Wife Desertion

February 1894

Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 23 February 1894

Wife Desertion

Clement Stamp, coal filler, was charged with neglecting to maintain his wife, Sarah Stamp, at Conisborough.

Mr. A Park appeared for complainant, who stated that the defendant had frequently left her during her three years of married life. In October last he left her and stayed away till November. He came back to her, but on the 12th January be left her again, and had stayed away ever since, and during that time had done nothing to support be except to give her 8s. He had taken away all his clothes.

Defendant stated that on the 10th January a little girl came to the door begging, and because he spoke to it his wife said it was one of his children by a woman she accused him of going with.

On the 11th January he said to her, I am going to have peace, so I shall take a little house, and I will be the head of it.” to which his wife replied that if he did he would have to get one of his women to keep it for him. He then left her and went and got lodgings, but he was quite prepared to find lodgings for her again, and when he could he would get her a little houses.

Questioned as to his wages, the defendant said he earned between 5s. and 6s a day.

Ordered to contribute 10s. a week