EMSLEY CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 29 July 1929, Page 6

EMSLEY CASE

HUSBAND COMMITTED FOR. TRIAL (fiy Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, 27th July. The hearing of charges against Peter Alexander Elmslev of denying his wife the necessities of life concluded in the Police Court this morning when further evidence- of a sensational character was given. The accused’s daughter Justine, aged 15J,, said that her mother and father never got o>n well together. Counsel: “Did your mother ever say that she was starving?” Witness: “No, hut she often said that she was hungry.” Asked if she had stuck needles into her mother, the girl said: “Yes, but not lately.” “Why did you do that,” she was asked, and replied, ‘T>ecause she annoyed us.” Further evidence of the conditions at (he. Elmsley home was given by neighbours. One woman said that she frequently planted food in the tea-tree for Mrs Elmsley, who was afraid to have it delivered to the house because of her husband. James Bruce, of Waerenga, farmer, said he recently invited the Elmsleys to his house to hear the radio. Witness (old a story of a man who had sold his wife for a glass of whisky, and the accused said: “I would sell mine for less than that. I would give him one lo take her away.” Detective Bickerdvko said the, accused when arrested said that lie had always treated his wife well. Later he. said (hat he would like to- make a sfatemenl, which was that his wife was a. liiilhful and moral- woman and (hat anything said would he the truth. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed for trial.