“A Lesson in Court” for a Domestic Violence Offender - Pennsylvania 1898

FULL TEXT: Wilkesbarre, Pa., Dec. 7 – Alderman John. F. Donohue of this city gave a  wife-beater a remarkable lesson. As a result the man. has two black eyes and is badly bruised about the face and body. The wife-beater is Frank Oldfield, who weighs 170 pounds and was brought from Plymouth by a constable. “You’ve been up for beating your wife a dozen times,” said the alderman, when Oldfield appeared. The latter said it was a few more times.

“Well,” said Donohue, “it won’t happen again if I can help it. There’s only one way to deal with such cattle.”

Oldfield was compelled to take off his coat, and the alderman took off his coat and cuffs. Then he pulled Oldfield out of the prisoner’s pen, sent two constables to keep the door shut, cautioned the spectators to remain quiet and then told Oldfield to defend himself.

Donohue opened the battle by knocking Oldfield, down with a right hand blow in the face. The prisoner arose and tried to retaliate, but the alderman rained blows on him with precision and force.

Twice more Oldfield went down, but arose. Finally he clinched, only to be thrown heavily. Then he rushed for the door, but the cheering spectators threw him back. He clinched again and both men fell. Donohue got on top and ignoring all ring rules, punched the prisoner until he promised never to beat his wife again.

“Now, go home,” said Donohue, and behave like a man.”

As Donohue resumed his coat, another wifebeater. David Rowlands, cowered in the prisoner’s pen. The alderman asked him if the object lesson was not a good one. Rowlands agreed tremulously and was discharged.

[“A Lesson In Court. – Muscular Judge Inflicts Condign and Fitting Punishment on Confirmed Wife Beater. - Gould Family Council Will not Withhold Imperiled Fortune for a Love Match. - Officer’s Annoyance of a Woman who Slighted his Attentions Brings him in Trouble.” Evening Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Io.), Dec. 7, 1898, p. 1]

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►• You have been told that before the rise of feminism in the 1960s that domestic violence against women was tolerated by society as acceptable behavior and was not taken seriously by police and the courts.

You have been lied to. The people who told you these lies were paid to tell them you. In most cases you paid your own money (taxes and tuition fees) to be lied to.

Here is one of countless pieces of evidence that demonstrate the truth.

►•►• To see more eloquent, vivid evidence proving the lie and giving you the truth, see:

►Society’s Acceptance of Domestic Violence?

►19th Century Intolerance Towards Domestic Violence

► Treatment of Domestic Violence Against Women Before 1960 – this post collects cases classified by the form of punishment or sentencing (whether judicial or through community action)

No, the claim that laws created by males were for the benefit of males is false. Yes, the "Rule of Thumb" myth has been proven to be a marxist-feminist hoax, taking an ancient English common historical notation published in the 18th century and extrapolating it into unsupported claims that 18th and 20th century United States communities, courts and legislatures (laws on the books) were in agreement with the18th century historical notation (Blackstone).

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“[O]nly since the 1970s has the criminal justice system begun to treat domestic violence as a serious crime, not as a private family matter.”

From the entry: “Domestic Violence” on encyclopedia.com

This claim has been proven to be false.

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