AGED HUSBAND CHARGED

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 2560, 18 December 1924, Page 7

AGED HUSBAND CHARGED

Alleged Attempt to Murder Wife

GROUNDLESS SUSPICIONS OF INFIDELITY [Per Press Association.! OAMARU, Last Night. M the Magistrate’s Court, before Mr Bundle, S.M., John Holmes, aged 72, was charged with attempting to murder his wife, Annie Isabella Holmes, on November 2, by shooting. Medical evidence showed that Mrs Holmes had been shot behind the lower jaw with a 12 calibre rifle and her condition, for several weeks, was serious. Mrs Hoimfes is much younger than her husband, Evidence was given by her that they had lived happily enough together, but latterly Holmes had suspected infidelity on her part, quite without justification. He hud been a bit queer, taut he had never threatened violence to himself or her. Ho complained of being unable to sleep, and 'told her some time before the shooting that he had not slept for weeks. They slept in dilleient rooms. She had been able to prove absolutely to Holmes that he was wrong in his suspicions, but that did not alter his attitude. He was under delusions witness could not shake. Holmes reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at a sitting of the Supreme Court to be held in Oamaru on February. 4. A charge of attempted suicide preferred against the accused was withdrawn by the police.