THE HOUSE OF TERROR
Agitated Telephone Appeal That Mystified Police (From "N.Z. Truth's" Palmerston North Representative). According to the police statement m court, William Edward Astin and his wife have been living m the realms of discord for the past 18 years or more. Now, however, while William reduces his weight by daily exercise for a month with a pick and shovel under the instruction of one of his Majesty's Warders, Mrs. Astin will be able to appreciate the blessings of a quiet and sober domicile.
THE Astin home is m Pahiatua , Street, Palmerston North — a thoroughfare sparcely populated and m a rather secluded portion of the borough known as Horowhitu. Consequently, the echoes of the'fam-. ily disturbance did not reach very far into the night, though it ip. reported— on the authority of iMrs. Astin herself — that she lived m fear of her life every time her husband came home. But the pitcher can go once too often to the well. The time came wheri the wife could stand no more and decided to seek the help of the court In obtaining a judicial separation. The effect of this decision on Astin can well be imagined. The story is best told, however, m the words of Senior- sergeant Whitehouse, of the Palmerston North police,'* when the wife-beater made his first appearance!
Ito defend him. The latter submitted that the facts were not so black as the police were trying to make out. . "Astin had received a letter frqm his wife threatening proceedings for separation and had been considerably upset. A few drinks did .not .tend to improve matters, with the result that on going home he became very excited and struck his wife. . V "His bark," added counsel, "is worse than, his bite." .. As- far as shouting at her, Mrs. Astin was deaf and her husband had to speak loudly to make her hear. Magistrate: "The constable saw him kicking her." Astin: "I deny that!" Senior-sergeant Whitehouse: 'if it is thought that I have exaggerated, I
before the court on a charge of assaulting his wife. "When the constable arrived, he heard loud noises m the kitchen, and,
The Third gall.
will call Mrs. Astin.. She is m court.',' . The .„■ magistrate convicted accused and fined him £5. He also ' ordered
on. going through, found the accused kicking his wife on the legs and m thestomach." This was about 9 p.m.. At 8 p.m. the watch-house keeper, the police officer explained, received a* telephone 7 call asking that a conT^ stable be sent to Pahiatua Street. ' The voice was that of a woman and was very much agitated. The watchhouse keeper asked what was wrong, but could get no. reply. 'A second* and third call came, with the same request, but with no> answer 'when the constable asked what was the trouble. "We were now thoroughly mystifi--3d," said the/ senior-sergeant. "Conitable Turvey was sent down and on his ■ irrival at the Astin dwelling he was let m the back door by Mrs. Astin's another. . . "He found the womenfolk m a great state of fear and' Astin assaulting his vife. 'The husband was promptly .akeii m charge.'' 7* Astin produced Lawyer Laurensoh
that he should-enter into a recognisance of £20 to keep the peace towards his wife, with another surety of £20. . But ; the story does not end there.' A-stin's^ appreciation of his worship's lenienoy. was such that— after "spotting^ .around -town for the rest of the day-r-he went off home to aga,ln assault hts wife by striking her a stinging blow across the face as soon as hefcentered the door. Wlan the... police arrived for the second time; they, were able to see the mark left by the.;.blow half an hour ■later. 7y:yy,T "• T ..■■.'. Astin cpol.d. his heels m the lock-up awaitingT the return of the magistrate to North. "Have you anything -to say for yourself?" asked his worshipTwhen Astin . made his second appearance. Astin: fit was not a stinging blow., It was the flat of my hand." His worship: "I let you off fairly lightly "the other day, but apparently a finehas no effect onyou; It will be necessary to teach you a lesson; hard labor for one month." ~ ■■ .
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZTR19280823.2.15
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NZ Truth, Issue 1186, 23 August 1928, Page 3
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700THE HOUSE OF TERROR NZ Truth, Issue 1186, 23 August 1928, Page 3
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