3rd January 1880 Keble's Gazette Henry James EMPTAGE a boatman residing in Clifton Street was brought to be bound over to desist from ill-treating his wife. It appears that the prisoner was very much addicted to drink and frequently came home intoxicated and fell to ill using his wife and children. Mrs EMPTAGE, wife of the prisoner, said "I am wife to the defendant and last night, about half past nine, I was home at 24 Clifton Street and my husband came home drunk, but went to bed quietly. He asked me for beer and I sent my son for some and gave it to him. After that I went to bed and he kicked me out, he used filthy language to me and threatened to cut my throat. I did not go back to bed. He struck me while I was getting my clothes in, I got my neighbour next door to take my three children, and we all went into her house for the night. I am afraid of him, his conduct has been of this nature for 5 or 6 years. I am in bodily fear when he is drink, but when he is sober he is a good a husband as anyone. He has come home from sea, and since last Christmas he has never been sober. When he earns money, when sober, he gives it to me. He has struck me many times before. Last summer I lost all my lodgers through him. I went up to London and be came to my friends and begged me to come back down. I then went and he was quiet for about a month, but he afterwards broke out all the same. My BOYS, for Mrs EMPTAGE, stated that she had often come to him about the matter but, like many other wives, demurred from bringing her husband before the Magistrates. On being asked, the prisoner said he knew nothing about it, that he was drunk at the time and could not recollect anything. The Bench, finding the case to be a very aggravated one, bound prisoner over in himself twenty pounds and to find two sureties in ten pounds each, or to be imprisoned for three months. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.394 / Virus Database: 268.8.1/355 - Release Date: 6/2/06