SALESMAN CHARGED

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 107, 2 November 1937, Page 17

SALESMAN CHARGED

ALLEGEDATTEMPTED MURDER

EVIDENCE OF WIFE

(By Teltfffraph—Preea Asso-iiation.) ,: WANGANUI, November 1.

Before the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) and a jury, a young radio salesman, Kenneth St.Albans. Hodgson, of Raetihi, wag charged with attempting to murder his wife, Rita Louisa Hodgson, at Baetihi,.on. August 25 last, or alternatively with, pointing a firearm at-her-in a manner calculated to alarm and intimidate her. . ;, ~.■ •

Evidence given by the wife alleged that Hodgson and she had had an argument regarding the manner in which she had spent the Sunday night previous to the assault. • Witness said that her husband had gqne to the Chateau. She. had played tennis, gone to the pictures.in.;the evening, and then brought her friends home, and tbey sat by the-fire in her apartment

above a shop talking. Her friends went early on Monday morning, and witness, being worried about her.husband,; decided, to sit up and wait, for him. A man named Townsend sat in the room with her. She did not see her husband again Until they met in the shop. Her husband, she alleged, questioned her about where she ■ spent the night and did not believe her. She called in Townsend, who was sleeping in: the satai* upstairs portion, oi the building,, but in another room, to tell her husband. 'He struck Townsendj." Witness alleged "that on the iollowirig Wednesday the accused came in with a gun under his arm pointing in-her direction. She caught hold of it and pressed the trigger when ,it was under her arm, the shot striking a cushion. Her husband seemed dazed and she took the gun and threw it out of the window. ■ Asked by his Honour why she pressed the trigger, witness replied that she wanted' to' get rid of the bullet. -.-.. ..- ■; ; ; ; ■■■*;■■■ : Just before the case was adjourned until, tomorrow; Mr. N.R. Bain, Crown Prosecutor, made '»n application to treat the witness' as hostile in view of the fact that she had been living with her husband since he was committed

for trial and that her evidence wa» not what had been given in the Lower Court.

His Honour decided to hear counsel in chambers on that aspect The case will be resumed tomorrow.