MOST DISTRESSING CASE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 250, 22 April 1912, Page 3

MOST DISTRESSING CASE

HUSBAND ASSAULTS WIFE. Auckland, AprM IS. _A most unusual ease came before Mr. Kettle, S.M., this morning. A man named John Casey was charged with having assaulted his wife on April 15. Casey pleaded guilty. The. wife, who had her eyes badly blackened, deposed that she was 21 years of age. She was married three weeks ago. She came to Auckland from Pukekohe to get married. She had known her husband for about twelve months. Since her marriage they had been living in rooms in Ponsonby. On April 15 her husband made certain remarks about her child, but he knew all about it before they were marrie'd. On the 15th her husband was drunk, and he punched her in the face. She had not done anything to arouse his anger. John Casey said he was sorry to have struck his wife. It was the first time he had laid hands on her. He had offered her £8 to go back home before he married her, but she declined to do so. He did not want to marry the girl, but did so at her mother's request and '' because she said she would "do for herself" if he did not marry her. Mr. Kettle said it was a most distressing case. Defendant would be convicted ' of brutal assault upon thie unfortunate woman, who was almost a child, who ' had apparently been cast off by those , who should have taken charge of her. <( "You married her." added Mr. Kettle, "and you got drunk and violently as- ': saulted her. It is difficult to find words ' to express one's disgust at such conduct. ! You must come up to be dealt with next , Monday morning." J His Worship also granted a summary ' separation and made a maintenance ! order of £ 1 5s a week.