RIVALS IN LOVE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 258, 6 November 1911, Page 3

RIVALS IN LOVE.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH BREAKING AND ENTERING

At the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Wednesday afternoon, Mrs Margaret Christina Porter, was charged that, on October 31st, 1911, at Christchurch, she broke and entered by night the dwelling-house of Charles Dodd, with intent to commit a crime therein, to wit assault Mary O'Donnell, with intent to cause her bodily harm. Chief-Detective Bishop (reports the Press) withdrew this charge of breaking and entering the dwelling with intent to commit a crime therein. Mr Cassidy appeared fdr accused.

1 Charles William Dodd stated that ne was a boarding-house keeper at 23 St. Asaph Street West. Mary O'Donnell, who was employed as cook at His house, slept in a room just off the kitchen, along' with, his six-year-old daughter. About 1 a.m. his wife awoke him, .and he heard screaming. He got up, and found outside the door Miss O'Donnell and his daughter, both crying bitterly. : To,Mr Cassidy: He remembered particularly closing the back door. If anyone wanted sto go out late ; >at night to tlie back portion of the premises, the back door would be the easiest.

Mary O'Donnell stated that about 8 p.m. on Monday she,was in her bedroom. While tljere she thougKt she heard someone' at the window. She found no one there on going out to investigate. She retired to bed about 10 p;m. She was awakened by someone at her throat saying, "I've got you I" Witness struggled, and something that burned and^ smarted was thrown in her eyes. She exclaimed to the little girl "ForX3od's sake, Doreen, scream, my eyes are burning out of me I" The little girii and witness both screamed out. She did not see anyone, and could not tell who the person was. She got out of bed when she got free and ran with the little girl out to Mr and Mrs Dodd's room. Her eyes were very painful all the time. When she ran out, she found her door and the back door both open. Mr Dodd came out, and on Hearing what had happened went and informed the police. The sheet and nightdress produced, in Court, which had cayenne pepper on them, were hers. The letter produced was round in her room on Tuesday morning. Witness _ had met the accused once about six months ago. On that occasion—which was at night— witness was out with aMr Stone, with whom witness had been keeping company, for a year. They would be married next February. Mrs Porter jumped off Her bicycle on the occasion mentioned, and put Herself between witness and Mr Stone, and said, "This is my place 1" To Mr Oassidy: On the occasion mentioned Mr Stone said "What do you mean?" and accused replied "I told you I'd do it if I met you with that person again." Dr Jennings stated that He was called about 2.30 a.m. on Tuesday to attend Miss O'Donnell. He found that her eyes were still a little sore, but when he arrived the worst of the pain Had gone. Apparently none of the red pepper had got into Her eyes. Only the liquid from the pepper, which was wet in one portion, had got in. He applied a few drops of castoroil. The pepper would not have permanent injury to the eyes, even if it had got properly into the eyes; but it would have caused very great pain. Sergeant Quinn stated that he found an empty tin on the floor of Miss O'Donnell's bedroom. It contained traces of red cayenne. Detective Gibson stated that he and Detective Ward went to accused's house in Linwood on Tuesday afternoon. On a table in the sittingroom He found a railway form of exactly the same kind as that used for tlie letter purporting to come from Stone, and found in Miss O'Donnell's bedroom. Accused said she did not know Mary O'Donnell, but she did know a girl that was going with Mr Stone, but did not know her name. Witness showed accused the pencilled letter, and asked her why; she wrote it. She became frightened, and told him a story of how this' woman had taken her sweetheart from ! her. She said that Stone had' promised to marry her, but had cvi- | dentily given her up for the other girl. She then said she had thrown the letter in at Miss O'Donnell's window, that she had come home, and gone back later, Had gone into the j girl's room, and thrown the pepper on her, but denied putting her hands on her. Accused admitted to witness that she was jealous of Miss O'Donnell, and said she did it because she hoped it would frighten her away from Stone. Detective Ward corroborated Detective Gibson's evidence.

To Mr Cassidy: Accused said Stone had been boarding at her House for about eleven years. Accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Bail was fixed at £100, .and one surety of £100. •