THE SINGAPORE DRAMA.

Evening Star, Issue 14636, 4 August 1911, Page 5

THE SINGAPORE DRAMA.

A SENSATIONAL STORY. SAVED FROM THE SCAFFOLD. There wae a sensational trial at Singapore the other day (before Mr Justice Seccornbe Smith and two aseefieors) of Mrs Proudlook, wife of Mr William Proudlock, acting head master of the Victoria Institute at KuaJa Lumpen, on a charge, of murdering her friend, Mr Steward. The etory of the trial, as told at the magisterial inquiry, was a* follows : Mr Steward dined at the Empire Hotel on tho night of April 23, and suddenly lpft his friends, exclaiming : "I have, an appointment at nine o'clock." He rushed front the hotel and wont in a ricksha, to the house of Mr and Mm Proudlock. According to the evidence of Mr Proudlock, .ho (Proudlock) dined with a, Mr Am lifer on the evening of the tragedy, his wife remaining at home. About ten minutes past nine the cook came round to Mr Ambler's house and asked for Mr Proudlock, who r-;iw at once from the man's communication that something was wrong. He went home, and on reaching tho compound met itis wife daggering towards him acrors tho yard with blood on her dre.'s and cheek.' Sho told him incoherently that the had shot a man. He found the "verandah in some disorder. On Mrs Proudlock having somewhat regained her composure, she narrated that Mr Steward had called and conversed, and that, she rose to get a book from the verandah bookshelf"; that Mr Steward rose also, encircled her with hie arm, and attempted to assault her. —A Fatal Struggle.— Mr Proudlock asked his wifo where Mr Sto'.vard was, and sho answered i " I don't know. He ran. lie ran." Witness went to search, and found the body 20 or 30 paces from the verandah stepe. He summoned tho polic. The revolver used in shooting had, Mr Proudlock added, been bought on 18 at tus suggestion. He and his wife had on two ocoafiiorifi practised r-hooting with it. His own impTeesion was that his wife was at the moment out. of her mind, and she indeed told him her re-ason had gone. He noticed that her dress woe torn in front, and felt euro theTe mu.st have been a struggle. Medical evidence fihowed that there wa<» a bullet wound through tho breast and heart which was fatal, though the deceased might have run a ehort distance after receiving it: while there were five other wounds in the back of the neck, jaw, and skull. Mr Ambler, aeEistaiit master at Victoria Institute, who accompanied Mr Proudlock home when the latter wae summoned by the cook, gave an account which corroborated in the main that given by the prisoner's husband. —Police Inspector's Evidence.—

Considerable importance attached to the evidence of Police-inspector Wyatt, who went to the scene on the night of the alleged murder. He affirmed that there wae no blood on tho verandah, though the accused's drees and the revolver were covered with it, and that he found a bullet buried in tho turf where the deceased lay, thus implying that at least one of the shots had been fired after he had fallen. There was ako a bullet in the roof of the porch, the hole of entry being inside the porch. Tho only signs of disorder in the verandah were, the inspector eoid, that a small tablo was overturned, and the objects thereon scattered. In opening the case, the Public Prosecutor urged that the visit of Mr Steward had been prearranged. The question was whether the accused was justified in following up Mr Steward afteT ehooting him on the verandah and in doing him to death.

—The Husband's Evidence.— Mr Proudlock wae then called te the witness box, and began to relate what the accused had eaid on hie return on the night of the alleged murder. Tho Court intervened, asking the accused whether she objected. Sho replied in tho negative. Mr Proudlock then went on to say that as coon as ho saw her ehe eaid: "Blood, blood! I've ehot a man !" and appeared greatly dkturbed. His wife subeequently made a statemont to him to the effect that 6he was finishing a letter when Mr Steward arrived. He sent off his ricksha coolie, came on to the verandah, and ultima.telv put hi 6 arm around her, faying he loved her, and adding some words which disclosed an evil purpose. She struggled, and while she was trying to switch on the lights her hand came into contact with the revolver. Sho was frightened, and fired once, but remembered hearing two reports. Then she stumbled and recollected nothing more till she found hereelf back in the verandah with the pictel in her hand. The jury convicted the prisoner, who wae sentenced to death, but an agitation arose in her favor, with the result that tho native ruler (a woman) granted a free pardon, believing her story that she had ehot Mr Reward in defence of her honor.