Evening journal., 1918-07-26
accused OF Beating
HIS Insane Wife.
Harry C. Jones. However,
Denies Charge Against
Him
ATTACKED IN YARD,
WITNESSES SAY

Harry @. James, OF No. 1921 Adams
street, was before Judge Churchman
In Municipal Court today, charged with
wife-beatlng. Mrs. Marry 7. Matthews.
Of No. 1923 Adams street, told the court
that while she was in her back yard on
Juno 10 she noticed Mrs. James coming
down the back steps Of her house, fol-
lowed by the defendant. when In the
yard" Mrs. Matthews said, james
struck her and knocked her down. She
got I'D when he grabbed her by the
wrists and forced her onto the steps,
when he again struck her and knocked
her against the fence. Her clothes were
nearly torn from her body and her hat
destroyed. When he struck her and
Knocked her against the fence she later
went into the house. when ] heard
loud screams made by the wife and
her 7-year-old daughter"
Mrs. James was taken to the Delaware
State Hospital for the Insane a few days
following the elleged beating
Mrs. J. A. CORY, neighbor, cor
roborated Mrs. Matthews testimony.
She further stated that 1.-THE defendant
went out OF the house on two occasions
on Sunday, June II, leaving his wife
alone when she was In highly ner-
vous condition and on the verge or
collapse.
other neighbors told practically the
same story as Mrs, Matthews. Wit
nesses FOR the State said that they had
not seen any peculiar actions on the
mart OF Mrs. James further than that
she was Of a nervous temperament.
The defendant denied beating his wife.
He said she was subject to epileplc
fts. that lately had become more ire
ouent. He did not know she was sub
iect to epilepsy when he mawied ner'
ne said. Just previous to the alleged
assault, James said, his wife went from
room to room, unlocking and taking out
articles and replacing them and other-
wise acting strangely..He said MS VIE
locked him out Of the house and that
he removed a screen and craWied
through a window. She then became
violent and attacked him by throwing
dishes at him. He said he then ran lnlo
the yard, followed by his wife. lie
said she attacked him while In the
ward and he caught her by the wrists ana
tried 10 paclfy her. In the house iol-
lowing the attack in the yard, she again
attacked me and screamed, and all 1
did was merely TO push her away. ne
said ne called Dr.. James l.. France VINO
advised him to have his VIE pisoeu I'D
the insane asylum.
when the defendant was asked by MS
attorney. Herbert II. Ward the ooh9l-
t,on Of his wife at the present time ne
answered that he had been to Farn-
hurst on Sunday to see her. and that
she was then hopelessly insane ana Ia
4 diving condition. James then oroKe
down and Judge Churchman allowed
him 10 stop giving testimony for a min
Dr France told the court that he
has been treating Mrs. James Tor cpl
lensv since her marriage, fourteen
wears ago. and that she was fully IN
zane when the husband called MIN 10
treat her on June 10.
Woman witnesses for tho defense salu
.bat thew had trouble Inducing Mrs'
lanes not TO tear of her CLONES Wil1se
,,,sl,ing for a taxicab to take her 10
Farnhurst. AZ, s,,,s cose
am called upon only to decide II t1SIe 1s
Is nrobable ground for suspect @ lne
evidence Is somewhat conhictne. % s,l
convinced the defendant struck nis
wife. or that she fell as result oI :, q
blow struck by James. Mrs. Matthew's
tes,imonv was cellar and conclusive ana
7 must hold the defendant Tor jury
trial in $500.