Source: POLICE NEWS. (1921, July 21). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. :1848 - 1956), p. 10.
WIFE BEATER FINED.
Before the mayor (Councillor T, Craine, J.P.),
Messers. E. A. Wells, C. R. Newbury, and W. C.
Low, J.P.'s in the South Melbourne Court on Wednesday, Alfred Collidge, aged 40 years, labourer, was charged withhaving unlawfully assaulted his wife, Charlotte Collidge, a tailoress.Mr. J. Nolan, who appeared for Mrs. Collidge, said that this wasaccused's third appearance in this court in three weeks inconsequence of his wife's allegations that she had been brutally treated by him. Eight days previously, to give Collidge a chance of improving his behaviour, theBench postponed for four weeks the hearing of an application by hiswife to have him bound over to keep the peace.
Complainant said that at 8 o'clock that morning when she opposed the removal by her husband of her furniture from her house at 111 Market street,
South Melbourne, he struck her a violent blow in the mouth with his clenched fist.
Constable W. Collett said that when he arrived at 111 Market street shortly after 8 o'clock, he saw Collidge moving a piano out of the house. Complainant was bleeding from the mouth. One of two men present said that he had seen accused strike Mrs. Collidge.
Accused was convicted and fined 5 in default 14 days' imprisonment with 21/costs. Within an hour a man, who said he was one of Collidge's work
males, paid the fine and costs, and Collidge was liberated.