THRASHED WITH CANE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 390, 26 November 1932, Page 2

THRASHED WITH CANE

WIFE'S stern action ADl^IINISTERS PUNISHMENT *' TO HUSBAND?S MISTRESS" CHARGED WITH ASSAULT A wife described at the PoliceCourt' at Penge, how she went deliberately to anopher woman.'s bedroom and thrashed her with'a cane. ' 'The wife, Mrs. Frances' Mary Field of South Norwood, was summoned by Mrs. Yiolet Fitzmaurice, of U^per Norwood and by Mrs. Winifred Estber' Allingham, of Blackheatb, both o| whom alleged that she'kad assauited them on September 25. The case was h'eard in a special court aiid a number of •well-dressed women were in the public' Veats. Mrs. Fitzmaurice said she was in her room clad only in a dressinggown when Mrs. Field forced her way past the' maid into the house' ahd intq the bedroom." Mrs. Field then toqk h cane from under her coat and bea't her about the head and shoulders.' Took Her By the Hair She tried to get to the"teiephone, but Mrs. Field took her by the hair and threw her on the bed, where she beat her again. Eventually she managed to telephone to the police, but Mrs. Field walked out while she was doing so. Mrs. B. M. Cloutman (for 'Mrs. Field; Did Mrs. Field say, "You have been my husband's mistress and I am going to punish you for it?" — Yes, and other slanders which I intend to take up in another court. Did you appear in fancy dress on a stal) at an exhibition last year? — : Yes. At that time you were penniless? — No. ' Put you told Bfrs. Field that when you lost that job you would have nothing to live on?: — Yes. And yep a few weeks later you have this house at Belvedere Road. — I only took it on a mortgage system. Is it not a fact that Mr.' Field was present at all the interviews with the estate agent? — Yes. When you moved in was he there in your bedroom? — Yes. He came in to help me arrange things.

In Beach Pyjamas Y/ere you in pyjamas? — Yes, I wear beach pyjamas all day on Sundays. Was Mr. Field in the house when his wife called? Good heavens, no! He had been there the night before? — ^Yes. Mr. S. James (for Mrs. Fitzmaurice.) : I must protest against these questions. The case is being used to throw mud at my client. Dr. Scott Turner, the chairman: I cannot see the connectiori between Mr. Field and the purchase of the house. Mr. Cloutman: We can prove that Mr. Field was present at every interview with the' estate agents, and we suggest that he also provided the purchase money of the house. Mrs. Fitzmaurice later admitted that she spent a week-end in Mr. Field's yacht, but said that there were seven people in the party and that she slept in- a cabin with her sister and daughter. Mrs. Field giving evidence, said that she took the cane from her husband's dressing-room and went to Mrs.. Fitzmauriqe's apartment, intending to thrash her. Mr. James: You were in a temper at the time? — No I was as cool as a cucumber. I had been thinking thing^ over for 14 hours, and I went there deliberately to punish her. Mr. James: Do you agree. with Mrs. Fitzmaurice's account of what happened thaf morning? — No, it is not nearly strong enough. She had no dressing gown on when I beat her, only a little iingerie, and I should have beaten her still more if the cane had not slipped out of my hands. Her Life Blasted Mr. Cloutman, addressing the niagistrates, said Mrs. Field's life had been blasted by her husband's assoeiation with this woman. Mrs. Field is an Irishwoman," he added "and you can imagine that she naturally wanted revenge." 'Mrs. Allingham, Mrs. Field's sister said that she and Mrs. Fitzmaurice drove up in a car to Mrs. Eiztmaurice's housq later in the same day. Mrs. Field was standing on the path outside the house. When she saw them she rushed up " and created a scene. A struggle ' f ollowed and during it Mr's. Allingham was struck by Mrs. Field. Mrs. Field: May I say that the car they drove up in belonged to my husband? The first time I heard of this affair was when the car was stoleii from outside this woman's flat late at night. The' magistrates found Mrs. Field guilty o'n botb summonses. On the first tfiey hound her over in £50 tp keep the peace for two years and ordered her to pay costs. On the second she was fined 40s with 'costs.