A PATHETIC STORY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11130, 13 February 1930, Page 2

A PATHETIC STORY

YOUNG MOTHER AND DRUNKEN HUSBAND. TOLD AVOMAN TO THRGAV HERSELF IN RIVER,. ..... (Press Association.) • I PALMERSTON N.. . Feb. Pi. A story with the elements of a tragedy was. unfolded in the Magistrate!.? Court when..a young .married woman stood in the dock charged with attempted suicide. “More, sinned . against than sin- • ning,” was the -description applied to accused by the .Senior-Sergt. and the evidence bore out that contention. ' “This woman hap peon worried and knocked about by her husband, until she has about reached the end of her mental tether,” said SeniorSergt. Whitehouse. “Last night the husband was in such a drunken state that he was locked up. . He threw, his wife and children out 01 their home, and when, the woman, in distress, said that she would end it all in the river, fid replied that that was the best thing shoscoulu do. A man says that he stopped accused from throwing lior baby in the river, hut it appears that she collapsed on the bank, and the baby rolled in. The woman is not so much to blame as the husband, who lias spoiled her, life.” Further details of, the case were supplied by accused’s solicitor, Mi. A. J. jVlcLeavey, who stated that tho husband was in receipt of a salary of £3OO a year, and spent practically the whole amount in drink. The family was in destitute circumstances. Only yesterday all their furniture had been sold up, and they were in debt everywhere. Tho husband had been on leave from his employment, for some weeks, and had spent "the whole time soaking drink. The woman had just come out of hospital, where, she .had been under the doctor’s eiire for nervous prostration. ..An argument had developed after tea'at their house, and the unfortunate woman had said that tho only' way out was for her to throw herself into the river. The husband had replied: “The best thing you can do is to-throw yourself in.” The unfortunate woman had taken her small children and had wheeled them in a push cart down Ferguson Street to the river. However, she stall'd that she had iiad no intention ’• in the world ol carrying out her threat. lior jieoplc wore willing to give, her a home, and sin' proposed to obtain a separation from her husband,' although she considered that, if living in a no-license district, he might even yet have a chance. Counsel asked the .Magistrate to be. lenient with Ids client. She had undergone a great deal, and there was no doubt that she-was at the end oi her mental tether. She had three small children, two girls aged 7 and 0 yeays, and a baby aged •l"years and 1.1 months. “If her people will take her I will convict and discharge her,” said the Magistrate, and an order was made for the suppression oi the woman s j name. ~ The husband was place*} hi thy deck and charged with freing found helplessly drunk.in Ferguson Street. On the application of the police, he was remanded lor a week in order that be might bo placed under observation. ' '