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Taunton Courier. Bristol and Exeter Journal, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 10 May 1922
Page 5 Column 3
BRIDGWATER COUNTY PETTY SESSIONS.
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DOMESTIC TROUBLES AT NORTH PETHERTON.
Sidney CARKETT, basket maker, of Queen-street, North Petherton, was summoned by his wife, Alice CARKETT, for using threats towards her on the 19th April. - Mr. F. P. TYRRELL appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Arthur KING represented the defendant. - Mr. TYRRELL described the case as a sad one, and said these two people had been married for 26 years, and they had lived unhappily for a considerable period, in fact practically the whole time. There were two daughters living at home, and trouble had arisen owing to the habits of CARKETT, who spent him money in drink, with the result that the wife and the girls had to work to keep the home going. It culminated on Wednesday week, when, after a row, he said “Wait until by and by; if you don't then all clear out I will kill you.” He used considerable violence to one of the daughters and said “Where's the ------ poker? I will bash your brains out,” and he said to the wife “I'll strangle you, you -----.” - Mrs. CARKETT gave evidence as to the threats, and said she and her daughters were afraid to stay in the house of an evening when her husband came home drinky. They had been threatened on a number of occasions, and had had to send for the police. - In cross-examination by Mr. KING, complainant admitted that on the night prevous <sic> to this she and he daughters caught hold of defendant and threw him out of the house. They had also turned him out of the house on several occasions when he was drinky and threatened them. She denied that when he was home ill with influenza she turned him out into the garden with a broom. - Mr. KING: Isn't it a fact that your husband objects to a certain young man coming to his house and practically taking possession of it? - Complainant: He has not since Christmas. - He had taken objection to it? - He objects to his staying there until late. The young man asked him at Christmas what objection he had to him, and he told him he could come when he liked and go when he liked. - On the Tuesday night when you turned him out of the house did you beat him? - No. - Did you give him a black eye? - No, never. - Not with a broom? - No. - Are you prepared to give an undertaking that this young man shall not come to the house so frequently? - No, sir; he is a respectable young man. - He makes use of your daughter's bedroom for dressing and shaving in, doesn't he? - No; he went up there once to tidy himself when he was going out somewhere. - Complainant added that this young man was at her house most nights; he was courting one of the girls. - Mr. TYRRELL (re-examining): Who pays the rent? - Complainant: My daughter since Christmas, and we have notice to go out. - Mr. TYRRELL: Why? - Complainant: Because the neighbours complained to the landlord on account of my husband's conduct. - Lucy DAY, wife of an Army pensioner, of Queen-street, North Petherton, stated that she saw defendant pick up the poker and say “I will kill you -----'s to-night.” Witness had heard defendant use threats on various occasions to his wife when he was in drink, but she had never heard Mrs. CARKETT threaten her husband. - Christine CARKETT, daughter of the parties, said her father had a temper under any conditions, but it was worse when he was in drink. - P.C. TREEBY stated that he was called to the CARKETT's house on the previous Wednesday week, and the daughter complained of being assaulted by defendant, and her mother also complained that defendant had threatened he would kill her. Witness had been called at the house on several occasions since last September, but when defendant was told that the police were being sent for he cleared off before they arrived. Defendant had never made a complaint to him. - Giving evidence, defendant denied that he had ever threatened to kill his wife or daughter, but said his wife had threatened to kill him. When he had influenza he came downstairs one morning, and because he told his wife that he was not going to allow the “chap” to be about his house at eleven o'clock at night she turned him out in the garden and said she was going to beat his brains out. Complainant and her daughters had turned him out on several occasions. All the rows had been about the young fellow coming there. He did not object to the young man “going” with his daughter, but he considered that he had too much liberty in the house. - Mr. KING addressed the Bench, and contended that the summons for threats should be dismissed. Had Mr. TYRRELL been consulted before this summons would never had been issued, but there would have been an application for a separation order. Even assuming that the weight of evidence showed that threats had been used, the Bench had to be satisfied that the complainant was in fear of her husband, and he (Mr. KING) ventured to think that the Bench must be satisfied that she did not go in fear of the defendant, because as soon as there was a row she and her daughter caught hold of defendant and threw him out of the house. - The Bench bound defendant over in the sum of £10 to be of good behaviour for twelve months, and also ordered him to pay the costs (9s).