Annie Florence TILBROOK [2332]

  General Notes:

1889 SA Birth TILBROOK Annie Florence, George TILBROOK Elizabeth Jane BEVAN Wellington 431/378

The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923) Tue 10 Jun 1919
'I WILL CRUSH YOU'
HUSBAND AND WIFE AT VARIANCE.
At the Adelaide Police Court on Tuesday (before Messrs. E. M. SaJbine, S.M., E. H. Lock, and A. Kelly), James Rusher Campbell, a returned soldier of Pompoota, denied charges laid by his wife, Annie Florence Campbell, that he had been guilty of cruelty to her on May 5, had deserted her on and since May 5, and that he had failed to provide reasonable maintenance on and since May 5. Mr. C. J. Coventry appeared for the informant, and Mr. W. S. Bright for the defendant. Mr. Coventry, in outlining his case, said that in July of last year the defendant was proceeded against by his wife under the Destitute Persons Act. and in Court stated that he was willing to provide home for her, and upon that promise the information was dismissed. However, that had not been done. Mr. Coventry gave details of correspondence which had passed between the wife, defendant, and the State Children's Department. After a number of letters from Mrs. Campbell asking her husband to allow her to see their two children at Pompoota, the defendant early in May forwarded the fare to Pompoota. She arrived there on May 5, and in .the house saw a woman named Mrs. Brown. In her husband's room the informant noticed a double bed, and various articles of feminine wearing apparel, and a lady's manicure set. Mr. Coventry proceeding, said that his client was surprised at the coldness of her receipition. After she had been at the house for a while her husband entered and remarked, "What is the meaning of your coming today?" and she replied. '"You told me to come immediately, and I did so." The defendant said, "Don't be surprised if the children do not recognise you as their mother, as Mrs. Brown has been introduced to them as their mother, and you will be their aunt. You are here now, and you will be given a room and food. If you care to give me your pension you will also be clothed. Mrs. Campbell answered, "I have returned as your wife, and I will share your room. Defendant said. "Mrs. Brown has been engaged as my housekeeper, and as that she remains. She manages the place. Now you are here you will have to do as you are told, and you will be civil. It is only by law that you returned, and you will touch nothing but your room, which you will keep clean. In the front room his client noticed photographs of defendant and Mrs. Brown side by side. Mrs. Campbell was very perturbed at the treatment she received. Later on in the day in question, she saw her husband approaching the house with their children, and she walked over to meet them. She took the little boy in her arms and kissed him, and asked the little girl to come to her mother. The children, added Mr. Coventry, were obviously afraid of their mother. Defendant then caught hold of his wife and threw her and the boy on the ground, and struck her. Before they reached the home Mrs. Brown met them, and argued about the children, and slapped informant's face, pulled her hair, and struck her head against a wall, and Campbell again hit his wife on the face. Mrs. Brown then caught hold of Mrs. Campbell again, and threw her to the ground, and kicked her. Defendant then said to his wife, "At last I have trapped you. How nice, I have waited five years and nine months for this. You are trapped and I will take a --- of a reive out of you. You are in a 40-acre paddock, and have no friends. I have paid for you to come here, and I will pay for you to get out of it. If you do not do what you are told to you will be made to. I will crush you and your family." He then took informant into the front room and pointing to a bottle labelled "poison," remarked, "It will not take much of this for you." After threatening her in that manner, proceeded Mr. Coventry, defendant told her she was helpless. Mrs. Brown entered the room, and said to informant, "You have had your turn and now I will have mine. Those who laugh last laugh loudest." She caught hold of Mrs. Campbell, and they struggled. His client had hold of Mrs. Brown's hair, and the latter said, "Get the scissors and snip it off Jim "Campbell remarked. "Your hair is too pretty for anything like that," and, turning to his wife, said, "Let her hair go or I will strangle you." Mrs. Campbell then went to her room, and subsequently defendant came in, and said, "I do not know who is mad - you or me." His client observed, "If you send Mrs. Brown away, Jim, we would be happy again." In conclusion, Mr. Coventry said Campbell was again cruel to his wife in the room. Mrs. Campbell remained the night in the house, but left Pompoota the following morning. The informant tendered evidence in support of the statement.

The Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1923) Wed 11 Jun 1919 Page 2
THE CAMPBELL CASE
FURTHER ALLEGATIONS OP CRUELTY.
The case in which James Bufher Campbell, of Ponnpoota, was charged by his wife, Annie Florence Campbell, with having been cruel to her on May 5, with having deserted her on and since May 5, and with having failed to provide reasonable maintenance for her since May 6, was resumed before Messrs. E. M. Sabine, S.M., E. H. Lock, and A. Kelly at the Adelaide Police Court on Wednesday, Mr. C. J. Coventry appeared for Mrs.Campbell, and defendant, who denied the charge, was represented by Mr. W. S. Bright. Evidence was given by Charlotte Lillian Wood, of North Adelaide, who said when Mrs. Campbell returned from Pompoota she was in an exhausted condition. Her dress was torn. There were bruises on her arms and thighs and lumps on the back of her head. Mrs. Campbell, after having affirmed what her counsel had opened on the previous day regarding the incident at Pompoota, described various other aileged acts of cruelty. Before her second child was born, she said, her husband thrashed her with his closed fists, knocked her down, bandaged her mouth and arms and legs, and threw her on to a bed, after which be made threats which she could not remember. On another occasion he thrashed her with a thick knotted bamboo, inflicting bruises almost from head to foot. Defendant than procured some embrocation, and rubbed the bruises night and day until they disappeared. He had also beaten, her with a military whip with leaden bullets at the end. She left him on that occasion, but as she needed medical attention, and was unable to work, she had to return to him. Her husband had also beaten her with a silver-backed brush. She asked the Court for a separation order, for the custody of the two children, and for £2 a week maintenance for herself and the children. Mr. Bright - Are yon afraid of your husband? - Yes, I am very much afraid of him. Since when have you been afraid?-Since October. 1911. My life is in danger. Did you anticipate a murderous assault when you arrived at Pompoota? - No. You did not believe Mr.Hendry when he said there would be murder or suicide? - I took it as a joke. You gave your husband warning on what day you would be at Pompoota? - Yes. And you arrived two days earlier? - Yes. In reply to further questions by Mr. Bright, witness said when her husband asked her the meaning of her early arrival she told him he had asked her to return immediately. Defendant said he had had to secure a housekeeper for the children. She said to her daughter in the presence of Mrs. Brown, 'This woman is not your mother, I am your mother." Witness was annoyed with Mrs. Brown, but she did not at any time spit in her face or smack her with her open band. Mrs. Brown struck witness a hard blow. Mr. Bright - Was it before or after your husband thumped you that you spat in Mrs. Brown's face? - Before. She dragged me by my hair over a chair and held me there. My husband then thumped me. When Mrs. Brown attempted to strike you your husband stopped her? - He said, "No, don't." After your husband had threatened to strangle you, did your husband say, "Come and have a cup of tea?" - That was later.

  Research Notes:

Annie married James Rusher CAMPBELL [2492] [MRIN: 835], son of Alfred Sydney CAMPBELL [12331] and Unknown, on 9 Mar 1911 in Res Mrs A S Campbell, Alberton. (James Rusher CAMPBELL [2492] was born circa 1887.)

  Marriage Notes:

1911 SA Marriage 246/693 CAMPBELL James Rusher TILBROOK Annie Florence Port Adelaide