FRACTIOUS FRASER

NZ Truth, Issue 701, 23 November 1918, Page 5

FRACTIOUS FRASER

Makes Brutal Assault on His Wife Attempts to Lay-out "John Hop" 1 With a Spade. (From "Truth's" Dunediri Rep.) A scene of violence at 825 Cumber-land-street on Saturday afternoon last was the cause of a middle-aged and not very formidable-looking man named John Fraser appearing before Mag--lstrate Bartholomew, charged with assaulting his wife. There was also a second -charge of assaulting Frederick John Heise,- a police constable, m the execution of his duty. Lawyer C. J. L. White appeared for Fraser, and Sub-Inspector Mafchieson prosecuted. Dr. De Lalour said that on Saturday about 6 o'clock he was called to see Mrs. Fraser m Cumberland-street. He was not able to so till Sunday, when 1. °^ nd a WOUfld under the right ey«, which roust have been caused by some blunt Instrument, Sub-Inepeetor Mathteson! Would a SI? mfghf -***■ the ■*»«• * f * Sarah Niyen Fraser, rrlte at the acU^ 1 i v i ne &t m Cumberland-^., said that her husband came home at 4 p.m. on Saturday, slightly under th« influence, She asked him if he had takon a lOjs note out of her box. Fraaer did not reply, and she said he would have to give it her, as she wan keeping it to help pay the rent. He said "I WILL SEE YOU IN FIRST,' 1 He then struck her on the side of th« head, so that she fell against the window She tried to get into the kitchen, but he caught her and got her down between the boiler and the tubs, and mined blows upon her face. She got clear, and went to Mrs. Mitchell's. Later, a doctor and the polite weV© sent for. She could not say VhetheV the wound was inflicted with his flst or an instrument—she did not see anything m his hand. At 5.15 p.m. Constable Heise arrived, and got into tha house. Mrs. Fraser was making her complaint to the constable, when accused appeared m the doorway with a spade held up and m the act of bringing this down on the head of the constable, who had his back turned. Witness's daughter called out, "Look out!" and the constable evaded m time, the spade merely grazing his arm.' The two closed, and the constable secured the spade. Witness's son now arrived and took the spade at the constable's request. Pie also assisted the constable to handcuff his father. When Fraser came into the room after , inflicting the injuries on her he said he was proud of, what he had done— she was looking for it, and got it. He declared that he would murder the lot of them. Mrs. Fraser added that she had brought up 13 children, and had always had trouble with her husband. She had taken out a separation order once, but withdrew it. To Mr. White. He was not very drunk. He came home at 12 o'clock for lunch. After lunch he said he had left money m the box. She went and found he had left £2, and she said:! "Jack, you can't keep anything out this week!" adding that she could not carry on like this, and if he took any he might AS WELL TAKE THE LOT. He did take the lot. As 4 far as sha. knew, accused did not use anything but his fist. Accused was mad when he got drink. Rhoda Fraser said she found her mother at Mrs. Mitchell's, and her face was covered with blood. Witness took her home and put her to bed. Her father tried to prevent her, and witness went for the police, and secured tlia services of Constable Heise. The latter went into her mother's room, and was standing with his back to tfea door when her father appeared with a spade m his hand, which he had raised and was m the act of bringing: down full weight over the constable's head. Witness called out: "He'll hit yoiitfl Look out." The constable moved, and the spade graced his shoulder. James Frazer, accused's son, also, narrated the part he took m the affair. Ho stated that on one occasion accused, when "he had had a booze," said he would do for witness's mother and sister. Constable Heise said that .he accompanied the witness, Rhoda Fraser, to the house, and she preceded him into the premises. Witness met the accused m the kitchen, and said: "Why have you assaulted your wife?" Accused said: "I'LL -; WELL FIX. YOU!" - and tried to put witness out. Witness pushed him aside and went into the wife's room. He was standing at the foot of the bed, with his back to the door, when Rhoda Fraser called out: Turning, witness saw the accused with the spade over his head. Witness drew back, and then rushed m, putting up his left arm to guard the blow. The blade just missed his head, and the handle struck his elbow. ' They closed, and James .Fraser, coming 1 on the scene, took away the. spade at witness's request. Witness now threw acoused, and James helped to handcuff him. In witness's presence, after being handcuffed, he saicl to his wife: "I will well murder the lot of you when this is over." Witness did not get the idea that accused was drunk. Plain -clothes Constable Kelly said he was watchhouse-keeper, and received accused at 5.50 p.m. Witness could see he had had a drink or two, but hd was certainly not drunk. Accused, reserved his defence, plead-: cd. not guilty.' and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Mr. White applied for bail. Sub -Inspector Mathieson opposed the application. He said accused had mads threats that he would murder his family, and had made a serious attempt on his wife. The Magistrate said accused was bailable as of right on either charge. It was pbyious that he should not t»» brought into contact with his wife. On the charge of assaulting his wife ball would be fixed, self m £200, and two sureties of £ 100 each, and on the other charge his own bond of £ 60 N would suffice; a condition would be that he did not molest his wife.