MAN ATTACKS WIFE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 79, 13 January 1928, Page 8

MAN ATTACKS WIFE

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. AN AUCKLAND CASE. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND January 12The charge against Lawrence Mackenzie,- aged 41, of the attempted murder of his wife, Honor Clarke -Mackenzie was heard in the Magistrates Court to-day. Mackenzie is charged with, at Parnell, om December 30. attempting to murder Trial wife, or alternatively, on the same date, with intent to do grievous bodily harm did actual bodily harm to her. Honor Clarke Mackenzie stated that she and her husband had arrived in Auckland in June last. Her husband had been out of work most of the time. In. November she and her husband had separated, but the accused had come to see her and said she had better come home or else there would be five dead children. Witness returned home but another separation followed and she and two of the children went to Whangairei as a result of telegrams, saying tnat one of the boys had a septic foot, and that the accused was ill, witness came back to Auckland.

Accused Not Ml. Accused was not ill. Witness returned tot Whangarei and on December z3rd accused arrived there saying that lie had a billet and was going to the Islands. Witness agreed to take the children and look alter them. She returned to Auckland to make preparations to shift. Continuing, witness said that on December 2yth the accused had been at home all day going through letters. Witness went to bed about a quarter to nine and accused was sitting 4 at a table writing letters. The top of the window in the bedroom was down and the room was lit by gas. Witness left this alight. The globe and mantle were in good order. Witness’s eldest son came home about nine o’clock. At about eleven, Mr Bennett \yho was a boarder in the house, came home and went upstairs to bed. Accused came to 'bed about midnight. The gas was then still alight. Wtiniess went to sleep but awoke a little later to find a,.candle alight on the dressing table and the acoused taking the globe off the gas jet. The gas was then cut. Witness asked the accused what he was doing and he said that he was taking the globe off because it was cracked.

Witnesses’ Account. The next thing witness remembered was that she was walking about the bedroom trying to find the door. She felt ill and her face was wet with blood. She told the accused she wanted to get a drink of water. He grabbed her by the throat and said: “No you won’t. We are in here and die together.” Witness then struggled towards the window and pushed it up at the bottom and tried to get out. As she could not get out -witness put her head through the window to get some fresh air. There was a very strong smell of gas. Witness succeeded to getting out of the room and to the sink in the scullery where she washed her face. Blood was coming from a wound m her forehead. Witness said that she then went upstairs and knocked on Mr Bennett’s door. Mr Bennett went to see if the children were all right. Witness then lay down on. a bed in Bennett’s room. Accused came to her and said : “Mother, will you promise to forgive me?” She said, yes, as she thought he had hit her. Witness later went back to her bedroom and noticed that a gas tube was attached to the gas jet over the bed which was stripped of globe and mantle. The other end of the tube was under the bed clothes. When witness went to bed the tube was connected to the gnller in the kitchen. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Gourt foir trial. Bail was refused.