A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1302, 30 July 1886, Page 2

A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

An inquest was held at Christchurch vesferday on the body of Mrs Katkerine Uses, wife of George Manning Bees, a printer, residing at Knight’s Town, a suburb of Christchurch. The inquest resulted in a verdict of manslaughter against the husband. The evidence showed that Mrs Bees had died rather suddenly on Wednesday evening She had been ailing for some months, and had been discharged from the hospital six weeks ago. Bees was in the habit of drinking too much, and his wife had complained to a constable shortly before her death that he had struck her several times when she was ill and handled her ronghly. The deceased had sometimes been known to drink excessively. Corroborative evidence was given as to the bad conduct cf Bees to his wife, but he denied the allegations. It was s‘a‘ei that a rolnisUr < f religion had to provide nourishment for the woman and her family in consequence of Bees' neglect. The medical evidence showed that the woman had suffered from pulmonary consumption, and was in such a state that any rough treatment would hasten death. Tho jury found that death was accelerated by general neglect, and this was tantamount to a verdict of manslaughter, upon which charge Bees was forthwith arrested