UNKNOWN

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 292, 31 March 1877, Page 3

UNKNOWN

■Wr n our last, issue we published a telefrom Auckland to the effect that a named M'Grath had been committed trial fur brutally assaulting his wife. correspondent of the Dunedin EvenStar sends that journal the following particulars of the savage manner in Iliicli M'Grath ill-used his wife : Peter M'Grath was to-day convicted of brutal assault on his wife, and comitted for trial. The wife, who was only x weeks ago confined, and who is a most [jer, industrious woman, presented a spectacle from weakness and ill■j sri „ e . She was accommodated with a ]a J r while giving evidence. She deposed K ha t her husband was a shoemaker. On the 17th inst., he. said he should i n to tiie Domain to see the children j^R ie re, but instead of going there went a public house, got drink, and re- ■ urne d two or three times during the fr ) up to half-past nine at night. A' called and paid Bs. for a pair of toots, with which she went to get ioine'meat for Sunday, taking her baby frith her; she was absent about twenty Ininutes, and on her return found her (husband standing at the door in Ills fehirt sleeves. As somi as he caught sight [of her he began to abuse her, pulled her (from the shop into the kitchen, struck her [several blows wi-i'i his clenched fists, [pulled out a- quantity of hair, and com[menced to kick her. She could recollect [nothing more, and did not return to sensibility until the following day, when shefound herself in a fearful state, being [neither able to see" not mover- She was lying on the floor, and remained there until 4 p.m. on Monday, when a neighbor named Mrs. M'Carthy brought her some brandy and water. On the following day: she was removed to the hospital by tL<police. Her husband, who had been chinking on Monday, threatened to do iolher with a jug. It was nor, the jh'st occasion on which she had been She had been married to hii;i for teu veavs, and during that tuno suffered greatly from his cruelty. Thy_ jacket produced was one she had on at tUe-tinaa her husband assaulted her. iiotli articles .of clothing were saturated -with, blood, and presented a horrible spectacle. Her husband abused her both when drunk and sober, but was quiet to everybody but her. When in England he was i': v nsorted for t- -jMb months- for assaulting her. WityX/Jmcl not provoke her b'tsJi?fld. They •„ Jfed by the Jessie Osborne five >jm j f T ~ T, hLison's evidence show fW f is covered with b»•"* W / f ° the fiospp

ii ueat her »> ioaby fchesleeves ulu. j. . <2.,l «. thtiiup under the right ear with, his •ilSnchod list, kicked her when she was on tit'.; ll'»i:r. and knocked her about the head uiui body with planks which he got out of the shop. He said these were not sharp unoiurli, and went into the shop and got a knit'i" which he held over her head, and i.'. :t put ic on the trble. He got a pegkniiV, struck her ab-.ut the head and body with it, got a leather strap and fastened her hands with it, and after having exhausted his strength left her lying on the floor with her hands tied, fciie was left in this position until next morning, when his father lifted her into bed. Tiie floor was covered with blood, which was wiped off by his father. Ha slept in the kitchen during the night, and he heard his mother groaning, but she did not speak. When he went for assistance his father turned him back and beat him.—Sarah M'Carthy (wife of Hugh M'Carthy) deposed that at | about six o'clock she heard Mrs. M'Grath moaning. She went in and found her sitting up saturated with blood. Sae wished to get some warm water to bathe' her f.iee with, but M'Grath refused to Ist her. Witness insisted on procuring some water, and bathed her for three hours. She found her body completely blackened and her face covered with blood and matter. While witness was bathing Mrs. M'Grath prisoner took up a quart jug which was lying on the table and attempted to strike her with it. The cause of this murderous assauli was that her husband forbade her (Mrs. M'Grath) to go hawking to butchers for meat, and she disobeyed him.