SON AGAINST FATHER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 101, 1 May 1930, Page 10

SON AGAINST FATHER.

DESPERATE STRUGGLE. AGENT SENT FOR TRIAL. OVEEPOWEEED IX WIPE'S HOUSE. Following a desperate struggle with his eon and two other youths in his "wife's house at 150, Great North Eoad, Newton, at 11 p.m. on April 11, Ernest William Armstrong, aged 49, an insurance agent, was trussed up with rope and held until the police arrived. This morning Armstrong appeared at the Police Court, before Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., charged with assaulting his son, Leslie Armstrong, by attempting to cut his throat with a razor; trespassing on his wife's premises during the currency of a separation order; and breaking and entering his wife's dwelling with intent to commit a crime. Detective Sergeant Kelly said the police would not offer any evidence on the first charge, and they asked that the charge of trespass should be adjourned sine die. The charge of breaking and entering was then proceeded with. Separated That Day. Lydia Armstrong, wife of accused, . gave her evidence while seated in a chair. '"She said they had been living apart since September, 1*928, and she resided in Great North Eoad with her two sons. She obtained a maintenance and separation order against her husband on April 11. He consented to the orders. Her son Leslie worked in a grocer's shop adjoining her house. At 7.30 p.m. on April 11 accused went to the shop and abused Leslie. She could hear him. Leslie came homo about 9 p.m., and /rom something witness learned she locked the doors and windows. Mrs. Bishop and her four children were also in the house. While i they were all in the sitting room at 10.50 ' p.m. the.glass door between the verandah and witness 1 bedroom-was-broken. -Witness heard accused's voice, and Leslie and two other youths rushed into , the bedroom. Witness rushed out and telephoned the police, returning to the house with Constable Balcer. As she was going up the-steps into the house accused, who was in the waslihouse, called out, "Lyd, I wil get you yet." Locked Herself in Room. Mrs. Gladys Bishop said she resided with Mrs. Armstrong. She remembered Armstrong breaking into the house. She then locked herself and -children in a - room. She heard accused say, "If I get five months or live years I will get you both yet." -He added ; he would cut his son Leslie's throat. He demanded to know where his wife was, and said he would "finish her too." The next witness was Leslie Ernest Armstrong, aged IG, grocer's assistant. He said his father came to the grocer's shop about 7 p.m. on April 11 and bought a box of matches and left the shop. He did not speak to his father, who afterwards returned and purchased another . box of matches. He asked if there was anything in the back for E. W. Armstrong. , "My father told me he would get me and my mother yet," added witness. An argument took place, and accused left the' shop. At 11 p.m. the . same night accused smashed a window and entered the house. He had a razor in his hand, and said, "Move and I will stoush you." Witness then closed with his father and caught his hand which held the razor. "My father then tried to get the razor up to my throat. I called for help, and two other youths came into the bedroom. My father tiied to lift the razor to my throat several times. After we overpowered him he asked me to take the razor out of his hand. I did so, and threw it away."

"Your Throat or Mine." During the struggle accused's hands and face were injured. Witness heard liis father say that if he got five months or five years he would get witness and his mother. When accused asked him to take the razor out of his hand he said, "If you don't, it will be your throat or mine." Witness' father had some liquor, hut he knew what he was doing. Galvin K. Mack, plasterers' apprentice, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. By the way he walked along the street accused appeared to have had some liquor, but he knew what he was doing. Accused' was standing up when lie was struggling with Leslie,in the bedroom, and he had the razor above his head trying to work it down to Leslie's throat. Witness then caught hold of accused, who called out, "I would like to know this man behind my back. If I could' get my hands on him I would slice his throat too." •/Another youth gave p'-nilar evidence. Constable's Evidence. Constable Baker, who went to Mrs. Armstrong's house at 11.15 p.m., said lie found accu ed being held down by his 60 n and two other youths. .Armstrong was struggling, and his hands were- tied up with rope behind his back. His hand and face were cut and bleeding. When takin 0, accused away from the house lie said to Mrs. Armstrong, "I'll get you if I wait for ten years." Witness took particular notice of accused's condition. He was quite sober, and did not even smell of liquor. Armstrong, for whom Mr. Dickson appeared, pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was coinmitted to the Supreme Court for trial. When ho last appeared accused was granted bail in one personal surety of £200 and another of £200. This was not forthcoming, and Armstrong has remained in custody since his arrest. Bail was rcrowed this morning.