COURT NEWS

Grey River Argus, 4 August 1925, Page 5

COURT NEWS

BEST ASSAULT CASE. ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. AUCKLAND, August 3. At the Supreme Court, Albert Edward Best was charged with attempted murder of bis sister, Gertrude, on April 15; also with assault with intent to do actual bodily harm. VICTIM’S EVIDENCE... CANNOT RECOLLECT CIRCUMSTANCES. AUCKLAND. August 3. Called to give evidence in the charge of attempted murder against her brother, Gertrude Best, the victim >.f the assault, said that she could not recollect the circumstances. Se was so upset when she gave evidence in tho Police Court, that she could not remember what she said. She did not think she had said anything untrue. She remembered tho accused rushing at her, and that she wns '■ut on the face, but she c.culd nut say how she got the cuts. Best Found Guilty ON ALL CHARGES. AUCKLAND, August 3. In the Best case of attempted murder, the Judge, granted the Crown Prosecutor permission to treat Florence Best as a hostile witness, she said she could not remember certain incidents, nor what she had said in the Police Court. After her brother tu-'hed at her in Queen Street, she telt her throat being cut. She, denied haying impiipior rclat.ons with her brother. Her evidence alleging misconduct was given in the Police Court, because she was angry with her brother. I‘T.i.ence B\st., sister of Xhe accused, further stated her brother came into a room occupied by her sister Gertrude and herself at two o’clock one morning. Accused said to Gertrude: “Will I cut your throatf” Gertrude replied: “Never your life !’’ Ernest Alfred Scholz said that the accused had only objected to mm going with Gertrude when the accused was under the influence of liquor. Witness could not remember the rucurnstances when the accused caned him an offensive name. His Honour: “You keep on saying you cannot rcmcnilier. You are in a different position to the girls.’’ "It is hard to remember.’’ hard to remember. His Honour: “Hard to remember? Nonsense Dr. Mugray gave evidence or ex tensive injuries sustained by Miss Best. The principal wound just missed tho main artery. If it had been cut, it would have meant instant death. When he saw the accused, »,e seemed to b? recovering from the effects of drink. His Honour said the case wns a very serious one, although not very difficult. The accused might ec thankful that lie was not charged with anything more serious. D»d me accused intend to stop short of knr ing his sister when be chased her along the street with a razor? Whatever the accused thought about Scholz did not- justify him attacking her with a razor.

After a short retirement the jury returned with a verdict of “guilty on all charges.’’ Sentence will be given to-morrow. ILLEGAL TREA.TMENT OF V.D. CASE. DUNEDIN, August 3. At the Police Conrt to-day, William Michael Wilkinson, who described him self as a specialist, was charged that he did undertake treatment for payment. of venereal disease. The evidence shewed that a prisoner in gaol had been treated. The Magistral inflietd a fine cf £-> and easts. AUCKLAND CrSTS. AUCKLAND, August 3. At th» Supreme Court, Robert Dixon Warden, charged with escaping from custody at Waikune Prison -nJ receiving stolen property, was .entenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. The Judge said that Warden was declared an habitual criminal no fewer than five times according to the law, and may Ire detained for tho rest of his life at the discretion of the Prisons Board. Elizabeth Wilson, for hor«e stealing was sentenced to six months’ reformative detention.