Alleged Cruelty To A Wife

Wright Lee, collier, Conisborough, was charged with persistent cruelty to Margaret Lee, his wife, at Conisborough.

Mr. C. Hall defended.

Margaret Lee said that on Monday, the 13^th inst., she was at home in her house at Clifton Street. It was about half-past ten at night. The defendant picked up the child which was in the cradle and struck it. Witness told him he ought not to strike the child, and the defendant then struck her with his fist, she could not tell how many times he struck her, but it was several times. Then he told her she was to go until he has a mind to fetch her and take the kid with her.

The defendant had knocked her about several times within the last six months. He struck her only a fortnight after the child was born, when he gave her a black eye.

Cross-examined, witness denied that the defendant found fault with her because the beds were not made. It was not true that she called him a lot of nasty names, nor did she tell him that the child was not his. It was also untrue that she threw a saucepan at the defendant.

Ellen Oliver, said she was in complainant’s house on the night in question, and saw the defendant strike her several times in the face with his fist. She tried to get up and go out, but the defendant dashed her down again. When she was on the floor, he kicked her in the chest, and knocked the wind out of her.

Cross-examined by Mr. Hall, witness denied that the complainant called the defendant names.

Clara Rixton said she was in the yard and heard screaming. The complainant said ‘Don’t hit the baby.’ She went to the door, and saw the defendant strike her several times. He knocked her on the floor, and every time she tried to get up he knocked her down again.

Cross-examined, witness did not see the complainant hit the defendant, nor told the defendant the child was not his, the defendant, however, first said he did not believe he was the father of the child.

The defendant, in evidence on his own behalf, said the complainant began calling him nasty names. He only shook the child to make it quiet, and then the complainant hit him with the fire shovel, after which she smashed everything in the house until the kitchen was full of broken pots. She afterwards told him he had nothing to do with the child as it was not his.

In cross-examination the defendant admitted that he hit complainant, but denied that he put the child down in order to punch her.

William Guest said he hear the complainant tell the defendant he had nothing to do with the child, and used abusive language about his family.

Cross-examined by the complainant. Defendant first mentioned the child, and the complainant only said ‘The child’s not yours.’

The chairman said there was not sufficient evidence to sustain the charge of persistent cruelty and the summons was therefore dismissed.