Person Page - 2009

     In the Adelaide Police Court on Friday Arthur Harold Franklin was charged by his wife, Elsie May Franklin, with having failed to comply with an order of the court to pay her 10/ a week maintenance. The arrears, it was alleged, were £3 10/. Mr. C. M. Muirhead prosecuted, and Mr. W. F. Owen appeared for the defendant, who pleaded not guilty.
     Mr. Muirhead said that on January 11, 1911, Mrs. Franklin obtained an order against her husband. "I charge him with being absolutely Satanic in his conduct towards his wife," continued Mr. Muirhead. "'When he married her she was a respectable woman, and whatever she has turned out to be since has been the result of his conduct. She has since reformed, and if she has a shilling in her hand her husband takes it from her, and he sends her away with other men to get money from them."
     Elsie Franklin said she had been married three years and four months. Her husband left her shortly after the marriage and disappeared. "I was respectable when I married him," she continued, "but he has made me like I am."
     Mr. Muirhead-And you are trying to live a respectable life again? - Yes, I have been doing it for the last six months. When I am in the street he assaults me.
     What happened when the case came on here a fortnight ago? - I was taken away by my husband. He said, "Come up here for a drink, I want to talk to you," and when I got back I was told the case had been dismissed.
     Mr. Owen - You say you have been leading a respectable life for the last six months? - Yes.
     Were you living with a man on Feb- ruary 28 of this year? - No, I was not.
     When did you write this letter? - Let me see it, and I'll tell you. Oh! I wrote that when I was in Melbourne.
     Were you living with anyone then? - No; I was working in a bar and was living in a house.
     Mr. Muirhead - Let me see this letter. It does not affect my client in any way.
     Mr. Owen - It only shows that she admits she is immoral.
     Have you been convicted for loitering? Yes, twice, through my husband.
     Are you prepared to live a respectable life if he pays up these arrears?-I am leading one now.
     Mr. F. G. Byrne, of the State Children's Department, produced the order made in1911 on which there was £79 15/ due. In March, 1911, the defendant paid £4 11/. Mrs. Franklin had informed the department that she had been receiving money direct, and no action had been taken since.
     The S.M. - You can't say anything about this £3 10/? - Nothing at all. The informant is acting without our knowledge.
     Evidently the £79 was wiped out and an information laid for £3 10/? - I did not know that.
     Mr. Owen said it was difficult to say a few words without reflecting upon the chastity of that woman. Her husband has been always prepared to support her, provided she lived a moral life. He was prepared to tell the court that she had not been living a moral life, and he had not been prepared to support her when she was earning her living by prostitution. He had been out of work lately, but was starting again on Monday, and he would pay up the arrears if she would lead the life a wife should. He would pay the money in a fortnight.
     The S.M. - After this if he finds his wife is leading an immoral life he knows what to do.
     Mr. Owen - It is a question of one law for the rich and another for the poor.
The proceedings were adjourned for a fortnight to allow the defendant to pay
the amount due.
     The S.M. - There is a charge of assault against the defendant. Will you be going on with that?
     Mr. Muirhead - Under the circumstances, we won't, but the defendant ought to be told not to assault his wife.
     The S.M. (to the defendant) - You must not molest your wife.
     The Defendant - The boot is on the other foot, your worship.²

ALLEGED ASSAULT.
     Arthur Franklin was charged in the Adelaide Police Court on Thursday with having assaulted his wife, Elsie May Franklin, on April 14. Mr. C. M. Muirhead appeared for the informant, and Mr. W. F. Owen for the defendant. Mr. Muirhead said the informant was living with her mother in Hanson-place. On April 14 the defendant went to the house, and his wife ran into the next house, occupied by Mrs. Saxby. He went in after her, knocked the furniture about, and threatened both his wife and mother with their lives. In the bedroom he almost murdered the girl. He hit her on the face and she ran outside. She fell on the roadway, and he kicked her as hard as he could. She was carried inside in an insensible condition, and was later conveyed to Dr. Wells, and since then she had received treatment at the hospital. There was a chance of her losing the use of her arm. On Tuesday night last he sent a number of men to the house, and they behaved in a very objectionable manner. The informant was in fear of her life.
     Mrs. Franklin described the nature of the assault. In reply to Mr. Owen, she said she had been convicted of loitering, but she declined to say whether she had ever been arrested for larceny from the person. She did not know whether Mrs.Saxby's name was Bella Dunn, but she had heard the woman called Bell. She was not now living an immoral life.
     Margaret Fairlie, sister of the informant, said she was afraid of the defendant because he "blurted" at her in the streets. Mrs. Fairlie deposed that the defendant hurled a jardiniere at his wife, and it struck her on the head.
     Mr. Owen said the house at which the informant was staying was, unfortunately, not a moral one. The defendant went down to tell her to refrain from abusing him and to lead a proper life. She then picked up the jardiniere and threw it at him, knocking off his hat. The woman had been continually harassing him, but if she were left alone without any interference from her relatives he (Mr. Owen) thought the two would live happily together. Mrs. Franklin's arm was seen to be in a sling on the day previous to which the assault was alleged to have been committed.
     Mrs. Winnie Holland said on April 13 she was in the United Service Hotel and saw the informant there. Mrs. Franklin had her right arm in a sling. Mrs. Jane Smith gave similar evidence.
     Richard Keating, of North Adelaide, said on April 14 he went with the defendant to a house kept by Bella Dunn. The defendant asked if his wife was inside, and the woman said, "She has gone for some beer, and will be back in about an hour's time.''
     When the informant returned the informant asked the defendant what he was doing in the house. He replied that he came round to see her in her sober senses and to tell her to desist persecuting him. She said he had come there for an immoral purpose and struck Franklin on the head with a piece of wood, and when outside she fell over drunk. He denied that Franklin assaulted his wife.
     The defendant did not give evidence.
     The S.M. said the bench was not in any doubt as to the guilt of the defendant, and a fine of £2, with £2 16s costs was imposed, in default two months imprisonment.²