ENDANGERING LIFE

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 July 1946, Page 9

ENDANGERING LIFE

UNUSUAL CHARGE AGAINST YOUNG :\IAN (P.A.) NEW PLYMOUTH, July 29. There was a disturbance on the New Plymouth-Auckland express on the night of July 15, which caused the train to be brought to a halt as it was drawing away from the New Plymouth platform. It had a sequel in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, when a young man, Leslie James Stewart, was charged with endangering the life' of his wife by attempting to push her off the train as it was leaving the station. Decision was reserved by Mr. W. H. AVoodward, S.M.' The defendant’s wife, Ethel Millicent Stewart, gave evidence that she and her husband had been separated for over six months. She accompanied him to the station when he declared his intention of going to Auckland to work, and there was a scene on the train. It was alleged by the prosecution that Stewart pushed his wife off the ■train while it was in motion. The defendant denied pushing her off, saying that they both jumped off the carriage platform, and he only laid hands on her to prise her grip on his coat;

For the defence Mr. R. D. Jamieson contended that Stewart could not be charged under the Act. He contended that, not only was the defendant’s wife not a person travelling on the train, but she was actually trying to prevent another person from travelling on it.