The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1886-08-04 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE GRACE CASE.  TO THE EDITOR OF THE BIRKENHEAD NEWS.  Sia,—Would you kindly favour me by allowing me space in your valuable paper for the publication of the enclosed? By so doing you will confer a favour on a misrepresented working man. I have been married to my present wife for twelve years, having three children, two girls and one boy. During those twelve years I have had a continuation of troubles, some more or less serious, according to her statement through my fault, which I want as far as possible to contradict. The one or two recent cases, I wish to explain, are very serious, as they have, as they appeared in the daily papers, considerably damaged my character. The facts are these: On or about the middle of last March I was living with my wife and children at 7, Orderly Home, when my wife without any provocation whatever on my part,' sold my home and everything belonging to me for drink, leaving the house deserted and empty on my return from work. Finding herself in that way, she next went to Mr. McNerney, relieving-officer, informed him that I had deserted her, leaving herself and three children chargeable to the Union, to which he admitted her, believing her statement that I had left the town, consequently I had to go and live in lodgings, working as before for about seven weeks at the end of which I was taken out of my bed at three o'clock on Saturday morning, tried and convicted on the evidence of Mr. McNerney, for deserting my wife and children, and sentenced to a month's imprisonment, without getting an opportunity of calling a witness, of which I could produce several most substantial and respectable to prove my innocence. On my release from prison I commenced work as before, working two days and two nights in succession, which caused me through weakness from imprisonment to become seriously ill. Not being able to work, I applied for and received a note for admission to the Birkenhead Union Hospital, but on being medically examined by the doctor he pronounced me healthy. I thought, of course, that I had nothing to do but put on my clothes and come out, but, to my utter astonishment, the workhouse authorities informed me they would require twenty-four hours' notice before I could leave, and conducted me into the body of the house and made me become a casual against my will. Al the expiration of my notice I received my dicharge, bringing my wife and children with ' me to my lodgings (having no home for them, of course), and informed her of my intentions, telling her that I wished her to reform and abstain as I had done for several months previously, from intoxicating drinks. Things went on steadily for some time and then she deliberately fell into her old habits, stripped the children of their clothing during my absence at work, sold and pawned them for drink until she became almost delirious, and attempted to commit murder and suicide. This was followed by the most false accusation ever uttered in a court of justice and the main cause of my complaint. Superintendent Clarke, in his statements to the magistrate and judge, said that on questioning her as to her motive for committing the crime she answered that I would not maintain her, and accused me of saying that she would have to become a prostitute or steal for a living, one of the most groundless falsehoods imaginable. I begged ' most earnestly before Mr. Preston, and even walked to Chester, to get an opportunity of clearing myself in court but for some unaccountable reason I could not get a hearing. The facts are simply these, that on account of her habitual drunkenness I would not trust her to lay out my money, but gave instructions to my landlord and landlady, who are provision dealers, to supply her with anything she might require as regards eatables or house necessaries. which they are willing to substantiate at any time. I was also accused by Superintendent Clarke of having been sent to prison for ' twenty-one days for neglectigg to send my children to school, an offence I never yet have been charged with, and I challenge the police authorities to contradict this or any one of my statements. Trusting I have not unduly intruded on your valuable space, I remain yours