GOVERNESS BLINDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 August 1936, Page 10

GOVERNESS BLINDED

EMPLOYER’S WIFE COMMITTED

COONAMBLE (N.S.W.), July 30

Katherine Larkin, 51, on remand, ■ was charged at the Police Court today with having, about June 3, thrown ; caustic soda on Josephine Ester Blackett with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm. Dr. K. H. Broome gave evidence that he examined Josephine Blackett on June -1, and found her suffering from severe burns to the face, both eyes, and chest. The burns had been caused by some corrosive liquid. He conveyed her to the Coonamble District Hospital, where, on making a fuller examination of her eyes, he found that the whites were veryswollen and the cornea in both eyes burnt and opaque. Dr. Richard J. Speight, Medical

Superintendent of St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, stated that on the morning of June 6 Blackett’s condition was dangerous, but not critical at the time of examination. The condition ol her eyes became gradually worse, and on June 19 both eyes were removed. She was discharged from hospital on July 16. His opinion was that tho burns were caused by some corrosive fluid. He was present when the depositions of the woman were taken, as it was believed she was going to die.

BLINDED WOMAN’S EVIDENCE. Josephine Esther Blackett, who was led into the witness-box, said that up to June 4 she was employed as governess at the home of Daniel Larkin, near Quambone. She had been employed there since April, 1929. She was having her breakfast one morning when Mrs Larkin slashed her with a whip across the arm for no apparent reason.

Witness used to have her meals in a room off the main dining-room. She did not have her meals with the ' crs ’ Larkin and witness had dinner and supper together. Mr Larvin and witness were on friendly ‘J , 1 } ? ath a « usual, and, i n place ! ,SrSe,t ""> r » kiir h , a,K i drOSSI, m gown to the cn, where she prepared a place

| for herself at the breakfast table. She I sat down to table, and was about to eat her breakfast when accused walked into the kitchen with a pint measure in her hand. Accused poured hot water from the kettle into the measure, then walked along as if she were going outside. When half-way down the table, accused turned and made some remark. Witness raised her head, and accused dashed the contents of the measure into her face. Witness ran towards the shearing shed, calling out for Mr Larkin. He brought her back to the house, and got water to bathe her eyes. Mr Larkin did not say anything to his wife. Accused and her husband were not on friendly terms. There was no occasion for accused to do what she did to witness.

Accused reserved her defence, and was committed for trial at the Quarter Sessions at Coonamble on October 19. Bail was allowed in £2OO, which was immediately forthcoming. The only words uttered by accused during the whole proceedings were: “I am not guilty.’’