Preece Family Tree

SHOCKING TREATMENT OF A WIFE IN EXETER.

At the City Police Court on Tuesday - before Messrs. W. Buckingham (chairman), S. Jones, C. Westron, and J. Knapman - WILLIAM EDWARD SWEETLAND, 37, gardener, of 69, Hoopern-street, was charged on a warrant with assaulting, beating, and using threats of personal violence towards Elizabeth Ellen Sweetland, his wife, on the 21st inst. - Mr. W. L. Brown defended.

The prosecutrix, who appeared in Court in a prostrate condition, and was allowed to be seated whilst giving her evidence, deposed that her husband served her very cruelly between three and four on Saturday morning. He caught her hold by the throat, and knocked her down on the floor of the kitchen. He also knocked her in the chest and pulled her about until she had no strength left in her. There was no struggle, but the prisoner swore at her very much. They had only come home about that time, and both after the row went to bed. At half-past seven witness got up, and then found that her face was marked and her eye swollen. Prosecutrix drew her husband's attention to this, and he then sprang out of bed, knocked her about, and acted very disgracefully towards her. Prisoner went out, and at half-past seven in the evening came home mad drunk. He took off his coat and waistcoat and walked up and down the kitchen. Witness asked him what the matter was, and he said, "I am master of this house. I will let you know you ----." He then dashed her about, giving her several blows. Prisoner prepared to go out. Witness asked him for some money. This took place upstairs, and prisoner said, "You will get no money from me." He then threw her on the bed and pulled her hair. He afterwards took the razor which he kept in the room and said, "I will cut your throat." Witness managed to go to the window to call a Mrs. Crocker, but that person did not hear her. Prisoner then knocked her in the stomach and she received several terrible bruises in her back. Prisoner eventually went out. Witness was afraid to live with him.

By Mr. Knapman: Prisoner was tipsy when he came home at 4 o'clock on Saturday morning.

Cross-examined by Mr. Brown: Her husband was in the Exeter fire brigade, a member of the Militia band, and also worked for his father, a gardener. They had been to a sergeants' ball the morning the prisoner first assaulted her, but she did not refuse to go home with him. Prisoner went home by himself, and a young man accompanied witness home. She denied being drunk. She did not abuse her husband. She did not take off her garments when she got home, and denied threatening to go out in the street in that state. She only took off her bodice to show her husband the bruises she had received, and threatened to go in the street if he assaulted her again.

Mr. Buckingham here objected to Mr. Brown's method of putting questions.

Mr. Brown: I am entitled to put my questions in such a manner as I think I shall elicit the truth.

The Chairman: But not to put wrong instructions to her.

At this point the prosecutrix began to weep, and Mr. Brown remarked that it was patent; it was all put on. He would say, "God help any man in a house with a woman of this sort."

In further cross-examination prosecutrix denied being taken upstairs by her husband in consequence of her drunken condition. She stayed with him the two nights he assaulted her as she had no other place to go to.

Emma Crocker, of 8, Hoopern-street, Charles Haywood, of 68, Hoopern-street, and Sarah Botterell, of Starcross, and mother of the prosecutrix, also gave evidence as to the severe bruises on Mrs. Sweetland's body.

Mr. Brown, in defence, said he felt his client had been more sinned against than sinning.

Band-Sergeant McDermott of the 4th Battalion Devonshire Regiment said the prisoner had played in the band for four years and conducted himself in a sober manner. He was not intoxicated on the morning in question.

Superindentent Pett said the prisoner was one of the best men they had in the Fire Brigade.

The Bench retired, and on coming into Court the Chairman said an assault with threats with the razor was sufficient to terrify anyone. The case was a serious one, and had been proved against prisoner. The Bench fined prisoner 20s and expenses, and bound him over in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months, or in default a fortnight's imprisonment.