SAILOR’S WIFE

Hokitika Guardian, 5 April 1930, Page 7

SAILOR’S WIFE

ASSAULT BY HUSBAND

WELLINGTON, April 2,

Eugene Doherty, alias Hal far thy, was charged in the Magistrate’s Court to-day with assaulting. John Traynor. Tray nor said lie went to a house in Ngaio on Sunday afternoon, March 9, in company with Mrs Doherty, another woman, whose name lie did not know, and Thomas Ridout. They were listening to the gramophone when Doherty rushed in. The next thing witness knew he was kicked in tile face and about the body.- After washing his wounds he went outside to find out tlie reason for tlie attack, hut Doherty hit him on the head with a tomahawk, knocking him down. On the first occasion witness met .Doherty, l m asked witness to get a room for him “Doherty had given his wife a '•km''- eve,” added witness.■ Witness said that he and Doherty had been fined ID each ff'r fighting ' in ' the street, wlii'h w n s the result of Doherty knocking his wife about. .Witness thought {Dioherty had harboured a grievance against him ever since. Doherty said he was a, ship’s fireman, and went to sea under the name of Hugh Halfarthy. Several months ago fie had a fight with Traynor over his wife outside the Terminus Hotel. He tobl Tra.vnor and others to kepp away from his wife. As a result of sonic information which he received when ho returned in his ship from Westport, he went out to Ngaio for his wife, whom he found to be under flie influence of ]jqUoj\ Trnyndr struck him and there was • a seuffle inside the house. Traynor was stopplnfg him from seeing his wife. Outside witness knocked Traynor down, but did not strike him with a tomahawk.

The Magistrate said he thought it was clear an assault had, been committed by defendant, but l it was bis impression that the man 'assaulted was largely responsible for the trouble apt] had, brought it. on liimspl-f. He proposed to convict/Dpheirty-^pln view .of fact that • Doherty. hhdvdVeen. in custjkly sinpe - , his arrest. in.], Auckland on jjAlarch ■ 21., , lie /was- •' and ordered to pay expenses, M'gs,|,, ;