THE HAMILTON TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 2

THE HAMILTON TRAGEDY

SMITH ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, November 24. The trial of Arthur Walter Smith, aged fity years, a painter,' of Hamilto , for the alleged wilful murder of his wife. Lois Alexandra Smith, aged twenty-nine years, was commcuced in the Supremo Court at Haiqilton to-day. Smith was quite composed on entering tho dock, and pleaded not guilty in a firm, clear voice. lie seemed much stronger than during his appearance in tho lower court some weeks ago. Addressing the jury, the Crown Solicitor outlined the prisoner’s life prior to the war and up to tho beginning of tho present year. He stated that Smith was obliged to go bankrupt, and for a time was in, financial difficulties. Then ho obtained a job up north, and worked long hours fo'r good money. On meeting his wife again in Auckland, they had what was termed a second honeymoon. However, they had differences there over a costume which his wife wanted, and which Smith could not afford. Prisoner also bee .me annoyed because his wife did not disclose that she had been out at parties during his absence. The evidence would show that Mrs Smith met a man on the night before the murder. On the night of tho tragedy Smith asked his wife if she required any supper, and the only remark made by his wife throughout the night was “ No.” It would be shown that Smith drew up a will on that night. Apparently ho regarded death for himself in tho immediate future. Counsel said that the prosecution was unable to state definitely what took place in the bedroom on that night, but the prisoner had made a statement of 1.--- version of tho circumstances. Prisoner found his wife lying on the extreme side of tho bed. It was this time when prisoner, according to his statement, got out of bed and returned with a jack knife, Counsel road a portion of the prisoner’s stateineiP : “I slipped off the bed to the floor, took the jack knife out of my trousers pocket, and got back on to the bed again. 1 looked at her face once more, and then stuck the knife into her throat, feeling terrible. She gasped, looked at mo for a moment, jumped out of bed, and called for Phyllis. I slipped off the bed, ran round to try to stop her from falling, but was too late. I touched her, but she collapsed on the floor. Then I had an awful feeling of remorse. I then stuck the knife into my own throat, but was too weak to cut far.” Counsel said that prisoner’s statement of the deed was incorrect, as the medical evidence would show. He referred to tho stab wounds in the back and mouth which could not have been made in the circumstances the prisoner described. Counsel advised the jury to disabusit their minds of certain colloquial expressions of insanity. Ho reminded them of the legal definition of insanity. He would attempt to show the jury that the prisoner knew what ho was doing, and that he was suffering from no mental disease. Counsel said ho understood the defence would he insanity, and a verdict of not guilty would bo asked for i . that ground. Medical evidence on tho lines of that given in the lower court was taken, and the evidence was called of the policemen who were first on the scene of the tragedy. Th father of tho deceased stated that for th ■ past two years tho couple could not get on together.