Widnes Examiner. — 1898-08-19 (Widnes, Cheshire, England)

BEFORE THE MAGISTRATES,  HUSBAND AND WIPS.-A WOMAN'S REPRISALS.  _ At the Warrington Boroueh Felice Court on Monday morning, before Mr. F. Monks (in the chair), Alderman Blackhorst, Councillor. Shaw Green and Smethurst, and Messrs. Birchen and Wright, James Graham, 25,Cherleystret t, was summoned for having on the 91h August and on other dates during the Ist montes neglected his children Amelia (12), .Jame e (8), Matthew (5), and William (one year and fiv 3 men' h 3), in a manner likely to cause injury t) their healtte—lnspecter MacAteer (N.S.P.O C.), whn rrosecuted, seid that about three months aeo the defendant left his wife an, children,who were living in Wes!:-s'reet. and went to live at 25, Cherley-stre t. Derine the titre he had been away he had only contributed sa. towards the maintenance ot the family. The wife an I ti-e children had bees starving, and, in consequence of a steement male by the wife. he (the Inspector) went to the house. He found the children poorly clo' had, and there was no fond in the place except a small p,ecia of a hard loaf and went° , treacle. Be after wards saw defendant ane asked him why be had rot a tended to his wife and family. He said hi a wife was a erunken wman, and he could not and would rot live with her. Be (the InspeAor) asked him why he had not contributed something towards the Children's maintenane.e, and he replied that he bad given his daughter at one time Els., another time fos., and again two half-crowns. For the last 13 weeks, centinued the Inspector, the neighbours had supp-rted the wife and children. T'ae eldest boy, Rot mmtioned in the charge as he was over the age, earned Bs. a week, and out ot ti-at the wife had to pay 44. for r n'. —Annie Woodward, 7, Forshaw-street, said she had frequently given food to the childr m. Other people ha also supplied them with food.—R mhael Hammond and Betsy Spruce said they had also he'ped the wife by eieing her fold.—Amelia Graham, defendent'a daughter, stated that for thirteen weeks her father hid only elven them 53. They hal often been ve,teoet food —Minnie Graham, defendant's wife, said her husband left her thirteen weeks ago. He had only given her 58, during that time. Only for tee kindness of the neighbours she and the children would have etarved.—Defenelant said that the week before he left hi; wife he gave her 303., and the boy gave her 7e. She came hems drunk, and took a kettle from the fire, and attempted to throw the water over him. Hs went into the scullery and she followed him with a l'r3ad knife end eruck him. She used bad language and told him to cli aa out of the Muse or she would murder him. Since he left her he had sent her 18s. He hae4 not been gone a fortnight before she Cime blackguardine hirn,and on one occasion she waited for him in the street, and threw come liehted straw which contained oil over him. Had he not been able t, take his jacket and waistcoat off, he would have been severely burned. The magistrates would see by the cap he produeed that it had been burned by the straw.—The wife denied that she did anvt+.in%, of the kind, but a neighbour who was called said she had heard that the defendant's wife did throw some lighted straw at her busband.—Defendant premised to contribute 10s.weekly towards the maintenance of hg children, and the case was adjourrel for a month in order that he might have an opportunity of doiag Co.