Conisborough Man’s Foolish Outburst – Preferred Suicide

July 1906

Mexborough and Swinton Times July 7, 1906

A Conisborough Man’s Foolish Outburst
Preferred Suicide

A Conisborough filler named William Sleaford was summoned at the instance of his wife for desertion.

The complainant said they were married on 28 May two years ago. The previous Monday the defendant turned out of the house and locked the door upon her. He had often threatened what he would do to her and he also treated her cruelly. He was a filler at the Cadeby Colony, and earned 5/-a day. There was no furniture or bedding. There was only one child of the marriage will stop

The Chairman: Have you any questions to ask your wife?

Defendant: I want to have nowt to say to her.

Gertrude Nolan, with whom the complainant is residing, gave evidence and Mr Michael Dolan, of the NSP CC said in consequence of a letter he received from the complainant last Monday he saw the defendant at his house at Conisborough. The wife made a statement in his presence that he had ill treated her during the whole of their married life, and that he had kept her and the child short of food.

In answer to a question the defendant said he was earning 26 shillings per week and that yet paid 13 shillings to get his clothes out of pawn they had been in since the previous September races. He had also paid 4/11 for at pair of boots. He also said he wouldn’t not get any bedding, and he did not care whether a separation order was granted. He would allow her 1/- per week, and if she wanted any more he would “go down the line,” like some other man he mentioned had done, and he said that it was nice. (Laughter)

The defendants denied stating that he would pay 8/- a week. He would never pay 8/- a week to a thing like her. Some days he worked for 2/11 and others for 6/-

A separation order was granted, the defendant to pay 8/- alimoney each week.

Defendant: “I shan’t pay. I’ll drown myself first.”