BRUTALITY TO A SERVANT.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7942, 17 January 1906, Page 3

BRUTALITY TO A SERVANT.

CLERGYMAN AND HIS WIFE SENT TO PKISON. • A servant's gill's allegations of a series of assaults resulted iu the Rev. James Dadman and his wife being sentenced at Eastbourne to one month's imprisonment in the second division. Mr Dudman is an M.A. of Oxford, and resided at Bristol until last September. The servant girl, Agnes Kate Telling, is 20 years old, and entered Mrs Dudman'a service in Bristol last April. When the family, in wbi b were three children, went to Eastbourne, the girl went with tbeuu. Her wages were £l2 a year, but aocord'ng to her statement she bad received only 2s since she went to Eastbourne. She alleged many acts of cruelty. One day, she said, Mrs Dudman struck her with a toasting fork because breakfast was not ready, and also wilh a saucepan on the left jaw. Mr Dudman who is six loot in height, beat ber on the arm nnd back with a walking-stiok. Alter breakfast Mrs Dudman struck hor With a hair-brnsb, ana later with a poker and carpet-belter. In the evening, the girl continued, Mr Dadman struck her with a 3t,ick and broke it. He cot another,-and continued the beating. At four o'clock the next morning she left the faonso. and gave information to the police. Counsel asked her why she did not leave the house before, and she explained that there was a large 'am.ily at ber home, ber sister had been ill three years, and she did not wish to be a burden to her mother. Dr. Willoughby said the girl's injuries were consistent with her evidence. Mr Dudmaa, in the witness-box, said that on the day iu question he complained that the soup was cold and greasy. The next course was burnt, and the plates had not been properly washed. He lost his temper, and gave the girl two or three cuts with the stick. In cross-examination be said he had a living, but at present someone was in charge. He preached sometimes. Mrs Dudman asserted that the girl was very troublesome. She admitted striking her with a carpet-beater. Noiice of appeal against the sentence was eiven.