STRUCK WITH IRON BAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19061, 4 July 1925, Page 14

STRUCK WITH IRON BAR

serious Assault on wife. - • ii 'Ay jV - - OTHER CHARGES ADMITTED. —i NINE MONTHS IN PRISON. A charge of striking his wife with » bar of iron was admitted by Herbert William Steven? Pearson, aged 48 (Mr. Tipping), in the Police Court yesterday, before Mr. J. W. Poynton, S.M. He pleaded gnilty to breach of the terms of probation, and not guilty to theft of an overcoat valued at £5 acfl articles of clothing valued at £7 15a from Elizabeth Burt. Accused's wife said she kept a fruit shop in New North Road. Early one morning she was passing through the centre door leading from the shop Ho the kitchen at the back, when someone struck her on the head with a heavy object. She was dazed, and when she recovered sufficiently she found her husband striking her in the face. He then disappeared through the back door- A curved bar of iron was later found, and it was with this that the blows had been struck. She rememberod receiving only one blow, but more must have been made, as there were three large marks on her head and a cut which required to have stitches. Her husband had threatened her before, declaring he would "do for her before long." Several days after the assault, said Detective Meiklejohn, the accused called at the police station and asked whether he was "wanted." He was in a very weak condition and appeared far from well. He admitted the theft of clothing. Pearson said he was very upset at the time, having just come out of hospital. He visited his wife at the shop and after speaking to him she kicked him and then threw a piece of iron at him. He then picked it up himseli and struck her. In reply to Chief-Detective Cumminga, accused admitted he had been convicted for theft at Wanganni and had been admitted to probation for theft at HamiltofJ, "He cannot now pose as an injured man after practically attempting to murder the woman," the magistrate said. "It is fortunate she is not dead. No moderation should be extended to a man who does that,"

Evidence on the theft charges was Riven by Elizabeth Burt, who said she first met accused at the Public Hospital, where he occupied the bed next to her late husband. When Pearson was about to he discharged last April he asked if witness would take him in. She agreed to do so, as he was in need of care and attention. The articles stolen by him belpnged to her husbaud and had been lent to him.

On the charge of assault accused was sentenced to six months' imprisonment, and for breach of his probatioa to three months, the sentences to be cumulative.

At a later stage Mr. Tipping isaid accused now desired to plead guilty to the other charges and to be dealib with summarily. "It wan rather a mean theft to take the clothes of a poor woman who had befriended him ar,d to do away with them," Mr. Poynton said. A terns of imprisonment would have to be imposed as a warning to others. On each charge a sentence of six months' imprisonment was imposed, the terms to be concurrent .with those already inflicted.