WIFE-BASHER BANGED.

NZ Truth, Issue 74, 17 November 1906, Page 6

WIFE-BASHER BANGED.

Drunken Ruffian Tries to Choke His Wife.

There are any number of men knocking round who practise pugilism at the expense of their wives, but they are rarely found out ; and even when they are the Bench has a habit of dealing with them rather too leniently. This is a) matter of very frequent observation, but when it is said that the bashing business arises through the cursed drink, and that the man wouldn't do it but for that evil,.' and that he was as good as gold when, he was sober, any tinge of bitterness that may characterise the public's remarks m connection, with the matter disappears and the cursing is directed against the grog-shop. The beer den is always a good target to fire at with the tongue ; it is a target that stands stock still and takes all the lashing levelled at it, whether it is guilty or not. The case of James McCullum, of Byronstreet, Sydenham, however, is said to have been brought about

THROUGH TONIC ABSORPTION. He got whiskified, and then waltzed homi3 and gave his missus, Emma Osborn McCallum, particular beans. In fact it is difficult to conjecture what would have occurred hadn't timely -interference arrived. As soon as he p-ot inside, McCallum upset the table, hit his wife m the face, and when she ran outside lie followed her,

knocked her down, got his hands round her throat and proceeded to choke her, or to endeavor to. The woman's screams, however, brought a couple of neighbors quickly to the scene, and they dragged maniac McCallum off his victim, and sent for Constable Martin, who claimed him on a couple of charges. At court this fatuous fool admitted all that was attributed to him, and the beak asked the wife what sort of a fellow he was. It appears that she was a widow with a family when he proposed marriage to her, and she accepted him, he being an engineer m a good position. They hadn't been very long married, and he behaved all riffht when he hadn't got drink m him. Asked by the Bench how he treated her, the woman said he had never struck her previously. In answer to Sergeant Norwood, however, she confessed that she had frequently made complaints to the police about HIS INTOLERABLE CONDUCT. The upshot was that the fellow was fined for being drunk, and ordered to enter into a recognisance of £20 and find one surety m .£2s' to keep the peace towards his wife for six months. Also, a prohib. order was made against him: The surety; was found, the fine paid, arid husband and wife strolled into the city together to mix with the holiday crowd;"