Bargoed Journal. — 1910-06-02 (Gelligaer, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

HENGOE'D POLICE COURT.  Friday—Before Mr. E. Edwards (in the chair), Dr. Davies, Fochriw, and Mr. NV. B. Lloyd._  Cries of Murder!  Joseph Harris, collier, Bargoed, was summoned by his wife, Sarah E. Harris, Bargoed, for desertion. (Mr. Tom Phillips acted for the complainant. Complainant said she lived at 27, Cardiff Road, Bargoed. Her husband was a collier, and she married him in Yorkshire. There was one child by the marriage, and her husband IA illtrented her ever since they were married. Th-v bad moved about from place to place and they moved from Perth to Bargoed about six weeks ago. He had frequently knocked her about and once had her by the throat. He had burned her hoots and burned her babies clo-h -8. She went to live with her mother in Gal.'s Villas, and he treated her allright when theylived there, and they afterwards went into lodgings at 37, Bristol Terrace. Only once had he provided her with a proper home of her own. This treatment culminated on Whit Monday. She was dressing the baby when he asked her to mend his pit trousers. She said she would do them when she had dressed the baby, but he said she must do them at once. Because she would not do them he hit her in the face with the dirty trousers, and after she had washed her face he rubbed them in her face again. He subsequently carried her upstairs and drew her liCit around her neck. He did it in his temper, and then he dragged her across the floor. He also wanted her to take hold of the hot poker to poke the re. On the Tuesday morning she was dressing ready to go out and he said she was not going out. She was afraid of him. She had stood it as long as she could and then left him on the Tuesday. She saw him on the following Sunday and asked him to take a house for them, but he refused. On one occasion he threatened to knock her down some steps. His earnings were 7s. per day, but he would not work regular. She had no clothes but what she had on.  In answer to the defendant, the complainant said she knew he had solciiihat furniture they had to a sister in Senghenydd, and in answer to the chairman defendant said he had never struck his wife without cause. He struck her because she refused to light the fire, as she was going out all day. She refused te mend his pit trousers, and there was a hole in them large enough to put his head through. The Chairman: You admit you gave her a blow 2—Yes. _ _ _ _  Elizabeth Featherstone said she heard the complainant seream out" murder ! " and shouting that defendant was strangling her. She went into the passage and saw defendant carrying his wife upstairs and saw him coming down again leaving his wife screaming. On the Tuesday she saw complainant run Out into the back very excited and exhausted, and she saw the defendant follow with something in his hand. She could not swear as to what it was, but it was shining, and he shouted out: "You thing, I'll dolor you ! "  _ Henry Croft, the father of the complainant, said his daughter had been back to him several times. He had a large family to support, and the defendant must support her or go into the Union. lie spoke to the defendant about his conduct and told him that if he wanted anybody to punch he had better hammer witness. He was quite prepared to have n hammering. The defendant told him to go and do what he lilgal. His daughter was not out of the hse ten minutes before the defendant went to Mr,