THE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13456, 8 April 1907, Page 6

THE ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A SORDID CHRISTCHURCH

STORY.

JEALOUSY AS A MOTIVE.

[BY TELEGRAPH.PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

CHRISTCHURCH, Saturday. Further particulars of the alleged attempted murder and suicide at Christchurch, show that the incident occurred at half-past ten last night, when Smithers, on saying good-bye to Mrs. Jackson is alleged to have brutally attacked her, and after pursuing her down Antigua-street to the South Belt, overtook her, and inflicted a jagged wound across her throat with a razor, after which ho attempted to commit suicide with the same weapon.

The occurrence attracted the attention of several persons in the vicinity, and the police were telephoned for. When they arrived, the man and woman, both in a collapsed condition, were taken to the hospital.

On Thursday evening Mrs. Jackson sent a complaint to the police that Smithers was annoying her. On this information Smithers was arrested, but, on being brought to the watch-house, was released, as no charge was laid.

Smithers accompanied Mrs. Jackson to the gate of her residence and there she said " good-bye," as she intended to sever her intimacy with him.

Then, it is stated, lie knocked her down, and produced a razor, and after chasing her as far as Moorhouse Avenue, made an attack upon her with the weapon'.

The woman's wound is- a deep, jagged cut on the left side of the neck, Sin long. She did not lose consciousness on the way to the hospital, but appeared to be sinking during the taking of her depositions.

Smithers inflicted three cuts on his own throat, but none were very severe, though he bled a great deal. He is said to have been under the influence of liquor.

When it was reported that the woman was in a dying condition, her depositions were taken in the presence of the accused, who was charged with attempted murder.

Mrs'. Jackson said : "My lawful name is Nellie Jackson. I knew the accused by the name of Jas. Smithers. I am a married woman, but don't know whether my husband is alive or dead. I belong to Melbourne, but have been in New Zealand for some time. I have been living with the accused as his wife since August last, in Christchurch, but wo separated. Igo out to work by the day. The accused does no work. He has waylaid me in the street, and has come round to where I live, in Antigua-street. He used to come round and annoy me. We went to Sumner this evening and returned to Christchurch just as th© hotels were closing. I said, "good night" to the accused at the Crown Hotel. He knocked me down on the footpath, near the Crown Hotel. He struck me with his fist first, and then held mo on the footpath, and started to cut my throat with a razor. He said that ho was going to settle me and that he would die with me. I then saw accused fall on his back on the footpath. My present injuries were inflicted by him. No one was present. 1 think he was jealous of me. We had no row previously."

It has been ascertained that there were two witnesses of the assault, and one arrived in time to pull Smithers away from the woman. A young man named McCaw states that he saw Smithers chasing the woman, and his statement is substantiated by the discovery of blood marks on the road as fur out as the tram line.

The actual assault seems to have occurred opposite the Crown Hotel where heavy bloodstains -were discernible this morning, and the spot was visited by many curious persons, mostly young women and girls.

Detective Gibson spoke to Smithers, who was sitting in the gutter. On the arrival of the police Smithers said:' "It's all the fault of ," a name that was not distinguishable.

The motive is supposed to be one of jealousy.