LIFE ON LONELY FARM

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 733, 5 August 1929, Page 1

LIFE ON LONELY FARM

Woman’s Story of Cruelty

ELMSLEY STANDS TRIAL

A STORY of shocking treatment of a woman, who was described as having been subjected to systematic and studied cruelty vyhich cowed her to a life of drudgery on a lonely farm at Waerenga, was-outlined by the Crown Prosecutor. Mr. V. R. Meredith, in the Supreme Court today. Sitting in the dock, gazing almost vacantly before him, Peter Alexander Elmsley, aged 67, described as a farmer, <t Waerenga. was on trial on a charge of failing to provide his wife, Lietitia Ann Elmsley, with the necessaries of life, thereby permanently injuring her health.

•■lt is a most unusual charge, anil (oe. fortunately, which has very rarely 10 be invoked in this country,” de- . iared Mr. V. R. Meredith, outlining ihe Crown’s case. It was fortunately jiot often, said counsel, that one found a family which was apparently, cording to the evidence, prepared to ill-treat so inhumanly another memlier of the family. There was a responsibility on Elmsley to see his wife was provided with ihe necessaries of life, such as decent food, clothing and shelter. The

Crown had also to prove that Mrs. Elmsley, for some reason, was unable to withdraw herself from her husband’s charge and escape. The systematic, studied cruelty and terrorism which Elmsley excited had reduced her to a»condition where she had lost

all will-power and courage. She was thoroughly cowed and broken in spirit by the ill-treatment and insults to make her escape to safety and decency, with the result that her mental outlook was impaired and never again would she be a brightly intellectual woman, said counsel. (Proceeding.)