THREAT ON HER LIFE

NZ Truth, Issue 1263, 13 February 1930, Page 7

THREAT ON HER LIFE

4 Declared He Would Commit Murder WILD HUSBAND (From "N.Z. Truth's"' Invercargill Rep.) ' THAT he threatened to murder his A wife, from whom he had just been separated, was one of the allegations made against Robert Lee, 32 years, of age, when charged before the Invercargill Court with assaulting his wife, Mary Ellen Lee. Until recently Lee had resided at Nightcaps, and on February 5 a separation order between the .parties was agreed to and signed by both. The wife that night went to stay with a friend m Ritchie Street, Invercargill, and later Lee walked into the house and assaulted his wife. When the police arrived they told. Lee to leave, and his refusal to do so led to his arrest. *' The wife told the court , that she had been married three years, and' on account of ill-treatment she had left her husband several times. She was seated m the kitchen of the house m question when her husband walked m, and he threatened to murder her, caught her by the throat and used violent language. He also tried to punch her, but she dodged the blow. A man m the house, a brother of the owner, had come to her assistance, 'and the police arrived later. A small child also s gave evidence that Lee tried to choke his wife. Constable Kennedy stated that m his hearing Lee threatened to murder his wife and the brother of her friend also. "I'll get you yet if I have to wait for years^' was another remark made by Lee. After being told to leave, Lee had gone outside the gates, but would go no further. Lee conducted his own defence and declared that the trouble was caused by his wife living m a house where there was another man. He hinted at complications, and stated that his wife had written and' told him that there' was no one m the house but her female friend. V . Lee denied that he had placed his hand's round his wife's neck, or that he had made any attempt to attack her. The only way .she could have beenstruck was m a scuffle he had with the man whose presence he resented. Mrs. Lee was recalled and again asserted that accused had seized her byHhe throat. The justices on the bench concluded that a fine of 10/- without costs would meet the case. They warned the accused that he must refrain from visiting or annoying his wife m view. of the fact that they had agreed upon a separation order.