TERRIFYING HIS WIFE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1752, 17 May 1913, Page 4

TERRIFYING HIS WIFE.

HUSBAND'S TRESPASS AT IIE1? HOI! SB. IDy Tclograjili.—Special, Oorretpondent.), • ' Wanflanul,' May 16. A young man was charged at tlio Magis* trnto's Court this morning with trespassing on the land and dweltinghouso occupied by his wife, tho parties being tho subject of a separation order still in operation. Tho facts, as outlined by Mr. Christio (for tho informant), wero that in November last tho parties in the case wero separated by order of tho Court. Defendant nfc tho time was awpy i'roiu New Zealand. Ho had left with tlio expressed intention of not providing for his wife's maintenance. . At Melbourne ho wrote a lettor to her, threatening that, when ho enmo to Now Zealand, ho would "settlo things up onco for all. This was the last heard of him until tlio police received n telegram from tho Superintendent of Police at Christchurch .slating that a man, who afterwards proved to 1» defondant, had purchased a revolver and cartridges, ana had expressed an intention of coming to ■ Wanganui and doing away with his wife. Tho wifo was acquainted with tho facts, and her brother mot defendant at the Wanganui Station on Tuesday night at 9 o'clock, nnd tried to arrange a meeting next day between man and wife. This, however, did not suit defendant. Tho brother-in-law then enlisted tho services of a policeman, and. on tho night of May 13, they stayed at tho wife's placo until 12 o'clock. From that timo on till tho morning noises were heard about tho house as if tho doors and windows wero being tried, and tlio household was disturbed all night. When tlio wifo was in tho kitchen at an early hour in tho morning she .saw tho window open, and n faco appeared. Her brother then camo- on tho scene, and ho threw an unloaded revolver at tho face. Tho defendant picked up the revolver, which, ho subsequently gavo to the arresting constable. When searched later, another revolver and a box of cartridges were found on him, and also two letters, in one of which ho repeated has threats to his wife. Tlio magistrate, after hearing the evidence, decided that it was clear that tho defendant had trespassed with the. obiect of terrifyiug his wifo and her brother, and ho would imposo tlio, full penalty provided by iho Act—three months imprisonment with hard labour. In addition, tho defendant was bound over to keep the peace for tivelvo mouths.