ATTACK WITH KNIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 3, 5 January 1944, Page 3

ATTACK WITH KNIFE

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

P.A. AUCKLAND, January 4. Because of the dangerous condition of Mrs. Elsie Evelyn Merrick, aged 33, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital from New Lynn yesterday with knife wounds, a special court sitting was held in a small room near ward 5 today. It was presided over by Mr. F. H. Leyien, S.M. Mrs. Merrick, on a hospital bed, was able to give her evidence between gasps, while opposite her on another bed was her husband, Charles Henry Merrick, seaman, aged 29, also admitted to hospital yesterday with knife wounds on the body, who was charged with attempting to murder her. Detective-Sergeant P. Kearney represented the police. The first witness, Dr.' F. P. Furkett, said he operated on Mrs. Merrick' immediately she was admitted. She had stab wounds which had penetrated •parts of her body, including the heart, and was dangerously ill, but in his opinion capable of giving evidence.

Mrs. Merrick said in evidence that she married accused two years ago last November. She had been living with her sister at New Lynn. Till a month ago she was working in a grocer's shop at Plimmerton. Yesterday, he followed her from the bathroom to the bedroom and would not go away. She said he was very nasty to her and "just went mad and pulled out a razor or knife."

Witness was pushed and fell on the bed, and her husband made swift slashes at her with the' knife or razor two or three times. Her sister ran to get help. Witness jumped out of the window and caught up with her sister at the front gate. She was bleeding terribly. Along the street they met some people.

To Detective-Sergeant Kearney, Mrs. Merrick said her husband threatened he would kill her. He had made previous threats to kill her. People in Wellington said that when he came back he was around hotels saying he was going to kill her. Her husband went away on a ship in January, 1943, and returned in October or November last.

Mrs. Merrick was cross-examined by her husband, who put his questions through Detective-Sergeant Kearney. She admitted that while he was out of New Zealand she was living with a serviceman, and that she had been an opium addict' for years.

After an adjournment, Mr. Aekins appeared as counsel for the accused, and continued the cross-examination. Mrs. Merrick said that she was formerly the wife of a Chinese. Her husband had sent her a lot of money while overseas, and she had spent that money on opium. Previously it had cost £1 a packet in Wellington, but the cost now was £3 a packet. She had been arrested for opium offences, drunkenness, and for obscene language.

The accused was remanded until January 2*l