Unhappy Married Life at Denaby

Persistent Cruelty

At the Doncaster West Riding Police Court, on Saturday, before Mr. G. B. C. Yarborough (presiding), with Mr. L. T. Baines, Mr. E. J. Baines, and Mr. J. C. Coulman, Tom Thompson, an engine cleaner, of Denaby, was summoned by his wife, Harriet Matilda Thompson, who charged him with persistent cruelty.

Mr. W. Baddiley appeared for the complainant. Mr. Frank Allen defended.

Mr. Baddiley stated that the complainant applied for a separation and maintenance order on the ground of persistent cruelty.

The complainant was sworn, and she stated that she resided at 101, Doncaster-road, Denaby. The defendant was her husband, and was an engine cleaner at Denaby, and earned 34s. per week. She was married to the defendant at Denaby Main Church, on the 31st March, 1902, and there was one child of the marriage, named Louisa, aged nine months. They first resided together in Annerley Street, and then in Maltby Street, and she had no complaint to make against her husband at that time.

They afterwards went to reside in Rosington Street, and whilst there the first assault took place. It was sometime in June, on a Saturday, when he struck her. Complainant, when asked the reason for him striking her, said, “He struck me because I had hurt him in play,” and explained that they had been playing with one another, when it gradually developed to be more rough.

She next remembered the 6th August, when the defendant went out about 9 o’clock, and returned about 3.30; he asked her if she would get his tea ready. She said she would, and then he assaulted her, and also struck her sister who was holding the baby. She said he ought to take it out of her, but out of the child. He then assaulted her, hit and beat her many times.

On the 25th July he assaulted her, beat her about the face and head, caught hold of her by the neck, tried to strangle her, and threw her on the stairs. He had many times turned her out, and on one occasion said that he would not allow her to go into the house again.

On the 10th August he ill-used her in bed, he came home drunk, and she had to take his boots off and take him to bed. Two days later he thrashed her and turned her into the street.

On the 5th September complainant overlaid herself, and she was blackleading when the defendant got hold of her, knocked her up against the machine, and then because she picked up a shovel to defend herself he tried to get it from her and struck her. Her sister, who was holding the baby, struck him with an old umbrella, and he turned round and hit the child across the face, and then thrashed complainant.

She left him and went to live with her mother.

Cross-examined by Mr. Allen, complainant said the defendant had complained about her treatment of him. She denied striking her husband on the face. He had threatened her many times.

Ellen Madden, a neighbour, Mrs. Lilian Brown, Eliza Oakley, May Oakley, and Selina Oakley gave corroborative evidence.

Mr. Allen, on behalf of the defendant, submitted that the complainant had neglected him. He had always given her 20s. of his wages, which he thought would compare very favourably with what Denaby Main men allowed their wives.

On one occasion the complainant took a knife to her husband and threatened him. She had also struck him with a poker and shovel.

The defendant was sworn, and he said that he resided at 10, Ravenfield Street, Denaby. On the 5th September his wife threatened him with a knife, and put it against his throat. He commenced laughing at her. She also got a poker and a shovel, and rushed at him, but he got hold of her arms, and her little sister then struck him with an umbrella, and his wife struck him with the fire-irons.

He asked her to be peaceable, but she would not, and struck him over the shoulder with a poker. He was willing to have her back again; there was a good home waiting for her.

Cross-examined by Mr. Baddiley, defendant said complainant had threatened him with a knife, and remarked, “She had the knife against my throat, and I could not have helped laughing at her if she had killed me.” (Laughter.)

Walter Mitchell and his wife gave corroborative evidence.

The Bench granted the complainant’s application, the defendant to contribute 12s. per week towards the maintenance of his wife and child.