The Herald of Wales. — 1890-10-18 (Swansea, West Glamorgan, Wales)

BIZIOUS CHAII0I: AGAINST A LLANDATP PUBLICAN. Henry Aldersley 41, landlord of Butelier Arms, Llandaff, was charged with unlawfully and maliciously weeodieg his wife, Sarah Aldersley,last week. Mr. Lualiington Stephens prosecuted and Mr. Arthur Lewis defended Mrs. Morris, Llandail, said she was paining the prisoner's house when she heard him say to his wife "Sally, I've often said I'd cut your throat, and I'll do it now." Mrs. Aldersey was screaming "murder," and witness went into the house and saw het coming downstairs, her face and hands covered with blood. Mrs. Aldersley, • „ respectably attired woman, as soon as she entered the witness box, and saw her husband in the dock, cried piteously. ',ln answer to Mr. Stevens ahe said she did not remember what Iced happened. She wee too much excited. Pressed to answer as to what the prisoner had done, the witness still adhered to the statement that she could not recollect what had happened. —Mr. Stevens, in view of the evidence which Mrs. Aldersley had given at the police-court and her present attitu le, naked that the deviations should be put iu now as evidence.—The Chairman, after some argument, between counsel, assented to the adoption of this course. Mr. Stevens then placed the depositions in the hands of the wit. Bean, and asked her if the signature at the end was hers. This being admitted, Counsel proceeded to read the depositions sentence by sentence, asking Mrs. Aldealy if she had made such statements, and her answer in every case was the same, "I don't remember." These statements were to the effect that her husband had come to the bedroom, and used the words overheard by Mrs. Morris, and that she had been 'truck by him with a shovel, which had caused beets bleed.—ln reply to Mr. Lewis she said that she had of recent years given way to bad habits, and drank too much, so that her husband intended giving up the business. She had been married to the prisoner for 14 years, and they had lived happily together. It was not true that her husband had often threatened to take her life—Dr. Evans having described the injuries, which might have been caused by the shovel produced, the sergeant of police said he had found this weapon under the bed. It was stained with blood, as also were the sheet and pillow. Mrs. Aldersley had been often to the police station complaining of her husband's conduct.—Mr. Arthur Lewis, in an eloquent appeal to the jury, said in all his experience, he had never known a proeecutics to be conductedl in such a vindictive spirit. Who was at the bottom of this prosecution? Not the wife, the injured panty, but that meddlesome woman, Mrs. Morrie. He prntested most strongly against the way in which it had been attempted to 'concoct a case against the prisoner. The effect of a verdict of guilty would be diadem:a, notonly to the prisoner,lnut un fortunatewife. The Chairman mid it was one of the meet extraordinary things he bad ever heard—that Mrs. Alclersley, having made the etaternents in the depositions, should, a week after, come there and say she remembered nothing about the affair. If they believed what the wife had ' said before the magistrates, they would have to , bring in a verdict against the prisoner. If they disbelieved that statement—for he did not think they should have much regard for what she had said that day—then, of course, they would not convict the prieenem—The jury , brought in a verdict of guilty, but with a recommendation to mercy, and the Court influted a sentence of six months' hard labour.