BRUTAL ASSAULT

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3821, 21 July 1928, Page 2

BRUTAL ASSAULT

ELDERLY WOMAN INJURED,

Christchurch, July 20

Six months’ imprisonment with hard labour was the sentence imposed by Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Cohrt to-day, on Cyril Sydney Arthur Miller, salesman, aged 39,. who j was charged with assaulting yesterday, Mary Miller, a woman; aged 60, ' with whom lie had been] living as her "husband. The evidence showed that accused had beaten the old woman so as to obtain money, from her. Accused pleaded guilty and elected to be dealt with summarily. Sub-Inspector Fitzpatrick said thataccused had been living with the woman, who had an interest in an hotel in the south from which she received £lO per week. When the money was due the- accused beat her unmercifully with a view to obtaining the money. Evidence was given by the woman, who was so shaken that she had to give her evidence from a chair. Her face exhibited signs of rough treatment. Evidence was also given by other occupants of the house of ’many quarrels between the woman and accused, and of blows being struck. Yesterday Mrs. Miller had been badly bruised and knocked about, sustaining a swollen ear and black eyes.

“You have committed an assault of a most brutal nature,” said Mr. Mosley. “Fancy a young man like you hitting an old woman of CO.” Accused: She tell down.

Mr. Mosley: What! She got all those bruises by falling down? Well, I hope she won’t fall down for a long time to come. Six months’ imprisonment with hard labour.