STARTLING DISCLOSURES IN COURT.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1091, 27 April 1883, Page 3

STARTLING DISCLOSURES IN COURT.

One of the most extraordinary disclosures (reports the Bemligo Adertistr) was male at the Eaglehawk Police Court, in the presence of a large number of spectators. It occurred in a case Jane Smith against Crispin Smith, for leaving his wife without means of support. The complainant, who was deaf, got into the witness box, and to all outward appearances was a very respectable woman of about sixty years of age. Her husband was also respectably dressed. The witness addressed the magistrates as follows:—“ The reason 1 left my husband was because he used to rob the company he i was working for. He used to bring home , small cakes of gold, turkeys, and other I ] things which I knew he did not become j ■ possessed of honestly. 1 have found i gold buried in the fowl-horse. There were i always small cakes of gold there, and he , used to plant some in the hens’ nests and j underneath. I often remonstrated with j him ; but I did not tell the co npany. I didn’t wish to expose his good family. 1 didn’t tell the police, but went away from him. I»m unable to maintain myself, for i lam now sixty years of age. I will not go back, because my life Is in danger I have every reason to believe he is carrying on with his niece, who has just arrived from the Old Country. One day I saw her coming out of the room, and wbeu asked what she meant the niece replied that my hus« band had kissed her, and told her to never mind me. 1 never had any peace with him ; he abused me and wanted me to give up my marriage certificate. I would not, and he snatched at a valuable deed I had ; but he did not get it. When he could nob get it he threw mo down, took his penknife out of his pocket, opened it with his teeth, tore open the front of his shirt, and a-ked me to cut his throat.” Mr Webster : Wcat company is ho working at ? witness : Clark’s crushing machine ; he has been there for eleven years. Some four ye»rs ago he took a small parcel of gold to Majorca, and when he came back he had an immense sum of money. Soon after he went to Ballarat, and came back with L2OO, which he put into the bank opposite the the Shamrock Hotel (the Bank of Australasia), and put Ll5O or Ll6O in the Eaglehawk Savings Bank. 1 refused to share it. I told the woman 1 am staying with about him. Mr Webster : We want to know more about this, and inquiries must be made for if the woman is wrong in one thing she is wrong in all. Mr Coben (who appeared for Smith) i Your Worships—lt is not true; we can show how we got the money. Mr Webster : If the woman is telling the truth I will order maintenanre, and see that she does not go back. Either there is a good deal or nothing, or the poor woman’s mind is deranged Constable O’Brien : The woman is very respectable, your Warships. The case was then adjourned to the 21st inst. The st'ango evidence given by the woman caused quite a sensation in Court, and from her manner in addressing the Bench the opinion was that there is some truth in her statements.