TO STAND TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 262, 5 November 1931, Page 14

TO STAND TRIAL.

ALLEGED MURDER OF WIFE.

TRAGEDY AT HAMILTON.

STATEMENT TO THE POLICE.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, this day.

After hearing the evidence of the remaining witnesses yesterday afternoon, Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., committed to the Supreme Court for trial Arthur Walter Smith, aged 50, a painter, on a charge of murdering his wife, Lois Alexandra Smith, aged 29, at Hamilton on the night of Saturday, October 3.

Sitting as coroner, Mr. Wilson returned a verdict that deceased died on October 3, the cause of death being hemorrhage arising from wounds inflicted upon her by Arthur Walter Smith.

Alleged Confession. A lengthy statement, alleged by the police to have been made to a constable by Smith, was produced at the hearing yesterday afternoon.

After giving details of his unhappy marriage, he described what happened on the night of the tragedy. He saw his wife, and a stranger enter a bus at 8 o'clock. When she came in, he asked her if she had had supper, her reply being no. She sat reading for a time and then went to bed. A quarter of an hour later he followed her into the bedroom and undressed and prepared to get into bed. To put the candle out he had to lean over his wife, and in doing so he noticed that ehe was fast asleep.

"An awful feeling their came over me," continued Smith, "which was irresistible. I slipped off the bed to the floor, took a clasp. jack knife out of my trouser pocket, and got back on the bed again. I looked at my wife's face once more, and then stuck the knife into her throgjf. The feeling was terrible. She gasped, looked at me for a moment, jumped out of bed, and called to Phyllis, her step-daughter. I slipped off the bed and ran to try to prevent her from falling, but it was too late.

Feeling of Remorse. "Then I had an awful feeling of remorse. I stood for a moment feeling as weak as possible, looking at the mother of my babies lying there. I then stuck the knife into my own throat, but was too weak to cut far. I seemed to come to myself, laid the knife on the table and called for Phyllis to get a doctor. When the doctor came I told him I had killed my wife, but, 0 God! it was not murder. At no time have I ever thought of doing harm to my wife. I got on to that bed after undressing with absolutely no other thought in my mind than of going to 'sleep.

"The struggle for existence was getting harder every day, and the worry of it all was cruel. I had always tried to do the best for my wife and children. I have stayed at home night after night/ and let her go to the pictures and have ■never murmured and have always tried to make her life as happy as possible. I could do no more than I did for my wife, and it was heartbreaking at times to see that all my efforts Bad been in vain. A separation seemed the only course left, and I would have been quite willing to have that arranged, as it seemed impossible for me to make her happy." Divorce Proceedings Advised. Frederick A. de la Mare, solicitor, said he had known Smith for 40 years.

On October 2 Smith called on him and confided his affairs in him. Smith seemed to be very distressed as to what was to become of his children, and suggested that he would separate from his wife. Witness advised him to a

dl In answer to accused's .coUnsei witness spoke highly of Smith's character and PU Colin P pi e 4 ne Wishar't railway employee, Puketutu, said he attended a party at Te Rapa on September 19. He met Mrs. Smith there and saw her home. He did not know then that she bad a husband. He had/ supper with Mis. Smith on the following evening, and on October 2 he rang her up and ganged to meet her next evening. They spent an hour together, and he left her at nine o'clock. He did not know of the tragedy until the Monday morning.

Several witnesses gave evidence that i for several weeks prior to the tragedy Smith had been very depressed and worried regarding his domestic and financial'affairs. • ■ Phyllis Smith said her father and step, mother frequently had violent quarrels. She was asleep when the tragedy, occurred and was awakened by hef father and told to ring for Dr. Waddell.

Five hundred gallons of broth from a giant cauldron weighing over a ton were served steaming hot at Baildon, near Bradford (Yorks). The occasion monster gipsy party. Thousands of visitors tasted the mysteries of the cauldron, which had a holding capacity of 21 tons of liquid. The broth contained, among other things 5001b of'meat, 9001b of carrots, 6001b of peas, 561b of onions, a number of chickens, and herbs, spices and condiments,