The Slaithwaite Guardian and Colne Valley News. — 1901-10-11 (Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire, England)

ALLEGED PERSISTENT CRUELTY.-011 Tuesday morning at the County Police Court, Huddersfield, William Henry Lunn, mason's labourer, was summoned by his wife, Hannah Lunn, on a charge of persistent cruelty.—Complainant said they had been married fourteen years, and there were six children, the eldest being thirteen years of age and the youngest eighteen months. At first her husband always gave her £1 per week, when he had a full week, and he had always worked when the weather permitted. Eight years ago the defendant began to drink, and from that time his conduct towards her changed. In January of last year he tried to throttle her in bed. He also struck her in the face, and she then hit him back. The defendant afterwards turned her and the eldest of the children out of doors. She informed P.C.s Hellawell and Wright, and after they came with her to her home she re-entered it. Defendant told her that he neither cared for the police nor her relations, and he used very abusive language towards her. He had many times during last year repeated that kind of conduct. The last occasion was on the 30th September last, when he struck her about the head and face, and she bit him back as well as she could. He got hold of her by the throat, but she got away from him, and went and informed P.C. Stott of what had occurred. The officer advised her to go into the house, and he would watch outside. Defendant again used bad language to her and hit her, kicked her on the hip, and turned her and three children out of the house, and locked the door on them. She went to a neighbour's house, and remained there until last Saturday, since which time she had been living at Longwood. Last January he assaulted her, and told her she would not have to sleep there, and threatened to murder her, as he had done on the 30th September. Complainant had on that occasion to go to her sister's, but on the defendant promising not to get drunk any more, and behave better, she went back to live with him.—Corroborative evidence was given by the son, Herbert, of some portions of the complainant's story, and by the daughter, Annie, who said she remembered her father threatening to murder her mother on one oocasion.—P.C. Stott said that on September 30th, at 11-30 p.m., he heard a row going on inside the defendant's house, and he went there and found the complainant and three of her children outside. Complainant appeared to be very much exhausted, and she told him that her husband had been beating her about the head severely. Witness told complainant to go into the house, but she replied that she was frightened. Eventually she went into the house, but as she was crossing the threshold he beard the defendant threaten to murder her. Witness remained about the house until nearly 12 o'clock; and all the time defendant used most abusive language.—The defendant, on oath, alleged that complainant had never kept the house clean, and he had never had • comfortable home to go to. There were two children, whom complainant had left at home, who were sadly neglected. She had been out at all times of the night. He had had his face out open three or four times, the complainant having thrown pint pots at him. He alleged that complainant's sister was the awe) ef all the bother. The Bench endeavoured to prevail upon the complainant to adjourn the mos for three months, in order that some arrangement might be come to, but this the complainant refused to do. The magistrates therefore granted a separation order, and defendant was ordered to pay Bs. a week towards the maintenance of his wife and children.  The poet Of 11:3yor in Brighouse is going abegging. Mr. Pickersgill, a Labour member, enggeeted drawing lots, and in case of default, 5 per cent, of his year's income to be paid by the defaulter. This is to go on until the post is accepted, when the sobeptor tekee She daises towards his mayoral mem