A BRUTE

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2132, 22 January 1880, Page 2

A BRUTE

The “ Hawke’s Bay Herald ” gives the details of one of the most atrocious cases of wife-beating on record in the colony. It is believed that the man would have killed her but for timely interference by bystanders. As it was,, they were obliged to break bis ribs to rescue her, and the only regret is that it did not happen to his neck ; —“ At the Waipawa Magistrate’s Court yesterday, before Messrs Becliab Harding and A. St. C. Inglis, J.P.’s, William Bussell, laborer, of Kaikoura, was charged with having committed an aggravated assault upon his wife. The evidence of two witnesses was to the effect that on New Year’s Day they saw the prisoner rushing after his wife with a stock-whip in his hand. He threw her down, and, standover her, savagely dealt her repeated blows with the handle of -the-whip. The woman screamed, and called out “ murder! ” The witnesses ran up find threw the man off, and while one of them kept him off, the other helped the woman who was covered with blood. The prisoner got away, went into his house, and let loose three or four dogs. He also brought a gun, which he levelled at one of the witnesses, who made off as fast as he could. The poor woman presented a pitiable appearance in Court. Her face was a mass of bruises and both her eyes were severely blackened. The prisoner persisted.in calling his wife as a witness on his behalf, and she, being evidently in fear of him, was entering the box, when she fainted and fell down. The Court was adjourned for a quarter of an hour, but on resuming the woman was in such a weak, fainting state that the Bench would not have her re-called. The prisoner was sentenced to six months’ hard labour.