M'KEGNEY V. M'KEGNEY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1237, 25 April 1914, Page 3

M'KEGNEY V. M'KEGNEY.

assault case. HUSBAND SENTENCED TO 14 DAYS. At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Mr J. W. Poynton S.M., Myra McKeguey (Mr Moore) charged her husband Arthur McKegney (Mr Cooper) with assaulting her by striking and cutting her with an axe and j«gA plea of not guilty was entered. For the prosecution Mr Moore called the complainant who stated that on the evening of Monday, April 13th, defendant came home and on entering the house said he had heard witness calling a man named Fred Morgan, who was present at the time, “lovey.” He then locked the door and pulled everything off the dresser and threw them at her. A jug hit her and cut her cheek. Defendant then went outside and got the axe and struck her several times with the handle. He also struck her once on the head with the back of the axe and inflicted a cut. The injuries received necessitated obtaining medical attendance. Morgan was present at the time, also her son, aged four years. After the assault a neighbour, Mrs Honour, was sent for. Defendant bad had some drink and had been drunk all the week before. After he ceased striking her he packed his things and said- he would make Morgan take witness and the children and he could also have everything in the house for £2. Morgan gave him the money. To Mr Cooper: Defendant had assaulted her several times before. Witness had complained but never taken it to Court, They had been married nine years and there were three children living. Had known Morgan for about two years. He came in about 7 o’clock to warn witness about her husband, whom be said was drinking and looking lor trouble. Was not sitting on Morgan’s knee when defendant came. in. Morgan had never acted improperly. He couldn’t do anything to assist her as he had a bad arm and defendant said he would kill him if he interfered. She had never called Morgan endearing names. Defendant afterwards sent for Constable Woods. Constable Woods stated that at McKegney’s request he went to the house on the night in question. Mrs McKegney was sitting on a chair bleeding from her head and face. Upon asking defendant why he bad brought him down he replied that he had caught his wife and Morgan and wanted the latter to explain his position in witness’ presence. McKegney said that Morgan had hold of his wife's hand when he entered the room. He admitted knocking his wife about. Morgan said he was a friend of McKegney’s and had often been at the house at his Invitation.

To Mr Cooper : Complainant said she was so terrified when McKegney knocked at the door that she caught hold of Morgan’s hand. McKegney said there had been misconduct between them, but complainant denied this. McKegney was slightly the worse for liquor and two days later was in the horrors. The. parties were always quarrelling. Fred Morgan said on the night in question he went to McKegpey’s house at about a quarter to eight. McKegney came in about 8 o’clock. On coming in the door he said, “Here, this is enough ot that.” Witness was sitting on a chair and complainant was sitting on the sofa. McKegney ordered witness out of the house but complainant told him not to go and he remained. McKegney locked the door and got the axe and told witness to sit still or he would kill both of them. He threw a jug at complainant cutting her cheek and he also hit her several times with the axe. Witness had a bad arm and consequently could not do anything to prevent the assault. To Mr Cooper: Witness had frequently been invited to the house by defendant. He denied ever breaking up another man’s home, but admitted living with another man’s wife for some time. The parties had been separated some time when witness first met the wife. There was nothing between Mrs McKegney and himself. She was not sitting on witness’ knee with her arms round his neck when McKegney came in. Just prior to McKegney coming in complainant was telling witness about the way her husband illtreated her and witness considered it was in consequence of this that McKegney made the statement he did when he came in the door. Witness denied carrying firearms. He had a revolver once but had got rid of it some months ago. Sarah Honour said that when she went to the house she found Mrs McKegney sitting on a chair streaming with blood, McKegney said, “this man is here with my wife.” He spit in complainant’s face and told the children to do the same. Had frequently seen Morgan at the house. He was a friend of McKegney’s. To Mr Cooper : McKegney sent the child over to ask her to come to the house. When she arrived McKegney said, “I want you to witness my wife here with this man.” Both Mrs McKegney and Morgan appeared to be petrified. For the defence Mr Cooper called the defendant, Arthur McKegney, who stated that Morgan had been a particular friend of his. On the night in question he went home at about halt past six. He heard voices in the house and stopped and listened. He heard his wife say, “Where did you leave him, lovey ?” Morgan replied, “Up in the Family Hotel drinking a glass of square gin.”

She said, “I hope he doesn’t get drunk and come home kicking up a row. You wouldn’t see him do that would you, lovey ?” He replied, “No lovey.” Witness then opened the door and found his wife sitting on Morgan’s knee with her arms round his neck. Witness sent the boy for Mrs Honour and then for the axe. He told Morgan if he attempted to bring out his six-shooter he would down him with the axe. Witnesslocked the front door and stood in front of the back door. He told them both to sit still and they said they would. Witness’ idea was to keep them there until he could get witnesses. Witness admitted striking his wife twice on the head with the handle of the axe and also admitted throwing crockery at her. He had done this to prevent her getting out of the door. Had she sat still he would not have struck her. He was very upset at the time and fully believed there bad been misbehaviour cn the part of Morgan and his wife. He bad known Morgan for some years. Had not been suspicious of him until this occasion.

The Magistrate said it was a serious case and might have resulted in a tragedy. Defendant’s conduct was dreadful. He would be convicted and sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment in Palmerston prison.