With the First World War showing no signs of ending, life on the home front is further exasperated with shocking domestic stories that continued to fill the pages of our national press. In Aberdeen in mid 1916 a labourer called George Simpson is brought before the courts after beating his wife.
Aberdeen Evening Express – Thursday 29 June 1916:
A Cowardly Labourer
Aberdeen Wife-beater Sentenced
Baillie Smith’s Warning
At the Aberdeen Police Court today – before Baillie Smith – George Simpson, labourer, Ashvale Place, Aberdeen, was charged with having yesterday, in the dwelling-house at Ashvale Place, occupied by him and others, assaulted Elspet Simpson, his wife, by striking her on the head with his fists, and having conducted himself in a disorderly manner and committed a breach of the peace. Accused pleaded guilty.
The Procurator Fiscal (Mr Sinclair) said the accused had been married 21 years. There had been nine children, fiver of whom were alive, and the two youngest were still dependent on their parents. The accused received 50 shillings a week, and gave his wife £1. He scarcely ever came home sober, and constantly subjected his wife to abuse. The opinion of the neighbours was that the accused’s wife was a hard-working and thoroughly respectable woman, who lived in terror of her life on account of the accused’s constant conduct.
The Baillie said the accused had pleaded guilty to a very cowardly offence. Every right thinking man would despise him for his conduct. Men who ill-used their wives had no right to expect sympathy. If this had not been accused’s first appearance in court for such an offence he would undoubtedly have been sent to prison, but he would get the alternative of paying a fine of 40 shillings, otherwise, he would go to prison for 20 days.
Ian Waugh
Old British News
