Research into women and children living in Subiaco in the early 1900’s through newspaper articles and other sources show that there were many inspiring women and children living extraordinarily, ordinary lives often in hard conditions.
However, many women and children found it extremely difficult to cope in the early years. One of those women was Sarah Mattson living in Raphael street Subiaco with four young children.
Sarah allegedly had a long history of drunk and disorderly conduct that was reported through the various newspapers of the day. She was regularly charged by the local police and required to undergo various punishments that ranged from medical treatment to eventual prison. In 1912 evidence was given that Sarah was ‘an exemplary wife and mother’ away from the drink.’ The Postal Directories show an Ernest Mattson living in Raphael Street however, there are no records after 1918. Births, Deaths and Marriage Records for Western Australia show that Ernest Mattson was her father and he died in 1918. Sarah then moved away.
In August, 1911 Sarah was arrested and charged with using obscene language in the front of the public. Neighbours gave evidence she often used bad language towards them and was often drunk. The defendant made a statement that when she quarrelled with her husband, the neighbours interfered (Daily News, 17 August, 1911). Sarah was allowed out early but reappeared before a judge on the 25 August.
'You are not fit to be at large, and yet you have four little children under you. P.C. Crossland deposed that the woman had been using very bad language, and had been carrying on dIsgracefully. Mr. Roe: What was the trouble? Witness: She was quarrelling with her neighbors. At this stage Corporal Harris conversed. Mr. Roe who at length said to the accused:— 'You are remanded for medical examination. I would like the corporal to carefully tell the doctor all that he knows. There's a screw loose somewhere.’ (Daily News, 17 August, 1911).
The West Australia reported on 25 August, 1911... “Sarah Mattson, a married woman, whose home is in Raphael-street, Subiaco, was charged on remand with having created a disturbance in that thoroughfare on the 25th August. She was remanded for medical examination.”
In September, 1911 Sarah again appeared before a judge on a charge of creating a disturbance and evidence was produced she had been drinking. Sarah was sent to the Public Hospital for medical treatment and was released on her promise that she would stop drinking (West Australian, 13 September, 1911).
In December, 1911 Sarah was again accused “giving a lot of trouble in Subiaco” and neglecting her four children including twins aged six years. It was reported that it was impossible for the husband to take care of them because he worked. The judge wanted to find someone to take care of the children before sentencing her. He then charged her with drunkenness and sentenced her to eight days (Daily News 19 December, 1911).
In January, 1912 Sarah was again accused of being drunk and disorderly. The Truth newspaper under the title ‘Wayward Woman Mrs. Mattson’s Maniacal Manners. “A Nuisance to the Neighbours.” Sentenced to Two Months’ Imprisonment’ wrote detailed article about the incident.
The article is from Trove the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Truth, 27 January 1912.
MRS. MATTSON'S MANIACAL MANNERS.
“A Nuisance to the Neighbors."
Sentenced to Two Months' imprisonment
A troublesome little woman, named Sarah Mattson, residing in Subiaco, was given a spell at Fremantle on Tuesday by Mr. Roe. The woman, most unfortunately, has started to drink, and in her drunken tantrums she turns her more immediate neighborhood into an inferno. Women are afraid to show their heads outside their doors, and even the male population complain that their nerves are becoming shattered. Away from the drink, the woman is credited with being an exemplary wife and mother, but when the demon of alcohol grips her she becomes demoniac herself.
The neighbors complain they have lived in fear of her for some time past, and as practically all own their own houses it is a difficult matter to shift to another more peaceful neigbhorhood. The woman has been before the court on several occasions, and was given chances on account of a young family of four children. On one occasion she was given 14 days for using abusive and insulting language. Some people Interested themselves on behalf of the children, and secured her early release. About Christmas time the woman was arrested for drunkenness, and P.M. Roe gave her another chance because enquiries showed that Mattson had brought a bottle of wine, that deadliest of all deadly fluids, into the house. Mr. Roe held that Mattson was placing temptation in his wife's way, and was, therefore, much to blame. One curious feature of the trouble is that during all the woman's bother Mattson has not put in an appearance at court or apparently concerned himself as to what happened to her.
The last straw, or bundle of straws, was the behavior of Mrs. Mattson for a few days prior to her arrest. She blamed some of her neighbors for having got her into trouble, and she used language which was calculated to blister the gravel footpaths. Once again the police were called in, and they found the woman storming around the neighbourhood in an almost naked state, or, as one of the policemen put it, “she was three-quarters undressed." Mattson and his wife were having a violent argument in which all round accusations of infidelity were made, accompanied by much lurid language from the woman.
