COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22306, 21 January 1938, Page 14

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND SUICIDE

YOUNG WOMAN'S STORY OF ATTACK AT NIGHT

(FSKS9 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

DUNEDIN, January 20,

Charged with attempted murder and attempted suicide on Saddle Hill, near Mosgiel, on the night of November 29 Wilfred Richard John Curry, aged 3l' appeared before Mr H. W. Bundle, SM., in the Police Court to-day. After the hearing of the evidence of 13 witnesses, including that of the woman said to have been the victim of an attack, the accused, who pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence was committed to the Supreme Court fo One ia of the witnesses called by the prosecution. Alexander Arthur Lawlon, a mill-hand, living at Mosgiel said that he was riding his motor-cycle from Dunedin to Mosgiel on the night of November 29 when, about half wav un the Dunedin side of baoaic HiU he P noticed a small car on the road He saw a girl running down the h.U and waving her arms, indicating him to stop. He could see blood on ner face, and he stopped his cycle a few. yards away from the car. . A man rushed at him; he had a bar with which he was going to hit, tne witness. Raising his right arm to shield his head, the witness received a blow on the forearm. He then ran in the Xectkm the girl had taken. The man followed and the witness heard the sound of a shot. The witness tripped and fell and the accused passed him. Further shots were fired, and what,ne took to be a bullet thudded into a bank behind him. Help Arrives He ran back to his motor-cycle, intending to go for help. He tried to stop two cars, but they passed on. A thira car stopped and the occupant helped the girl into the vehicle. They and the witness went to the Mosgiel Police Station and then on to a doctor. Evidence was given by the young woman, who said she met the accused on the afternoon of November 29 last when he offered to take her to the pictures. She met the accused at (ja Dm by arrangement. The accused was driving a car which the witness thought he owned. Previously the accused had asked her if she could drive a car. to which she replied that she could a little, but not very well. When the witness found they were not going to the pictures, she asked the accused to stop while she telephoned to her .home. Curry replied that it would be all right, as they would not be long. They went on to the Main South road and the-pair changed seats, so that the witness could have a driving lesson. At Henley bottles of lemonade were procured and these were drunk in the car. The witness then made an unsuccessful attempt to turn the car, whereupon the accused took his place in the driver's seat. After going a little farther south, the car was being turned when the engine stalled, and the accused suggested they should walk back to Henley, as he did not think the car would go. Car Stopped Eventually, the witness continued, the car was started again and, coming down a hill, it was speeding so mucn mat the witness asked to be allowed to drive. This she did. but as a result of something the accused said the witness stopped. Curry then got into the back of the car. He seemed a little agitated. The witness reached over the back of the front seat to retrieve her purse and gloves, which were in the back of the car. She then felt a blow on the back of her head, followed by a second one. and as she could see another blow coming she lifted her left arm and warded' it off. She then endeavoured to leave the car, but vas stopped. However, she pulled away and stepped out at the other side and seeing a light from a motor-cycle she stepped into the middle of the road to hail it. The accused was then approaching, the witness said, so she ran down the hill. She saw the accused striking at the rider of the motor-cycle. The accused then ran toward the witness, who heard some shots and felt a pricking sensation in her left arm. She thought there were about Ave or six shots. As she could hear the accused running behind her, she thought the best thing to do would be to hide, so she ran behind a bush. Two persons ran by and when she attempted to get up she could hardly walk. She struggled to the motor-cyclist and. seeing two cars approaching, she tried to stop them, but both passed by. A third car stopped, the driver of which took her to the Mosgiel police and then to a doctor. She was afterwards admitted to a private hospital. She still suffered from the effects of the attack. Further Charge Evidence was also taken about a charge of assault under arms with intent to rob, and on this charge also the accused was committed for trial. This charge related to an alleged offence at the Botanic Gardens on November 25, when, according to the evidence of Edward Robertson, a labourer, a man approached him. and, pointing a revolver at him, ordered him to empty his pockets. The witness said he intended to take a torch from his pocket so that he could see the man's face, but he heard the click of a revolver hammer, so he passed the torch to the man. who stepped back and threw the torch at. the witness, who rushed away and complained to the police. _______