THE KAIAPOI SENSATION

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11109, 30 October 1901, Page 5

THE KAIAPOI SENSATION

MAGISTERIAL PROCEEDINGS

A CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Yesterday afternoon the investigation in-

to the circumstances surrounding the death of El_!abeth , Tritt, was resumed; before Dr. McArthur, S.M., and Coroner. The accused husband, Carl Tritt, who is in custody, was represented by Mr Dom nelly (for Mr Russell). Mr Stringer, Crown Prosecutor, suggested taking evidence on an amended information of manslaughter. Mr Donnelly agreed to this. The Magistrate thought this procedure would be most convenient, and the jury could remain in tbe Court and afterwards would be asked to give their verdict. Dr. Murray, in addition to bis former evidence, said the instrument causing the majority of the bruises on deceased had been nearly two inches wide. He corroborated the statement of Dr. Parsons as to the latter saying to "accused there were bruises, particularly that on deceased's face, of which the accused denied all knowledge. The main injury to deceased might be caused from a kick, .or a person's knee, or a person falling on her. These were the most probable causes that suggested themselves of the injury to the abdomen. In all respects deceased was healthy, but not very robust. The external brdises on deceased might have accelerated, but were not in any way the cause cf death. The kicking strap produced would have been a likely cause of the bruises. He removed a part of the stomach and contents and part of the liver and sealed them in jars, ivhich were handed to Detective Bailey. To Mr Donnelly—lt was accused who called him in attendance on his wife. Dr. Parsons added to Ms prior statement that the injuries described should include marks outside and back of right thigh and outside and front of left thigh. There was also a deep bruise high up on back of right arm. Tlie main injuries were circumscribed*' and death was caused by violence applied by some well denned body, such as a knee kneeling on the body or a foot treading upon it, or the falling of deceased against a projection, such as a post. To Mr Donne..y —There were no outward signs of violence on the abdomen. To Mr Stringer—-The absence of an outward bruise did not shake his opinion that the injuries were caused by external violence. It was common for internal injuries to be caused without showing signs of external violence, and he had a similar case of a man gored by a bull where there were inner injuries without outward indications.

Edward Gottfried Tritt, aged thirteen, son on the accused, in reply to Mr Stringer, said one day last week the accused and his stepmother were going to have a row. She bail not done tine work which she was supposed to do. Accused told her she ought to have done it, and he said be was going to give her a hiding. Witness left the house to go for milk, and was away ten minutes. Returning, he saw his mother looking red in the face. Before going out he saw his father take the kicking strap from tbe back room like that in Court. It was kept hanging on the wall. Witness never saw his father use tha strap. Had seen him strike deceased with the strap which he wore round his waist, and with his hand one day last week. This was another time, when she bad not done all the washing. He struck her across the back with the strap and on the shoulder with his hand. Deceased tripped over the fender and fell one day last week as she was going to pour out the tea: Had seen her fall when accused srruck her wit—in two or three : weeks ago. Witness never noticed 1 the bruise on deceased's face. He had heard deceased I asked accused not to beat her. He thought this was last week. Accused-had first struck i her with bis band. Hod seen accused assault 1 deceased twice within" the last two or three weeks-. The accused told witness last Saturday afternoon if the police came witness was to say he, (accused) struck deceased with his belt strap and his, hand, and not to. tell that he- had beaten her with tbe.kicking strap. _. Carl William Tritt, aged eleven years, son iof accused, said early last week accused ! "hammered" deceased with' a strap (produced) that hung behind tha door. On Saturday afternoon the stiap had been taken from its usual place. He saw accused strike deceased across the shoulders four or fire times. She cried out, "Leave mc alone." Last week or the week before he thrashed her, using tbe kicking strap, because she had not got the washing done. A week or two ago accused struck her with his hand upon her face, and deceased fell. This happened in the kitchen, and she fell beside some chair.. She was struck three or four times on that occasion. l Deceased got up, but stayed in the room. Next morning her eyes were black and cheeks, swollen, and one airm, was* blue. On Tuesday night»of last week he heard the accused and the deceased talking in their room. Accused was talking loud, and witness thought he .went for the strap, as de- , ceased said, "Yoii need not go for the strap; it won't do mc any good." He saw accused kick deceassd once or twice about a fortnight ago. Accused Jiad st-ruck .her with his baud and she fell, ana as she got up he. kicked her on the uppsr inside of the leg. Accused had. boots on and * kicked twice. That was ,he thought a- week ago. Lost Saturday the accused told him if anyone asked- anything be (witness) was to say the kicking strap was at •Oxford, and to say he.only hit deceased with hia hand and the straps he wore round his waist*

Benjamin Horsfall, a neighbour to accused, said about ten weeks ago, while working in his garden in th. afternoon, his attention was drawn to Tritt's by a noise of someone thrashing another person, and a woman's screams at intervals. She was pleading not to be hit again. It lasted ten minutes.- Accused afterwards left the house and passed within eight yards of witness, and looked wild and excited. Accused toot his horse and trap and went away. Witness had not seen Mrs Tritt or any other woman about. _ Constable J. K. Simpson deposed 'that on Saturday, in company with Detective Bailey, he made search for the big strap, and asked accused for the kicking strap that had been hanging in the back room. Tritt replied lie did not know where it was. On Sunday witness made another search, and removed some of the back room lining boards, and at the bottom found the strap produced. In, his opinion it could only have been coiled up and forced into the position where he found it. Accused, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial at ths Supreme Court. Bail was fixed, accused in £250 and two sureties of £250 each.

The coroner's jury here retired for five minutes, and returned a verdict "That the deceased, Elizabeth Tritt, died ore October _sth of internal injuries received by reason «f. blows inflicted by her, husband, Carl