THE UN WHITTEN LAW

Evening Star, Issue 17279, 18 February 1920, Page 3

THE UN WHITTEN LAW

LAD SHOOTS HLS FATHER TO SAVE MOTHER FROM INJURY. AAhen William Black, of Blenheim, in a drunken frenzy, brutally assaulted his wife—-shortly to become a mother—he Little thought that help for the distracted woman was near at hand in the person of their 16-year-old son, aided by a pea rifle. But such, however, proved to be the case. As Black, holding his wife by* the throat with the left hand, raised his right arm to strike, the report of a rifle was heard, and the threatening limb fell with a bullet embedded in the elbow. "Ihe full circumstances were related before Mr L. Rollings, S.M., when the son, William Black, was charged that he did, with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Willi 3 ™ Black, sen., wound him in the arm by discharging a pea rifle at him. Mrs Maud Black said her husband, while under- the influence of liquor, swept the tea dishes off the table, without cause, ohe replaced the dishes, but he again sw-ept them off, whereupon witness remonstrated with him. He then made a rush afc . a ;H clutching her by the throat with Jus left hand, he struck her with the right, at the same time using bad language. lire children were very frightened, and, with the exception of the accused they ran out of the house. William interfered, _ asking his father to let go his hold on witness, and warning him that he would lut him if he did not do so. The father persisted, and as he was about to strike her again she heard the report of a rl^e 'n ’ L -- e words “He’s got me now,” her husband released his hold of her threat, and she then saw blood flowing arm on t° the floor. She sent William for the doctor and tire police. Ihe boy had previously come to her assistance when the father was drunk and illtreating her. She expected her confinement to take place any dav. William Black, sen., said he had been drinking all day, and remembered nothing of the assault on Iris wife or of his sou shooting him. He did not know his arm was injured until he woke up on his bed and found a doctor and constable m attendance.

The Magistrate said he was satisfied there would he a very poor chance of any jury convicting the accused. Apparently he acted hastily, but it was under extreme provocation. The information would be dismissed.