The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1918-10-26 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

LIGHT SENTENCE.  Thos. Fowler, aged 28, engineer, pleaded guilty at the Chester Autur. n Issizes an Thursday, before Mr. Justiet La renee, wounding his wife with intem to do her grievous bodily harm, but denied any intention of murdering her. ; _ . _  Mr. Trevor Lloyd, Tor the defence, said that thr• prisoner had had a most unhappy life with his wife. They had met in August, 191-1, and while they were courting the woman gave birth to an illegitimate child, of which. he was not the father. She begged him to marry her to save her from disgrace. He consented to do so. They were accordingly married in January, 1.90, and sailed together for the Argentine, where in November their eldest child was born. In January, 1913, as her health was not good, he brought her back tc England, where thee lived together until the December following, when he accepted a position with Messrs. Lever 'Bros., in Africa. lie, left her a good allowance, and frequently sent her money to supplement that. Unfortunately, the wife fell into evil ways, and the husband, hearing that the- children were being neglected; threw up his work and came back again. He found that his wife had gone to Glasgow, apparently to meet a man, had sold up the home and even the children's clothing. The children were then in the care of an aunt, where they were sell looked after. In 1915 prisoner joined the Navy. In 1918 he heard from his wile again, and she asked him to come to see her. He went, and in. the presence ot a third person some discussion took place about divorce. When this witness left the room Mrs. Fowler became endearing and begged her husband to take her back again, swearing that she would live a pure life again. He forgave her and got another home for her. All went well for a time, but circumstances drew suspicion again to his wife. He returned and accused her, but she denied his charges. He lost control of himself and made an attack upon her. It was obvious that he did not intend to murder her, for he bad her in his power if he wanted to. He had shown forgiveness to his wife under distressing circumstances, when not one man in a thousand would have done so. At the mbment he could imagine that the prisoner did. not know what he was doing. When his fury was over he became the man he usually was, and took the utmost care of his wife. From a letter he bad written to her Afterwards it could be seen that he was truly repentant. Lieut. J. E. Herbert, R.N.R., was called. He said that prisoner bore a very good character and had been commended for his services. ' The Judge said that it was a painful thing for him to have to deal with a matt of his record on such a charge. The whole circumstances were exceptional. His wife seemed to have provoked him by mia' conduct on her part of a most deplorable nature. He could imagine nothing more calculated to excite the wild passion of a husband than the circumstances that had occurred to him. That he was in an ungovernable temper was clear from his subsequent conduct, in which he had shoo great tenderness and devotion to his inte. He (the Judge)- was deeply- sorry for bin'. and in view of the fact that he had beta in custody for nearly. three months ha felt justified in passing a light sentenceHe would be imprisoned without bard labour for three further months.