It was a surprising story the witnesses had to tell, and all the more surprising because Mrs. Mattson is a tiny little woman, almost like a child, and with a wistful-looking face. But people, police and everybody else concerned have exhausted their patience, and Mr. Roe decided to send the woman to Fremantle for two months, in the meantime the children will be in the care of a woman who is duly acknowledged by the State Children's Department.
No doubt the people about Raphael-Street have had a lot to put up with, and were justly entitled to some relief. But the pity of it is that there is nowhere else to send the little woman but to gaol. It is acknowledged that when away from drink she is quiet and well-behaved, and attends to her home and her home duties. Incarceration in a prison uplifts no one, and there is always the danger that it will degrade them. For cases such as is here set out, there should certainly be some other method of dealing with the unfortunate concerned.
Once in 1914 again Sarah Mattson appeared before a judge and was sentenced to six months imprisonment for drunk and disorderly conduct. She was accused of beating up her husband.
Truth, 27 January 1912.
MRS. MATTSON'S MANIACAL MANNERS.
“A Nuisance to the Neighbors."
Sentenced to Two Months' imprisonment
A troublesome little woman, named Sarah Mattson, residing in Subiaco, was given a spell at Fremantle on Tuesday by Mr. Roe. The woman, most unfortunately, has started to drink, and in her drunken tantrums she turns her more immediate neighborhood into an inferno. Women are afraid to show their heads outside their doors, and even the male population complain that their nerves are becoming shattered. Away from the drink, the woman is credited with being an exemplary wife and mother, but when the demon of alcohol grips her she becomes demoniac herself.
The neighbors complain they have lived in fear of her for some time past, and as practically all own their own houses it is a difficult matter to shift to another more peaceful neigbhorhood. The woman has been before the court on several occasions, and was given chances on account of a young family of four children. On one occasion she was given 14 days for using abusive and insulting language. Some people Interested themselves on behalf of the children, and secured her early release. About Christmas time the woman was arrested for drunkenness, and P.M. Roe gave her another chance because enquiries showed that Mattson had brought a bottle of wine, that deadliest of all deadly fluids, into the house. Mr. Roe held that Mattson was placing temptation in his wife's way, and was, therefore, much to blame. One curious feature of the trouble is that during all the woman's bother Mattson has not put in an appearance at court or apparently concerned himself as to what happened to her.
The last straw, or bundle of straws, was the behavior of Mrs. Mattson for a few days prior to her arrest. She blamed some of her neighbors for having got her into trouble, and she used language which was calculated to blister the gravel footpaths. Once again the police were called in, and they found the woman storming around the neighbourhood in an almost naked state, or, as one of the policemen put it, “she was three-quarters undressed." Mattson and his wife were having a violent argument in which all round accusations of infidelity were made, accompanied by much lurid language from the woman.
It was a surprising story the witnesses had to tell, and all the more surprising because Mrs. Mattson is a tiny little woman, almost like a child, and with a wistful-looking face. But people, police and everybody else concerned have exhausted their patience, and Mr. Roe decided to send the woman to Fremantle for two months, in the meantime the children will be in the care of a woman who is duly acknowledged by the State Children's Department.
No doubt the people about Raphael-Street have had a lot to put up with, and were justly entitled to some relief. But the pity of it is that there is nowhere else to send the little woman but to gaol. It is acknowledged that when away from drink she is quiet and well-behaved, and attends to her home and her home duties. Incarceration in a prison uplifts no one, and there is always the danger that it will degrade them. For cases such as is here set out, there should certainly be some other method of dealing with the unfortunate concerned.
Once in 1914 again Sarah Mattson appeared before a judge and was sentenced to six months imprisonment for drunk and disorderly conduct. She was accused of beating up her husband.
The West Australian 14 February reported...”A Hopeless Case." Sarah Jane Mattson (30), described by his Worship as a hopeless case, was ordered six months imprisonment, without hard labour, on a charge of being an habitual drunkard. "Hard labour," said Mr. Roe, "is the very thing you want, but I am not allowed to give it to you." Corporal Harris said that accused's husband had done all he could for his wife. Her young son was one of the best lads to be found in Subiaco, but accused sometimes "belted the life out of him."
