HUSBAND IN DOCK

Northern Advocate, 4 November 1931, Page 9

HUSBAND IN DOCK

CHARGE OF WILFUL MURDER.

DEATH OF MRS L. A. SMITH.

(Special to “Northern Advocate/') HAMILTON, This Day,

Details of the tragedy which occurred in the residence at 23, Liverpool Street* Hamilton, just before midnight on Saturday,. October 3, ware heard in the Magistrate’s Court today before Mr Wyvexn.Wilson, S.M., when Arthur Walter Smith, aged 50, a painter, was charged with the wilful murder of his wife, Lois! Alexandra Smith, aged 29.

The court was crowded. It is understood that 19 witnesses have been subpoenaed to give evidence. Exhibits in Court were clothing worn by both Smith and-his wife on-the night •of the tragedy, a pocket knife and a series of photographs of the scene taken by the police. Smith, who was represented by counsel, appeared in court with his throat bandaged. While still pale and sickly, ho seemed much stronger and in better health than when ho was first charged eight days ago. He walked slowly to the dock without assistance, but with apparent difficulty. On the application of his solicitor, he was permitted to sit. Dr. A. O. Waddell, the first witness, stated that shortly before midnight on October 3 he was .called by telephone by a girl who gave her name as Phyllis Smith. She asked him to hurry to 23, Liverpool Street, as “father was spitting blood.” Witness want immediately to the house, Phyllis Smith meeting him on the footpath. She said she did not know w r hat was wrong. ’Witness entered the house by the front door, which was open, and by the light of the hall lamp he saw prisoner at the bedroom door. He was in pyjamas and wore slippers. The pyjamas were covered with blood, and he was wiping blood from his hands with a handkerchief. Witness then noticed Mrs Smith lying on her side on the flooi dead, with her knees huddled up.

The Crown Prosecutor: “Bid Smith say anything to you?" "Witness asked the Magistrate’s rub ing as to whether he w T as required to state what Smith had told him, in view of the fact that he had attended Smith in a professional capacity. The Magistrate: “I think you must tell us what Smith told you'if he made a statement."

Witness said Smith put out his hand in the direction of his wife and muttered, “She’s all right, she’s all right.” Witness said Smith was bleeding from the throat and was spitting blood. He took Smith into the kitchen and bandaged his throat. He also directed Phyllis to ring for an ambulance and the police. Witness then returned to the bedroom, wiicre there was a baby crying in a cot neat accused’s bed. Witness had the baby removed, but did not disturb the room otherwise. Ho then again attended to Smith, and while doing so Smith said he had been up north working for about seven weeks. He said he wmuld not have his children disgraced by their mother |iaving relations with other men. lie said he saw his wife meet another man and go off with him in a bus. The Crow’n Prosecutor: “Did he say on what night he had seen his wife meet another man?” Witness: “I cannot be certain, but I think ho said that night.” “Did he mention the name of the man whom his wife was supposed to I

have met?” —“Yes, ho said lie;, was

In company with Constable Eraser, who had by this time arrived, witness said he made an examination o£’Mrs. Smith. He then described to the-court the wounds in her throat, and tho bloodstains about the room. On top of the dressing table witness found a blood-stained t jack-knife. One pillow on the bed was stained with blood, and the other was on the floor. Mrs. Smith w;as in her night attire. As witness assisted Smith out to the prisoner remarked: “She went too far. She went too far.”

Witness said .that, with, Dr. Fraser,, ho conducted a post-mortem examination of the body of .Mrs. Smith. There were several wounds in the body. Tho left lung had been pierced from ■ the back, and there was a wound in the cheek, and several wounds’ f ifl‘”tj]a throat. . The cause. of the death haemorrhage due to the severance* of the jugular vein. '

Constable E. D. Fraser, the'''first police officer to arrive on the scene, said that on entering the kitchenette l:e found Smith sitting on a low stool, with his elbows resting on his knees and his head on his hands. His pyjamas were blood-stained, and he was bandaged about the throat. As witness assisted him to the ambulance, Smith remarked: “She went too far.” There were no signs bf idrink on him, and he appeared quite 'calm. There was a large pool of blood near the bed, also on the" floor towards the kitchenette. Blood- also lay upon the sheets and upon one of the pillows. There w-ero no signs of a struggle. In the pocket of a pair of trousers • witness found a letter signed by _Smith. The letter, dated October 3, read as follows: — ‘‘ I saw r Lois meet a man in front of Courtney's house at 8 o'clock tonight They got into a bus. The man’s name was , He comes from To Kbiti,- and 'they went off to a party. Rite came home at ten to eleven. L asked her if she had had supper, and she snapped Cruelly at mo and said, 'No.’ I asked her if sho would like some supper, and’ fehe. never . answered, .but went on. reading. I made some fresh tea* but she went on reading, and nevef said a word to me. It was hard after all the sacrifices I have made for her.’’

Witness said that in the •will, which was legally phrased, Smith' bequeathed all his possessions to his spinster sister in Christchurch, to be held in ■trust for his children. The will was dated October and while it. was signed by Smith it was not witnessed, In the pocket of a coat witness found Smith’s diary, In which were a num* ; lor of entries relating to his wife., ' When witness charged Smith with murder at the Waikato hospital later he made no ansrver. That morning, in the court, prisoner had handed to fritness a statement. Thisj with ekttacts-' from his diary, and certain letters by Smith, were handed to the magUtfata, but were not read.' (Proceeding.)