ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10882, 5 February 1901, Page 5

ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE.

A MAN ATTACKS HIS WIFE WITH A RAZOR, THEN OUTS HIS OWN THROAT. A reside-.* of the Borough of Linwood last night attempted to murder his wife, and then gashed and hacked at his own throat. The _*_o_*y is a painful one. About 16 months ago a widower named William John Wilding, 48 years of a;?e, married a widow named Sarah Jane McNichol. The ceremony took place at the Registrar's office. Christchurch. Wilding had several children, but they were mostly grown up and married, and living apart from him. The second Mrs Wilding also had several children, all young, who camo to live with their stepfather at 60 Tuam street, Linwood. Wilding did not prove a model husband. For the past 9 months he has been out of employment, -and has brought no cash into the establishment, although he managed to come home pretty regularly each night in a state of intoxication. Quarrels were rife, and tho noise of the domestic disturbances could be heard frequently by the neighbours at all hours of the night. Three weeks ago Mrs Wilding obtained a maintenance order against her husband, compelling him to contribute £1 a week towards t___ support of herself and her children. Wilding continued in his old habits. He left home about 9 o'clock yesterday morning, and returned about half past seven in the evening, the worse for liquor. He demanded his tea, and his wife replied that there was barely sufficient food for the children. He became violent and abusive, and Mrs Wilding threatened him with further Court proceedings. After shouting out some angry words, Wilding made a rush at his wile, got hold of her, and knocked her down on to a mattress lying on the floor, and held her down with his l_nee. He then got a razor out of his pocket, opened it, and proceeded to use it upon the woman struggling underneath him. She managed to wrench hei-el. away, but her left hand came into contact with the opened razor, and was severely gashed. Screaming herself, and accompanied by her screaming children, she rushed from the house, and summoned the police. Wilding meanwhile hud locked himself in. Detectives Livingstone, Fahev, and Casselis, together with Constables Ivoster and McCrory, arrived at tne house shortly after. After the oack door had been burst open Wilding was found lying on a bed, a razor in his left hand, and a gash across his throat, stretching from ear to ear. Dr. Orchard arrived shortly afterwards, and found that the man had not cut the jugular vein, although several arteries were severed, and some pints of blood had been lost. The man was taken to the Hospital in an express, and his wounds were stitchsd up. He is, however, in ft very precarious condition.