HUSBAND IN- COURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19858, 31 January 1928, Page 11

HUSBAND IN- COURT.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE INEBRIATE AND POISON. DISMISSAL BY MAGISTRATE. i. [BY TETjEGBAtiT —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GREYMOUTH, Monday. Charges of attempting to murder his wife by poisoning, of attempting suicide, and of attempting to cause annoyance and injury to Irene Margaret Bernhard and Elizabeth Ruane, by administering poison, were preferred against Francis Joseph Ruane, who appeared in the Magistrate's Court 'to-day. Accused pleaded guilty to tho charge of attempting suicide. Accused's wife gave evidence that her husband,' when intoxicated, placed the poison in two cups just when tea was being prepared. He also took a teaspoonful himself.. The Government analyst's report showed that th-> quantity of poison placed in the eups was not sufficient to cause death. The magistrate held that a jury would not convict on the attempted murder charge in view of the quantity of poison being much less than would prove fatal. Therefore he dismissed that charge. On the other charges accused was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon, to report each month to the police and to take put a prohibition order.