WIFE'S FEARFUL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 332, 20 June 1911, Page 5

WIFE'S FEARFUL STORY

WITHOUT FURNITURE,

CHILDREN HALE STARVED.

By Telegraph.—Presa Association. Dunedin, Last Night.

''The children are half starved, and there is no furniture in the house," said a wife in the Police Conrt this morning, when she appeared for a separation order against her husband, William Newtoil. Jane Elizabeth Newton, the wife, said there were four children, all half starved. They had no furniture, only a wooden bedstead and one chair. Some cooking utensils were given them. Defendant had not provided them with food or clothing. The children lind gone to school without breakfast. They had cried with hunger. She had seen them eat raw cabbage and raw yi'jo. Her husband had kicked and struck her, bruising her and bleeding her mouth very often. He had tnrown the only chair they had at her, breaking it. He had also thrown lots of other things at her. He had held a razor, over her throat, with the children crying around. He also used most filthy language in the presence of the children. She had gone out to work, and nad been ill-treated when she returned home at night. Defendant would not work. He had also ill-treated the children. Witness denied that the trouble was caused through a man named Preston. She had run to his house for protection when ' defendant threatened her with a razor.

Evidence was given by Harold Newton, Sergeant Emmerson, Constable Herd, Wm. Barry and Euphemia Ncverson. The defence contended that the whole trouble had been caused through Preston and defendant's wife. When Newton came back from Duntroon, -where he had been working, lie caught Preston in the house, and gave him a "hiding." Defendant said he was prepared to maintain his wife if she would keep away from Preston. The children were hatf starved because his wife was too lazy to cook for them.

A separation order was granted, defendant to pay £1 per week for maintenance, and the wife to have custody of the children.

*tn a charge of assaulting Preston, Newton was fined £1 and costs ( £1 Is).