NOT WANTED

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 7

NOT WANTED

MOTHER PREVENTED FROM MEETING RETURNED SON

A FAMILY QUARREL ■l'ho home-coming of Alfred Henrv Welsford, a soldier, was attended with circumBtitnces wliioh culminated in his oppearanco before Air. E. Page, S.iYl,, ui the Magistrate's Court yesterday to answer a charge of having assaulted his mother, Alice Louisa AVelsford. Also charged ■with tho samo olfenco wero Clarence Horace AVelsford, a brother, and Ilenry l!obert AVelsford, the husband and father. Tho action was a civil one, in ■winch Mrs. AVelsford was the informant and tho two eons and.her husband tho defendants.

The particulars of the ease were related liy Mr. H, F. O'Leary, who appeared for the complainant, Mr, nnd Mrs. AVelsford had been living npart for somo time. AVhen tho son returned from tho frout on July 27, his mother and father, together with tho son Clarenco and his-wife, attended the wharf lo meet him. AA'heti tho son Alfred camo on to tho wharf thero was some dispute as to tho position of Mrs. AVelsford, but eventuallyshe en- , tered the motor-car, together with the others, and left tlio wharf en route for homo. When near tho Terminus lintel in Tarnnaki Street, howover, the complainant left the car, as it was hinted that it 1 was the intention for all to got out there. This, however, was alleged to be a ruso on the part of the husband to .-get rid of his wife. Mrs. Welsford got ns far.as tho stop when the car moved off, but she maintained a hold on the side. Tho sons endeavoured to foreo their mother to let go by thumping her hands and pinching her arms. Sho could not" endure it any longer, and subsequently let go, with the result that she fell to tho roadway, and received injuries, to sier arm and knees. Counsel commented strongly on the action of tho defendants, and said it was a most unseemly affair. :■ nd at least the nartios might have saved their quarrel till they arrived at their home.

Tlvidenco was then given by tho complainant. who said that her luislpand had made efforts to'prevent her from meetinp; her son at tho wharf. He had urgod the sons to "throw her off" the taxicab. The driver of the car must havo Keen siware of tho ruse-to put her off tho oar, as. ha did not stop. As a result of her fall slio was rendered unconscious, and was attended by a doctor.

Eobert Greakes said that lie witnessed the disturbance when one of complainant's sons was .twisting.'Mrs. Welsford's arms and endeavouring to force her off tho motor-car. Ho saw complainant fall, from tho car.as it turned into Gliuzneo Street.

; Leonard Welsford Rave evidence ffliat he liad pulled his father, aside, when ha prevented complainant' from entering the car. , For the defence Mr. P. W. Jackson said the occurrence was duo emtirely to tho efforts of tho complainant to get into ' tho icar. Tho wifo had endeavoured to get into a taxi which had been ordered by her husband. Counsel admitted that there was a ruso to-get rid of Mrs. Welsford, but the evidence he proposed to call was such /ib would show that tho complainant actually left tho car, but persisted in holding on and running 'longsido. He'submitted that any inirie3 which Mrs. Welsford had received ■ero duo entirely to her own action iir orsisting to hold ou to tho car. Tho defendant Henry Robert Wels- . ord said that he had "elbowed" his ifo when ho endeavoured to get on the ■ ir, but denied having assaulted _ Km-, io further denied having asked his sons ) "throw her off." He admitted the . ossibility of a "scene" at the . wharf, ■ut had gono there in spite of that. His /ifo had stood on the footboard and then un along with the caT, which.moved oft lowly. . Mr. O'Loary -. Did your wife 6tep down i'rom tho car? > Witness: Yes, right on to the footwith. She ran along and oaught tho •ar as it moved oif, but did not put her 'oot on tho' Tunning board. Clarene# would oot allow her to get on to tho running board. , Mr. O'Leaxy: You wanted to get rid of -w? - '

Witness: Yes—but. I did not-say "throw 'her off." "The son Alfred in evidence denied that ho assaulted hie mother. in reply to Mr. O'Leary Alfred said that his , mother forced herself upon them. .

Clarence Welsford also denied having assaulted liis mother. The complainant left the car at , the Tel minus Hotel. Mabel Welsford, wifo .of_ Alfred- Welsford, corroborated tho ' evidence •of lier husband. The complainant got out of tho ear at' the Terminus Hotel, and as it moved off caught hold spin. Further evidence for the defence was given bv Arthur ,Smith, expressman, .Tames Kryle, Harbour Board employee, jiml Francis Liiscombe, taxi driver, tho latter stating that lie had'been engaged bv tho defendant Welsford, snr., to meet his son. There was trouble 'at the wharf through lira. "Welsford trying to get into the car. ]n recording a conviction against all three defendants, His Worship said that it was to be regretted thai tho occurrence should have been ventilated in Court. It was only fair to say that the affair arose primarily through tho complainant insisting'upon entering tho car-a natural desire perhaps on her part, as her sou had only just returned from the front. Each defendant would be ordered to pay the costs of the proceedings.