WIFE MURDER CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 20959, 25 November 1931, Page 8

WIFE MURDER CHARGE

THE HAMILTON TRAGEDY TRIAL OF ARTHUR SMITH [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, November 25. The trial of Arthur Walter Smith, aged <SO, a painter, of Hamilton, on a charge of murdering his wife, Lois Alexandra _ Smith, aged 29 years, was continued in the Supreme Court to-day before Air Justice Herdman and a Jury. P. A. Courtenay, traffic inspector, of Hamilton, gave evidence of seeing Mrs Smith while waiting for his bus on the night of the tragedy. Witness heard, someone call “ Good night,” and recognised Airs Smith. . Frederick A. Do Alare, solicitor, of Hamilton, told the court that he had known the prisoner for about forty years. They had been neighbours for fifteen years. Witness had also been associated with him in camp at Trentham during the war. Shortly before the tragedy Smith interviewed him over finance. Cross-examined, witness said Smith had told him of his domestic troubles. Ho told witness_ that his wife had a “ meet ” on with a man, and that his wife had said (referring to Smith) that she did not know how she would be able “ to get rid of -the old .” Smith consulted him about a divorce, but thought it would be too expensive, and that a separation would meet the case. Witness added that prisoner was an abstemious man and was particularly fond of his children. For many' years be w r as in the Volunteer forces, and at one time was captain of the Frankton Fire Brigade. He was also president of the Alotor Cycle Club, and held the rank of captain when discharged from the Expeditionary Force. Sara Eulalia Lynch, married, said she had been a neighbour of Smith’s for some years. On two occasions she had been at parties with Airs Smith. One was on August 29 at To Papa. Crossexamined witness said there was a party on September 14 of an impromptu nature. Witness collapsed at the conclusion of her evidence. Colin Percy Wishart, a railway employee, of • Puketntu, told the court that he took Mrs Smith home from the To Rapa party in a taxi. Cross-ex-amined witness said he believed the date of the Te Rapa party was September 29. There was not much beer at the party. Witness said he was “ nob exactly sober ” when he took Airs Smith homo in a taxi, but Airs Smith was quite sober. Witness flatly denied approaching Phyllis Smith at the conclusion of her evidence in the lower court and congratulating her on her testimony and how little she had told. Phyllis Lillian Smith, aged sixteen, daughter of the prisoner hy his first wife, said her father and her stepmother got on very well. There had been rows between Smith and , r mother over financial matters, and she had often seen Smith strike her. The defence opened in the afternoon.