On this day in Yorkshire

January 19, 1900

In the Divorce Division yesterday, Mr Justice Barnes had again before him the petition of Mrs Clara Wells for a divorce from her husband, Abraham Thomas Wells, a Keighley mechanic. Corroborative evidence was now given as to the cruelty alleged.

Mrs Isabella Cherry, of Keighley, deposed to an incident in July 1896 when she was fetched to the house and saw Wells standing over his wife with a hatchet. Witness interfered, and respondent seized her by the throat.

His Lordship said he was satisfied that the case had been established, and granted the wife a decree nisi, with the custody of the children.