A WOODVILLE CASE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3695, 24 December 1890, Page 2

A WOODVILLE CASE.

Shocking Revelations.

At tho -.Woodville R.M Court on (Thursday last. Noil - Thompson was charged with failing to provide for his wile and two children,, Mr Tosswill appeared- for the plaintiffs and Mr Lascelkj fer the defendant. Sarah Thompson,' wife of the defendant, in giving evidence stated that she was mimed u5 years.ago. On sth October last defendant turned the family out and looked the door. She had reared one of his children' before alio had one of her own. \ To Mr Lascelles: I left my bus-, band 8| years ago. I returned to live with him in September. I went to 'see ray children. and they looked neglected. . Daring the 8| years I was awayl lived with my two daughters and was housekeeping for Mr Prenter. Mr Prenter was married or lie would not have had children, AVhen.l went back to my liusbanff'l did not admit that I had misconducted myself. I said I was sorry I had gone away. It is not true that when lie turned the eldest boy out I said I would not stop if he went. I told him lie insulted me. He charged me with an offence, and 1 said I would not stop with such a man. It was quite time to leave when he used a bayonet tome, Defendant ordered my eldest son to leavo the house in consequence ;of alleged misconduct. He accused me ofimprcper conduct with my son. He was in the horrors of drink and my son was kept to look after him. He wontpnaboutmen beingin the house. I left him before for insult, He was knocking and abusing me and 1 ran out.- I did not know so much of the law as to lay an information against him for looking and abusing me. It is he who led the immoral life. I reared two children of his and:l complained about this immoral conduct. He never was a kind husband. I made no complaint i against him in the law court because a woman will suffer a lot for the sake' of her children. I had from 10s to 15s a week as wages. 10s from Mr Prenter, 12s from Mr Motley. To Mr Tosswill: 4. girl in Scotland was the mother of his child. I was married to him when the girl's mother oame and gave the child to me,

Mr Tosswill: Has defendant told you any child be brought to you was a child of bis? Witness: He led bis own daughter astray and she too liada child by him, I supported that child till lie niade other arrangements, I lived at Prenter's properly, and not as his wifo. I was simply there to look after the children and Prenter stayed at the hotel. Thompson lias served his tune in gaol for cruelty; to animals, There was no misconduct between me and lily son. Thompson fanciedso in the horrors of drink,

Fraud's Thompson deposed that the defendant, his lather, had been living improperly with two women named Jenny Brown and Mary MitohelL The latter got three months in Napier gaol for having no lawful visible means of support. Witness had never misconducted himself with his .mother. Ho had seen defendant hit and kick his mother, Samuel -Neil Thompson and William Thompson corrobated the evidence of the last witness, For the defenpe. Mr Lascelles ojlled EWi Bradbury, who said': /, I lived half a mile from where Thompson used to live. Have known him about six years, Have seen nothing of: any disturbance since his wife-went baok, During , the time his wife was away • he looked after bis children and was a kind father to them but strict; Have hot seen Mrs Thompson while she has been away. When I first visited the house I always belied them tobe a respectable family, Thompson cpmunioated to me' improper conduct on the part of his wife with other men; Ho asked me to'alter his will as he wanted to leave his wife with only £2O. I was surprised jat w*iat he said and would not believe it. To Mr Tosswill: Did not plaoe reliance on Lis statement till I had proof.

In reply to Mr Lasoelles: Thompson had asked him to test the woman, Thompson said he was about to sell out and ho would give witness £IOO if he could get evidence against her, and witness described how he tried her for his o,\vn satisfaction, (Groans ir\ Court.) Joseph Drhikwater said: I have ways seen Thompson act as a father to his children. ; He breaks out now and then.. That is the custom with a great many bush men, I called at Thompson's as a friend and asked how he was, Ho was unwell, There wero words, Tliey commenced about the two younger children being sent to school. The eldest son interfered and challenged the father to fight. I was asked to sit. down, The father wanted the younger children to go to school. I saw the Bofl throw down his hat and ask his father to go out to fight, This was since the wife came back to the husband, It might be two months ago, Thomas Goodgame said; Have known Thompson for ten years. Am' married to his daughter, The «lijldrfln never complained to me of theii father's treatment. ! . I .was at the house on Saturday evening, Thompson told his eldest son to go out of the house; Heard no one say anything. The sou was-a bit excited,

