THE THAMES TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 187, 25 August 1888, Page 2

THE THAMES TRAGEDY.

FUtL PARTICULARS. A MAN TOMAHAWKED BY HIS WIFE. The N.Z. r Herald’s Thames correspondent sends the following particulars of the vicious assault made on a milkman named William Davis, residing at Mount Pleasant, by his wife, Mary Davis, last Saturday night:— “ It appears Davis is somewhat addicted to drink, and while in this state is inclined to doubt his wife’s fidelity, consequently their domestic relations at these times are somewhat strained, and quarrels have frequently occurred between them, in which he has on several occasions threatened to kill her. Davis had been indulging in one of his drunken i sprees during the whole of last week, and I came home on Friday night in a state of intoxication, and threatened to put an end to her. The culminating point, however, arose on Saturday night, when he came home about half-past ten, the worse for liquor. His wife and three children, together with two lads who help him on his run, and a servant girl, had then retired, but Davis wss in a very quarrelsome mood, and commenced to abuse and threaten to kill his wife and three children, at once flourishing a large butcher’s knife which he had brought into the room, and attempting to draw it across his wife’s throat. This so exasperated Mrs Davis that she sprang out of bed, and seizing a (tomahawk which she had been using in the room during the day to nail up some curtains, commenced to hack at his head and face, inflicting no less than seventeen wounds and bruises, three of the severest cuts being on the right temple. Davis was 4 soon prostrate on the floor, and thinking she $ had killed him, she sent one of the lads to a neighbour’s, named John Lloyd, to come and render assistance. When L’oyd arrived be found Davis lying insensible as he (Lloyd), thought on a mattress on the floor, his features presenting a most sickening spectacle, his head and face being covered with thick clotted blood. Lloyd, seeing he could do nothing for Davis, at once went in quest of Dr Callan, who speedily was found, and returned with him to Davis’ house. In the meantime, however, Davis had risen from his mattress and gone into the boys’ bedroom, and thrown himself on the bed there, his family, on hearing him move, making off to a cowshed about 40 yards from the house, fearing if he found them he would kill them. On the doctor’s arrival they all returned to the house, when a bucket of water was obtained, and Davis’ head was cleansed from the blood. Seeing that several of the wounds and fractures were of a serious nature, the doctor ordered his removal at once to the Hospital, where he (Dr Callan) superintended the dressing of the wounds, some of the cuts having to be stitched. Davis lay in a very critical state all day yesterday, being insensible at times, but to-day was much improved, and hopes are entertained of his recovery. “ Mrs Davis was taken into custody shortly after the occurrence, and to-day was brought up at the Police Court, charged with wilfully and of malice aforethought attempting to kill her husband, but at the request of Sergeant Murphy a remand was granted for eight days. Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs Davis, it being a general feeling that she acted only in self defence. She is now lodged with au 1 infant child, six months old, in Shortland gaol, no attempt having been made to have her released on bail.” Later. i The man Davis, who was murderously assaulted by his wife, is progressing very , satisfactorily, considering the serious nature of his wounds. He declines to give any information whatever regarding the occuri ence, and refuses to say anything against his i wife.