MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22231, 23 October 1937, Page 8

MID-CANTERBURY NEWS

WOUNDING OF CARRIER WIFE BEFORE COURT CHARGE OP PRESENTING RIFLE On a charge of presenting a firearm without lawful excuse at her husband, Albert William Murdoch, a carrier, of Ashburton, Mrs Ellen Anne Murdoch was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within two years by Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday. The incident occurred on September 13. The husband received a bullet wound in the neck. A charge of assaulting her husband so as to cause actual bodily harm was withdrawn. Sergeant J. F. Cleary stating that the police had no evidence to offer, as they were unable to prove any intent. The accused, who was represented by Mr C. G. de C. Drury, pleaded guilty. Sergeant Cleary said that after a quarrel with her nusband the accused went to the washhouse to wash clothes. A few minutes later the husband went to the back door to get his boots, and when he reached the passage between the back door and the washhouse door the accused seized a rifle which had been left in the washhouse and pointed it at her husband. The muzzle of the rifle was so close that the husband stated that he could have pushed it aside had he wished to do so: but thinking it was unloaded he laughed. There was a slight pause and the rifle was fired, the bullet, a .22. striking the husband o"n the point of the chin. The fragments of the bullet and fragments from the jaw scattered down the neck. "The offender has no knowledge of the use of a rifle/' said Sergeant Cleary. "The prosecution can offer no evidence to show that there was reason to believe that she knew the rifle was loaded." Mr Drury said the defendant realised to the full the seriousness of the offence. The incident arose out of a difference. There had been similar differences in the past. Mrs Murdoch was naturally highly strung and was subject to emotional disturbances. When her husband came out to the passage she was so overcome by her emotions as to believe that he was going to continue quarrelling with her and even offer her violence. Under stress of her emotions she seized the rifle. Mr Drury suggested that she hardly knew what she was doing. Nobody was more horrified than she was when the rifle went off. She had no intent to' injure her husband. It was admitted that she was a good mother and her home and family were her constant care. She had suffered a good deal of strain through several Court appearances over the case and also through publicity. He suggested that she should be placed on probation. The Magistrate said that he quite realised the accused must have received a shock, and the case was ounishment to some extent. She of course knew she may have come before the Court on a much more serious charge if she had killed her husband. The case showed the great danger of persons handling firearms. He had taken into consideration what had led up to the act, and he did not think he should inflict imprisonment. The order to come up for sentence was a form of probation, necessitating good behaviour. ASHBURTON BADMINTON CLUB The Ashburton Badminton Club closed its season on Thursday evening, when there was a large attendance. A yankee tournament was won by D. Silverwood and Miss J. Vincent. G. Smith and Miss V. Dearsley were runners-up. »•*•,,„ Trophies won in club competitions were presented by the captain (Mr T. L. Crooks) as follows:—Women s singles, Miss L. Gilchrist; men's singles, R. Horrill; men's doubles, R. Horrill and C. E. Morriss; women's doubles, Mrs D A. Bird and Miss M. Chapman; combined doubles, R. Horrill and Miss J. Vincent j ASHBURTON PERSONAL NOTES The Minister for Public Works (the Hon. R. Semple) will inspect the Winchmore-Lyndhurst section of tne Ashburton County irrigation scheme with members of the Ashburton and Canterbury Chambers of Commerce next Thursday. , Messrs S. P. Taylor (chairman of directors), and L. R. Clarke (secre-tary-manager) represented the Ashburton Dairy Company, Ltd., at a meeting at Temuka yesterday of representatives of the Taieri, Waitaki. and Ashburton companies with the Executive Commission of Agriculture. . ASHBURTON UNEMPLOYED A total of 232 men on the Ashburton unemployed register will draw sustenance payments next week, compared with 235 this week, and 220 last week.