Noil Thompson, defendant, said: Hive on Woodlands Eoad. My wife lias been away from mo over 8 years. The reason she left was because she

had been guilty of improper oonduot, She lias told me so since she has conducted herself improperly with others. On 2Gth June, 1889, she confessed this to lier eldest son and me, as to Mr Bradbury, ' I did not ask her to come baok. I said 1 could not take ,her back unless she asked my forgiveness.She asked my for*' giveness and I took her baok ; Witness- here stated she had not been

back three" weeks when she had betri guilty of iraproper oonduot with her eldest s.gfl and stated his reasons for believing so,, "which wer-3 of a disgusting description. Witnoss. continued Wliou I\\ai lying ill for "the 9 daysl' was not drunk, but had pleurisy, On October 4th, I invited my son into my bedroom »ad charged him : .with improper.- conduct, , and lie .said, " What are you impeaching me with?" He then broke the dofa, and next morning ho pao «p his things , and called his mother aside' and pui, around.to

1 * A walk her off. iloldMiim alio was _ f my wife, and lie then swore at mo' ' and threatened mo, He said lio had a better right to her than I, and would tdlte her with him, When he - said this 1,-went to the bedroom for ' - a sword, and lie sent the door flying, Then he said, You old b—■—l'll let you have it too." I get a piece of■ w metal iu my hand then, and he . cleared'out, and I then loaded' thf""""* gun .in case thoy came back, not with the intention of hurting thp[but to* l ' frighten thein, I wauf to' get, iny \ children and to keep them at school. •-••• It is only since the wife came back ; tliey . wan ted to leave,: I did not .wisln jr my wife to leave.' in 1 « H

To Mr Tosswill: My . wife gave -• tho names- of the 'four men'with' whom sho was implicated 22 to 20 1 ■' years ago, That is not why I turned ,> w iier out.- It was becausOsShe herself to Bradbury, I have lived with other women sinco I have been r v '''[ married. I swear I never had ,» child., by-my daughter, My oldest t ,, daughter .was an illegitimate child,i: I did not live .improperly with that ohild.-t -There never'has' been agirl named Maud liying.in, my. house, I believo there ;is.a child living with.'£ iny daughter oltliatiiame. She was an illegitimate child, .i I-; swear, I Am not the father.' Miss AlcKenzie has (■ been living with me, but not as my wife. I lived with a good', many J —about two-as manand wifei <> Th'ey'''' " were Jane Brown and Mary Mitchell. Did not offer Bradbury £SO or iIOO to find my wife out. I can't say whether what Bradbury; says is {rue. ■ ■■■, Bradbury bears a./good 'character in i!t( my estimation. He might have been convicted for sly-grog selling) ii! > 1 To Mr- Lascelles; I might have offered.-Bradbiiry £100 ( for evidence ' of my. wife's guilt. When -my wife v asked forgiveness oii her''return I 1 ' did hot < know , she..; had acted . improperly in the meantime.: 'Joseph Sowry said he called on defendant'who was .lying ill >and beiiigjattended by Dr Milne, He' did not,seem to be' Butering from' v] drink but from inflammation! ! ' v ' Mrs - Thompson and,-. Francis - Thompson, : re-called, denied the ' statements made by defendant as to immoral conduct on their part, that the wife,or' children'should be J deserted and should ba i without lawful means of support, 1S v < . . !! - His Worship said: In this case there is & good deal said about' mi's* '■' 1 conduot proved parfc : of !,the/ defendant and alleged on tho part' of' the plaintiff,: Whatever misconduot there,may (have been on, the- j,, part was; '■ condoned) atid sits was ' afterwards compelled to live in fear of personal violence to herself, • Tlw Court orders defendant to pay 5s a,, .. week to the wife and 15a tar week'toill.: the support of the children till they attain; the age of 14. years, the ' amount'to be paid to the olerk of the Court. Defendant iilsd, to (find ia-1 /, surety for ifiO, in default to bo . imprisoned for six months. ..'The wife; is to have custody of the children.