Western Mail 21st December 1899
Local Police Courts – Penarth
Wednesday (Before Colonel Thornley and Mt J Duncan)
A PAINFUL CASE
Rosie Annie Bowen told the bench a painful story. She was only married as recently as October 9, but a month later she gave birth to a child. Her husband, she said, told her he married her just to save her family from disgrace, but now she came before the court to ask for an order for desertion, her husband (Griffith M Bowen, a boatman and rigger earning, it was alleged, £3 or £4 a week) having left her on the 2nd inst., and ever since he had refused to live with her. He had not contributed anything towards her support since he left her, but he had given her 4s 6d to procure milk for the baby. She had asked him what he intended to do for her, but he replied “Nothing” and told her to go to ---- or the workhouse, as he did not want her. He had threatened to cut her throat, and she was obliged to go downstairs one night to avoid his threats of violence
Colonel Thornley: What have you got to say?
Defendant: Nothing. I have done all I could for her, and I will do no more. I have offered her 8s a week.
Colonel Thornley: It is very sad to see a young married couple like you unable to live together.
Mr Duncan: Can’t you make some arrangement whereby you may return to live with each other.
Defendant: No, she has refused to live with me, and I now refuse to live with her. Every offer I made to her she has refused.
Complainant: He has made no offer to me.
Mr Duncan: Nothing can be better for the future of both of you than to make it up and live amicably together.
Defendant, who denied he earned £3 or £4 a week, was ordered ro contribute 14s per week towards the maintenance of his wife and child, but if the parties made up their differences the order would cease.
Defendant: I can’t pay it.
Mr Duncan: Then you must go to prison in default, so that it will be better for you to make it up with your wife.
