ASSAULT WITH AN AXE

NZ Truth, Issue 847, 18 February 1922, Page 5

ASSAULT WITH AN AXE

ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER

Supposed, Jealousy Between .' Brother

and Stepbrother,

i * , (From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) News of a serious, affair that had happened at Kur.i Bush, a district not far from- Brighton; outside Dunedin, fetched the police to the scene, and one, Joseph Switalla, was arrested by Detectives Beer and- Southgate, It appears that, while m an intoxicated condition, Joseph Switalla took up an axe and struck his step-brother, Jacob Switalla, with it on the head and shoulders. Jacob's injuries are serious. On Saturday last accused appeared m Court. Chief Detective Bishop applied for) a rcriiand, which was granted. On Monday last Switalla was charged at the Police Court with attempting to murder his stepbrother, Jacob Switalla. It was stated by the latter that on December 24 he was lying on a couch m his stepmother's house, at Allan ton. Accused came m under the influence .of liquor. The next thing witness realised, was being struck three- or 'four blows on the head with something, j As he rose he. was struck on the back of ' the neck. He. got to his feet and .-'.-' ; SAW ACCUSED WITH AN : AXE. Accused later went to' ' strike him again, but his stepmother, interfered.; Witness' went outside arid accused followed and struck him on the head with a rail. There had been mo previous ill-feeling. He thought accused was jealous because he was getting' on better with his stepmother; accused's mother. ..-:'; , Accused was committed for trial. He reserved his defence.