BROTHER ATTACKS SISTER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 4 August 1925, Page 5

BROTHER ATTACKS SISTER.

AUCKLAND STREET SENSATION. \X ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. V (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATIONJ AUCKLAND, Aug. 3r As a sequel to a savage attack on a young woman in Upper Queen' street on the evening of April 15, Albert Edward Best, aged 28, was charged in the Supreme Court to-day with the attempted murder of his sister, Gertrude Best. The accused was found guilty, and l lie will come up for sentence tomorrow. ' Gertrude Best, who spoke almost inaudibly, said; she thought her brother struck her once when they were at Hamilton. She could not remember .vnat he said to her on the first time he came to her room at Auckland. me Crown Prosecutor (Mi- C. E. Meredith): You gave evidence in the ■ over court, and you could remember then. Ho>v is it you cannot remember now?- —1 had just come out of the hospital and was upset. witness said she -thought the accused jaid- something about her going back to veep nouse for him, hut she could not remember what he said. Sihe did not remember him ever objecting to her going with a man named Scnolz. She couiu not rememoer what she had said about that in the lower court. , ; rur Meredith: Why should you say something in the other court if it were not true j*. His Honor: You gave evidence on oath to the magistrate,- and all we ask •s for you to repeat to-day what you said beiore, if you will be good 1 enough to do that. Witness: I cannot remember. Mr, Meredith asked permission to treat the -witness as -hostile. Mr A. Moody (for the accused): I had anticipated this,, and that is- why i. suggested that her evidence should oe read. His Honor: That would not do at ill. She. says she cannot remember it. Mr Moody remarked that it could be easily understood that blood was thicker than water. His Honor :=• I must allow Mr Meredith to treat her as hostile., .. Mr Meredith (to witness): How is, it you cannot remember? Is it because you want to help your brother?-—I was so upset at the time that I did not mow what I was saying. You would not. say anything untrue? —1 do not think so. In reply to a further question the witness said she could not remember certain incidents, nor what she said, in the Police Court. •• Referring to the events on April To, witness said her brother rushed at her when they were in Upper Queen street, and caught her by the throat. She felt her throat being cut. She did not remember getting away from him and running to a Chinese laundry. She denied that she had previously had improper relation with her brother. Her Evidence alleging misconduct was given in the Police Court because she was angry with her brother. . „ Eileen Florence Best, sister_ of the accused, said her brother came into the room occupied by her sister Gertrude and herself at 2 o’clock one morning. Accused said to Gertrude: “Will 1 I cut your throat ?’ ’ Gertrude replied: “Never oil your life.” Ernest Alfred Scholz said the accused mlv obiected to him going with Gertrude when the accused was under the influence of liquor. Witness could not remember the circumstances when the accused c-alled him an offensive name. His Honor: You keep on saying you cannot remember. You. are in a different nosition to the girls. Witness: It is hard to remember. His Honor: Hard to remember! Nonsense! Mr Meredith: Have you discussed -the evidence you are to give with the two 1 girls?—No. Have voii arranged with them that ill three are not to remember ?—No. Dr. Murray gave evidence of the extensive injuries . sustained _ by Miss Best. The principal wound just missed the main artery. If it had been cut it would have meant instant death. When he saw the accused he seemed to he recovering from the effect of drink. ‘ Passers-by gave evidence ©i the assault on the street and in the- door■vpv of the Chinese laundry. His Honor said the case was a very morions one. although not very difficult. The accused might die thankful,he was not charged with anything more serif's. Did the accused intend to stop effort of killing his sister when he ''based, her along the .street with a -o Z or? Whatever the accused. thought ■'hoot Scholz did not justify'him in attacking her with a razor. After a short retirement- the jury rehivned a verdict of guilty .on all changes. Sentence will be given .tomorrow.