LIVING IN TERROR

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 1

LIVING IN TERROR

WIFE’S TRAGIC STORY OF HUSBAND

ATTACK WITH RAZOR Said to have attacked his wife with a razor and also to have made an attempt to throttle her, Alfred John Sheay was remanded at the Police Court this morning for sentence on a charge of drunkenness. Mr. Singer asked that the man be kept in custody. “His wife is terrified of him,” he urged. gHEAY, a boilermaker, aged 29, was charged with being found drunk in Belgium Street. He pleaded guilty. Mr. Singer said that the man had taken a razor to his wife last evening while he was drunk. To behave in such a way had been a habit of his for years. He had been trying to throttle the woman on the bed when she banged on the wall with her foot. She had succeeded in attracting the attention of a neighbour who had put Sheay out in the street, where he had been arrested by a passing constable. Counsel said that Sheay had been served with a summons to answer an application for a separation order and asked that the case be proceeded with or that the man be remanded in custody, as his wife was terrified of him. They had been married for five years. According to Sub-Inspector McCarthy, the woman had told the story of being attacked with a razor. Her finger was cut but she did not wish to give evidence against her husband so he could be charged only with drunkenness. Mr. Singer: The police could bring a more serious charge. The wife is in court now. “What do you do?” asked Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., of Sheay. Accused: I am a boilermaker, at present out of work. Mr. Singer: His wife keeps him. Sheay asked for his liberty while he was remanded. “I don’t remember anything that happened. Drink was the trouble,” he said. Pleading further for liberty, he said that he had a friend who would take care of him. The friend came forward, but. learning that he was a billiard saloon proprietor, the magistrate said that he would be unable to assume the responsibility. “You have enough to do looking after your cues and your customers,” he said.

“ITI keep away from my wife. I’ll go to Wellington,” said Sheay. The magistrate: That you won’t. You are remanded until Friday.