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Halifax Evening Courier 19th Jun 1906

HUSBAND AND WIFE
PITIFUL SCENE IN HALIFAX COURT
Sixteen Months Of Misery

A sad story of married life was told the Halifax Borough magistrates this morning. Annie Keitch summoned her husband, David Keitch, a boot and shoe maker, of Duke Street, for assault.
Complainant said they had been married sixteen months, and he had not come home sober three times. He would come home fairly on his hands and knees. She was a stranger to the town, coming from London. Last Saturday afternoon, he came in the house about half past two o'clock, and later went out to a public house. He said he had no money, and his mother gave him sixpence. "It must have been a very long sixpence, for he got such a lot of beer." She found him in the Stannary Inn at 5 o'clock, and asked him to come home with her. On the raod, he called her names, which she was not deserving of. When she got him in the house, she went to purchase some groceries with the few shillings she had, and subsequently inquired of him if he had any money, and he replied in the negative. "But with a little persuasion I coaxed a shilling out of him." He ill used her and and also threw a chair at her, marking her neck. If he did not get sufficient beer outside he would bring it in the house with him. He was constantly ill treating her.
Defendant: When I came home last Thursday night what did you say? - I told I was sick of seeing you come home drunk.
Was I drunk? - Yes, beastly drunk.
You accused me of being drunk and bothering with bad women? - Yes; no one is respectable that will let you have beer on strap.
The Clerk: You hear what she says about you throwing a chair at her? - I did not.
The Chairman (Mr T S Scarborough): Where did you meet your husband: - Here, to my sorrow.
If we adjourn the case, will you be kind to your wife in future?
The Husband: If she is not kind to me I won't be.
If she is not kind what will you do? - I will have a seperation order.
The Clerk: You will have to get one. - Well I can try for one.
The wife: I can earn £1 or 30s. a week canvassing. I am in danger of my life with him. He damaged me not long ago, and it cost £4. I have never told a soul about that. I don't want to live with him, he is a bad one. I have no mother or father and I have come here for protection.
The magistrates bound the defendant over to be of good behaviour for three months, in his own recognisance of £5.
The Chairman: And be kind to the woman.
Defendant (sharply): She must be a good woman or else.
The woman, who wept considerably during the case, said she did not like to live with him again. She was afraid and did not know what to do.
Some young women who were in Court came to her assistance and helped her out.

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