WOMAN HURT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 9

WOMAN HURT.

BECAME UNCONSCIOUS

BOY KICKED IN FACE.

WOULD NOT LEAVE MOTHER. i Devotion of a small boy, now aged four, for his injured mother was related by the mother, Mrs. Austenham Houghton. in North Sydney Court. A man. she said in evidence, had thrown her to the ground at her home in Mosman on September 30, and attacked her. "Don't touch my mummy; don't do that," the bov. Dick, cried out. at the same time trying to push the man away. "I saw him kick Dick in the face," she added. She had become unconscious, liut when she woke up later the lad was still with her. "He was standing over me with his eye closed and blood running down his face." said llrn. Houghton. "I asked him to get help, but he would not leave me." Alic Bannerman. (52. gardener, was in the dock charged with having on September 30 caused grievous bodily harm to Mrs. Austenham Houghton and her son. Richard William Houghton. Bannerman was committed for trial. "It's a terrible case. I refuse bail," said the magistrate, Mr. Scobie, S.M. Constable Emniett said that in re*|>onse to a 'phone message he went with Constable Wall to Mrs. Houghton's residence. There lie arrested Bannermail. When he questioned Bannerman as to where he got blood, which was visible on his boots and trousers. Bannerman said: "I had a bit of a brawl with the missus in there." Emniett said that in the house he s*w a large pool of blood near the sink in the kitchen and blood was spattered on the walls to a height of almost 2ft din. Bloodstains were also on the side of the sink.

Almost Broke Down. Tn a hack room behind the kitchen whs a quantity of blood, lie said. Blood was also oil a wall and small boxes in the room. He followed a blood trail into another room. At this stage the constable almost broke down and had to take his seat ill the witness box. Continuing later, he said that in another room he saw M's. Houghton and the boy. semi-conscious, lying on a bed. and being attended by Dr.'Huntley. Knunett produced a p».ir of boots and clothing. which were covered with b!n<xlspot*. He said that when he first went to the house Bannerman was rubbing his boots in grass, apparently to clean them. To Constable O'Brien (police prosecutor) Knunett said that Bannerman had had liquor but was by no means under the influence. Mrs. Houghton, in evidence, said that she lived with her husband at Bradlev'3 Head Road. Mosman. On September 30 Bannerman came to her home and she engaged him to do gardening. She gave him morning tea and paid him. On two other occasions he came to do similar work. Her son. Richard, who was four years old. stayed with Bannerman while he worked. On the morning of September 30. she said she was in the smokeroom, looked through a window, and saw Bannerman standing in the kitchen. He asked her what time her husband "would be home. She told him about 6 or 0.30 p.m.. and asked why he wished to know. BanneTman replied: "I'm a very sick man. I have had two wine.s this morning." Mrs. Hongliton said that at this stage' she was beginning to feel very nervous, as Bannerman seemed to be strange. When he noticed Dick in the room he called: "Hello. Dick, let me look into your eyes." at the same time placing his hand under his chin.

She Screamed. "Defendant then put his hands on my shoulder and threw me to the ground,'" Mrai Houghton said. "I sat up and screamed and he began to attack me and banged me on the face. I put my hands to mv head. "I managed to sit up and call for help. Dick then cried out. 'Don't touch my mummy. Don't do that,' at the same time trying to push defendant away. I saw him kick Dick in the face. "I then said. 'I'll give you anything at all if you leave us alone.' Defendant did not speak the whole time, but seemed to hit all the harder." Mrs. Houghton said she could not stand the pain and could not speak any longer. She became unconscious. When she woke up later Bannerman had gone, but Dick was with her. She did not think her little boy had left her. "He was standing over me with his eve closed and blood running down his face." added Mrs. Houghton. "I asked him to get help, but he would not leave me." , At the end of the evidence for the prosecution, Bannerman said: 'I know nothing about this, but the evidence is so hard against me I'll plead guilty. He was committed for trial.