STRUGGLE IN A FLAT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15551, 7 March 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRUGGLE IN A FLAT.

WOMAN WOUNDS HER LOVER.

JEALOUS OF ANOTHER.

Looking so weak and ill that she was allowed to have a seat in the dock. Julia Decies, a well-dressed, attractive-looking •woman of 26, described as of independent, means, was again brought up at West London recently, charged with having attempted to murder Basil Piffard by shootins him and cutting his threat with a ■knife.

A servant employed by Decies. said up till four months ago they lived at Kew. Decies was known as Mrs. Giffard, and the man went as both Giffard and Piffard. About a fortnight after Decies moved to West Kensington Piffard called, and after that came nearly every week-end.

Decies often told her Piflard used to taunt her about some other girl. She also said he used to live on her when he had no money, and made another allegation against Piffard. She seemed very despondent.

Witness was shown a revolver, and said '•lie had not seen it until it was shown to her on the night of the affair. On tha'. occasion Decies and Piffard, who appeared friendly, went out, and she went to bed before thev returned.

"About three o'clock in the morning," said the girl, " I was awakened by the smashing of glass. I was afraid to go down. Then I heard a knocking at my door, and went out into the kitchen. I switched on the light. They were both by the dresser, Mr. Piffard was holding Decies down, and he handed me a revolver. They were both covered with blood. Piffard. witness continued, asked her to take the revolver, and she put it outside the door. When she returned her was still holding Decies down, and she was very quiet. She had a knife (an ordinary table knife).

Witness tried to get it away, but Decies put it behind her back. Mitchell went for a doctor, and when he came he told her to go for the police, and she did so. When Piffard handed her the ■ revolver, he said, " She tried to shoot me." Wounded Man Locked in Room. Dr. J. T. Armstrong said in the kitchen he found Piffard kneeling and holding Decies by the wrists. Both were covered with blood. The man said, This woman has shot me." and added that he was afraid to let her go. The doctor was beginning to attend to her, when Piffard said, " There is nothing the matter with her. lam the injured person." He had a wound behind his left eye, and his throat was cut. His mouth was also cut on the right side. He had cuts on his fingers, but they were of a superficial nature.

The doctor stopped the bleeding from the wounds, and then locked Piffard in another room. Then he asked Decies why she did it, and she replied that Piffard had been very unkind to her, and had made her life miserab'a, and that he had hit her on the head.'

Constable Winchcombe said he asked Decies the cause of the trouble, and she declared that Piffard had left her. "He came back about a fortnight ago," she went on, " and then told me he was going to stay with another young lady, and taunted me. I lost my temper and shot him. I meant to do it for him, but the thing went wrong. I cut him with a knife, and he struck me on the head. I was happy until he came back this time. Then my temper got the upper hand of me, so I must put up with the consequences." Continuing, the constable Raid that in the scullery he found an automatic pistol with four live cartridges in it, and he also took possession of two knives which were covered with blood. The firing pin of the pistol was bent, and would not act. Two panes in the kitchen window and a glass panel on the door were broken. Buying the Pistol. A detective said that on January 15 lie saw Decies at the rear of the court. She said, " I can tell you where I got the revolver. I got it'in another name at a shop at the corner of a street at Charing Cross. I gave the name of Bowden in the shop." Witness afterwards went to her flat, and found a spent cartridge in the frout bed room near a window. This *as the second spent cartridge which was found. In the same room he found a letter addressed to .Mrs. Decies, which had been opened. The letter was as follows: — Dear Ju, have got a box at the Criterion Theatre to-morrow, and will come round and dress at your place. Hope you got your keys all right.—Yours in haste, B."

Decies was remanded for seven days. It was stated that Piffard was improving slowly, and that the doctors had succeeded in extracting the bullet.