ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19666, 9 July 1929, Page 13

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

AN AUCKLAND CASE.

[THE FKESB Special Service.] AUCKLAND, July 8. A surprising development in connexion with the Northcote affray occurred at the Police Court this morning when Jerko Didovich, a Dalmatian, appeared on a charge of committing rape on Lilian Emily Maddox. whose husband was arrested on a charge of attempting to murder Didovich. No evidence was offered by the polic® against Didovich, and the presiding justices dismissed the charge. ChiefDetective Hammond said that on the morning, of Saturday, Juno 29th, Maddox and his wife called at the detective office and made a complaint that Maddox was appreciably affected and was in a depressed state. Mrs Maddox made a statement that Didovich criminally assaulted her the previous day. As the result of later enquiries the police had decided not to call evidence in the case. Robert Francis Maddox, aged 27, a carpenter, was then charged with attempting to murder Jerko Didovich on June 26th. Jerko Didovich said he was a married man, his wife residing in Dalmatia. He lived with some fellowcount rymen at Northcote, near the house occupied by Maddox, and he and Maddox worked at the same quarry at Takapuna. In response to a message left at his house be went across to Maddox's house about ten o'clock on Friday, June 28th. Maddox invited him inside and said |'lf you don't sign this paper you'll ctie. ,T Maddox produccd an automatic pistol. Witness ran out of the house and went to his own house over 200 yards away. As he was sitting down on his bed unlacing his boots he heard someone opening the door. He got behind the door and held his hand on the knob. Maddox called to him, "If you don t sign this paper right away you'll die. I will give you a few seconds' time. Didovich said lie then locked the door and ran out of the window. He went to Takapuna where he stayed tho uight. , , J In a statement to the police accused described the incidents leading up to hi.s return from work. On the Friday evening after tea he questioned his wile, and she made certain allegations against Didovich. He then _ became very excited and loaded a pistol intending to kill Didovich. When Didovich called, at his house he pointed the> pistol at mm and fired, but the cartridge did not explode. Running after Didovich he fired several cartridges, but none would explode. The justices held that a prima facie case had been established. A plea of not guilty was entered, and accused was committed for trial. Bail at £*4oo was renewed.