STRANGE ACTION OF YOUNG MAN SLASHED HIMSELF WITH RAZOR BLADE FALSE STATEMENT TO POLICE The strange action of a young man who slashed himself in three places with a razor blade and told the police that the wounds had been inflicted by an unknown man resulted in the appearance of Richard Henry Hooper, aged 22, a labourer, of Allenton, before Mr H. Morgan, S.M., in the Ashburton Magistrate's Court yesterday. He was fined £2 and ordered to pay costs for wrongly making a verbal statement to the police that a crime had been committed. Sergeant J. F. Cleary said that Hooper later admitted that the wounds were self-inflicted. The accused had been injured in a motor collision and on the football field, and this might have affected him. The Magistrate: Why did you do that Hooper? The accused: It was more or less due to nervous strain. The Magistrate said he would have to treat the case as an ordinary one, as there was no medical evidence about the state of Hooper's mentality. Attempted Suicide A young woman, whose name was suppressed, was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, for attempted suicide. Traffic Offences Fines, with orders to pay costs, were imposed in the following traffic cases:—lan Burns Cromb, attempting to overtake a vehicle without having a clear view of the road for 300 feet, £3; Clarence R Oakley, driving without due care and attention, £3 10s; W G. Clark, lightless cycle, 7s 6d; Thomas Riddle, no warrant of fitness, 10s; Ashburton Transport Company, inefficient brake on vehicle, £1 10s; Jack Godfrey, no driver's licence, 10s; John R. Brown and William Blair, exceeding speed limit, £2 10s each. Civil Actions Judgment for plaintiff by default was given in the following civil cases: Tuckers, Ltd., v. J. N. Edyvean, £1 17s; H. C. Nelson v. Pat Morland, ss. On a judgment summons A. Ramsay was ordered to pay W. R. Ford £l4 16s in instalments of 5s a week. WOMEN'S DIVISION OF FARMERS' UNION LISMORE The monthly meeting of the Lismore branch of the Women's Division of the New Zealand Farmers' Union was held on Wednesday. Mrs Fleming presided Mrs H. Lilley was elected secretary for the year. It was decided to vote £ 4 to the community chest and £2 to the Mid-Canterbury executive. A presentation of a crystal vase was made to Mrs D. Glassey, who has left the district. Beverley Fleming also presented the president and Mrs Glassey with posies. Miss E. Goldsmith demonstrated the making of pine-needle baskets. The hostesses were Mrs Skilling and Miss Muriel Skilling. The results of the competitions were as follows:—Petticoat made from 501 b flour-bag. Miss E. Sparrow 1, Mrs A. Sparrow 2, Mrs D. Glassey 3; best bloom, Mrs J. A. Fleming 1, Mrs H. Lilley 2, Mrs M. A. Ashton 3; vegetable, Miss A. Clucas 1, Mrs H. Lilley 2, Mrs M. Ashton 3; shrub, Mrs J. Addis 1, Miss C. Broker 2, Mrs J. Fleming 3; prettiest picture, Mrs Sparrow 1, Miss Sparrow 2. WOMEN'S INSTITUTES MOUNT SOMERS Mrs A. R. Beckley presided at the monthly meeting of the Mount Somers Women's Institute. Votes of sympathy were passed with Mesdames L. H Ruddock, G. L. Hood, and F. W. Gilkins in their bereavements. Miss M Comyns was appointed in charge of the points book. The president thanked members for entering in the bay competition at Ashburton. A box of Christmas gifts was dispatched to the leper patients at Makogai. An interesting demonstration on making woodfibre flowers was given by Mrs G. L. Hood. Results of competitions were as follows: —Best sponge roll, Mrs L. Wilson 1, Mrs W. R. Munro 2; vase of spring flowers, Mrs E. W. Roberts 1, Mrs G. L. Hood 2. The hostesses were Mesdames T. Kerr, R. H. McMillian, Misses T. Morgan and M. Morgan. HAMPSTEAD There was a good attendance at the monthly meeting of the Hampstead Women's Institute, which took the form of a social afternoon. An old-fashioned mannequin parade was held. Items were given as follows: —Solo, Miss Brown; elocution, Miss Otoline Hunt; dance, Miss Bernice Day. Winners of competitions were:— Bowl of pansies or violas: Mrs Wakeham 1. Mrs Harrison 2. Mrs Holland and Mrs Meade (equal) 3. Daintest plate of bread and butter: Mrs Holland 1, Mrs Piki 2, Mrs Harrison 3. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mesdames Stone, jun., A. Sutton, J. Smith, and Reece. MAYFIELD GIRLS' FRIENDLY SOCIETY The fortnightly meeting of the Mayfield branch of the Girls' Friendly Society took the form of a social in the Agricultural and Pastoral Association's rooms on Thursday evening to entertain the members of the Tinwald branch. Games, competitions, anl dancing were enjoyed. Winners of competitions were Misses Natalie Clark and Jean Shimmin. and the supper hostesses were Misses Gladys Sewell and Ruth Harrison MAYFIELD TEMPERANCE UNION The monthly meeting of the Mayfield branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held in the Presbyterian Church vestry. Mrs D. Edmond presided over a good attendance. A motion of sympathy was passed with Mrs W. T. Elmslie in her illness. Correspondence was received from Mrs Patterson. Dominion superintendent of the Bible-in-Schools movement, asking the branch o approach school committees with the object of starting a scheme for the opening of schools with five minutes of Bible reading and prayer. The annual meeting was arranged for November 18, and the garden party for December 1, the place to be arranged later.