New Britain herald., 1916-08-15
"HENPECKED" HUBBY
 ARRIVES IN COURT
According to Witnesses MT. O'Brlen Was Looking for Blood

l by Andrews, Swift & company. wa.
 arralgned before Judge James T. Mes 1 kill charged with breach of the peace
 alleged to have been committed las
 evening in the vicinity of the O'Brier ] dom1C1le. Through Attorney F. r 1 McDonough plea of not guilty was l entered by the defendant Prosecutor l klett conducted the case for the state l The first witness called by the state l was Mrs. Carlson of Rhodes street, a nelghbor of the defendant. Accord l ing to her version of the affair she was 1 in the company of the wife of the &C., cused returning from a Monday night shopping tour when they encountered O'Brien on Market street. The wit ness said that without provocation O'Brien rushed up to them and con- menced a tirade of abuse, interjected with cpithets. Shaking his fist at the witness O'Brien said, "I am going to
 get blood before morning." He then
 pushed his wife and continued to use
 loud and insulting language until the
 women reached their homes. On cross
 examination by Attorney McDonough,
 Mrs. Carlson said that O'Brien had accused her of mixing up in his family affairs and had ordered her to keep away from his home. She denied that her trip with Mrs. O'Brien was a pre- arranged affair, stating that she sim ply met her while returning home.
 Mrs. Berg, who also lives near the O'Briens, said when the accused ar- rived home last evening shortly after 8 o'clock he made inquiries at her home concerning his children. She told him they were at Mrs. CarlsOn's and that his wife had gone up town to do some trading. She then offered to pour coffee for him. to which O'Brien replied by talking loudly and swearing ad winding up by smashing two milk bottles. Mrs. Berg said that the ac- cused shouted, T am going to kill every Swede In New Britain. All they are are snuff pushers." He then ran out of the house and started up the street continuing his volley of talk. On cross examination she said that she liked O'Brien when he kept his place. Asked if he was drunk, she replied, Yes, crazy drunk"
 Mrs. Fannie O'Brien, wife of the defendant, who has on several other occasions appeared as awitness aginst her husband in police court, was next clled. She aid she went up street,
  and do other trading, On her way home she met Mrs. Carlson and to- gether they walked home. As they neared Market street they met her husband who commenced to shout and yell using language "that was not fit for an animal" He concluded by grab bing her by the coat, tearing it off. On the cross examination she said she used him as best she could, giving him the best meals that s5 a week would allow. 1T can't give him a swell feed on S5 week. she complained Mrs. O'Brien said that her husband has been complaining about her keeping their three children out nights, when in realty it was he who was to blame by his incorporate habits. For sever al weeks he has been drinking very heavily, recently losing an entire week on a debauch, she said. Questioned bv Attorney McDonough concerning neighbors interfering, Mrs. O'Brien said that it was a perpetual habit with him. ''He is always complaining about snuff pushers," she said.
 Clarence Carlson, aged fifteen years, was the next witness for the state. He testified that last evening he heard O'Brien using vile and abusive lan- guage and threatening to kill. He de- nied in answer to questions by At torney McDonough that O'Brien had ordered him from his home after he had found him embracing his wife. 'There is bad blood between you and O'Brien?" asked Attorney McDonough. "NO, but I wouldn't stick up for him. answered the witness. Carlson also denied that after O'Brien had ordered him to stay away from his house, he later found him (Carlson) sitting on a couch with Mrs. O'Brien.
 Charles Rund testified O'Brien passed his house last evening talking loud and swearing, and later he pulled pickets from his fence.
 OBrien on the witness stand told story which held but very little weight with the court He said that he re- turned home from work las evening with butter eggs and other provisions. On entering his home he found it empty and then he started out to look for his kids"
 From Mrs. Berg he learned that they were at Mrs. Carlson's, but on going to her house he did not find them there. He then started up the street where he met his wife and. Mrs. Carlson, and he asked his wife where the children were. He rem onstrated with Mrs. Carlson for "butting into his family affairs" He. also informed the court she was the only woman in New Britain who had ever slapped his face. According to his testimony the woman began to shout, and when he entered his own home his own wife continued to shriek. He rem onstrated with her, but 1t did no good. He also said his wife goes to church Sunday evenings and on Monday evenings she goes to the bank where she places money in a club. He was a hen peck in his own home, he claimed.
 He also denied that he was drinking yesterday.