throw Mrs Haines over the.Collingwood Street bridge.

The Bench ordered defendant to return the keys by Monday or pay their value. 2s. They bound him over to keep "the peace, himself in a bond of £20, and to find surety for £20. Defendant was given . until -Monday to find a bondsman.