The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1917-08-04 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

BEBINGTON SEPARATION  CASE.  An application fore separation rder against her husband, Henry Sims Reeves, 18, Ash Grove, Lower Bebington, was made by Annie Reeves to the magistrates, Messrs. H. W. Hind (chairman) and F. W. Fox, sitting at the County Police Court on Thursday. Mr. Cecil Holden appeared for the complainant, and Mr. R. Moors for the defendant. Mr. Holden said defendant was a laboure,r earning a standard wage of £2 Is. 6d. per week. There were two children of the marriage, one a girl aged IL who was working and receiving 9s. per week, and the other a boy of 10. The man had an ungovernable temper, used foul language to his wife, and threatened her with assault and even murder. He was also in the habit of thrashing the complainant's daughter, Ivy Farnworth, now aged 19, when she was younger. The final aseault was on July 26th, when Reeves returned home at 11.55 p.m, Mrs. Reeves had left his food'ready, and when he came to bed she told him his food had been waiting for hours, and asked him where he had been. He replied by swearing at In r and asking her what business it was of her's. He then commenced to beat her, and got his hand* round her throat. She called out, and htr daughter Ivy and a young man nameePrescott, who had jusi returned from a theatre, ran upstairs to her assistance.  Mrs. Reeves, who is at nre,ient living 3 t 88, Egerton-road, New Ferry, bore cut in evidence Mr. Holden'. statement. She also said she left her husband for a time, but in October they resumed cohabitation, and for three months her husband's behaviour much improved. He had, hewevev, since then resumed his cruelty towards her.  By Mr. Moore: She adm;tted that her husband was • hard-working, sober man. She denied hitting him with an alarum clock on July 26th, or with 'anything else. Ivy Hilda Farnworth said she had been out to the theatre with Mr. Prescott, arriving home at about 12.15. She was attracted by screams from h.r mother's bedroom, and she and Prescott ran upstairs. Her mother was lying on the bed, and her father had his hands round her throat. Prescott dragged him off and took her mother to his home, where she had lived since. She had frequently sten her mothar assaulted by her father, and sho herself had received thrashings from him with the buckle end of a strap, in her mother's presence.  Ernest Prescott corroboratNl.—By Mr. Moore: Defendant tried to prevent Mrs. Reeves from leaving the bedroom.  Mr. Moore referred to the quarrel as "only a scuffle," and submitted that there was nothing in it to justify a charge of persistent cruelty. Defendant declared that on the ath ult. he did not touch his wife until she hit him. He then slapped her face. She got out of bed, opened the window, ant t. Fated out that she would throw him through it. Her daughter must have heard that remark, for it was then that she and Prescott came into the room.  By Mr. Holden: He adniitted that he betted, and that trouble was caused in that way. He denied keeping company with another woman, or that he htew her at all.  Amy Reeves, aged 14. said she went into her parents' room on July 26th, and found things happening there as described by previous wit-m.BElgs. The separation order vies granted, defendant being ordered to pay 146. a week to his wife. He was also ordered to pay the costa, 9s. 64.