A WELLINGTON SENSATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13235, 21 July 1906, Page 5

A WELLINGTON SENSATION

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTING TO MURDER. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [by TELEGRAPH.—- ASSOCIATION.] !■-.-■ /•' ■ "v Wellington, Friday. At the Magistrate's Court to-day, Carl Max Mielsch, a German, and a wharf labourer by occupation, was charged, with attempting to murder ' his wife Maria Mielsch, on June 23... A gruesome exhibit in Court was a full-sized axe, with jagged edge, the one prisoner was alleged to have attacked his wife with. The prisoner and the woman had been living apart, and three weeks before this alleged offence was committer Mielsch was convicted of biting . his 'Wife's nose.

Mrs. Millsch, who was obviously in' a very weak state, said .in evidence that she was with prisoner at his lodgings in Cuba-street on the night of June 23, and that he seized her by the arm, dragged her but into the yard, and struck her on the head with an axe.:

Dr. Hogg stated. that .he was called to Rasmussen's house, in Cuba-street, on Saturday evening, June 23, between" half-past eight and nine o'clock. He found Mrs. MieLsch suffering from! a large wound on the light side of the head, about 4in long, and penetrating the Skull. V: There was also a, smaller scalp wound running down and forward from the end of the larger wound. The second wound was from an inch to an inch and a-lialf long. Both wounds might have been caused by an axe such as that' produced. The blow must have been a particularly heavy one to have penetrated the skull. The woman was dazed, but conscious, and able to answer questions. Witness ordered her removal to the hospital. The wound was dangerous to life.

.Br. Robertson; medical officer in charge of the hospital, gave similar evidence as to the woman's injuries. Mrs. Mielsch had been in the hospital until the previous day.. For the first two or three days she was in a critical condition.

Chief-Detective McGrath: I suppose the wound might have caused death?

Witness: I cannot understand how it didn't. .■:,;.: ■

Other evidence was tendered concerning Miclsch's movements on the night of the assault, and his attempt to take his life when arrested. . '.'",',,'•

Mielsch was committed for trial.