BRIDE’S BLACK EYES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 18848, 10 April 1931, Page 6

BRIDE’S BLACK EYES.

FORGIVENESS TO HUSBAND. COURT’S STERN WARNING. A young bride who said she caused her husband’s arrest to frighten him made a tearful appeal to the Liverpool magistrates lately to release him. She was Elizabeth Barton, aged 20, whose husband, Alfred Barton, aged 21, butcher. was accused of assaulting her. The young woman, whose eyes were closed and blackened with bruises, at first refused to take the oath. “Please let him go,” she sobbed. “We were only married four weeks ago. You must give him another chance.” Reluctantly she took the oath, and explained that her husband and she quarrelled over a visit to his mother, following which he gave her “a dig in the face.” Barton gave evidence, and declared he was very sorry for what he had done, and that he had cried ever since. He. added that while on remand his wife had called to see him in prison and had forgiven him. Major William Denton, chairman of the magistrates, after hearing the plea for leniency, said that there was no doubt that Barton deserved to be sent to prison. He added: “I have sat on this Bench for 25 years, and in all my experience I have never seen such a shocking case of wife beating. We shall give you the chance that your wife asks and fine you £5, but if you come before me on a similar charge again, t will not be responsible for what I do, so be warned.”