A DASTARDLY DEED

NZ Truth, Issue 915, 9 June 1923, Page 5

A DASTARDLY DEED

Man Mutilated At Methven

! The Magistrate's Court at Ashburton was filled to overflowing the other day when the police proceeded against Thomas Brown, a drover, aged 53, on a charge of having, on May 3, assaulted William Coombs so as to cause actual bodily harm. Brown was not represented by counsel. Chief Detective Cameron, who cocducted the prosecution, told the Court that on May 3 Brown and Coombs were assisting at McGirr's. clearing sale outside Methven. Both men had had more liquor than was good for them and at the . noneiusion of the sale Brown suggested that he should drive Coombs m the gig back to Methven. Combs assented, and after entering the Methven township Brown drove into a back street and stopped the gig: He then seized Coombs, and while the man screamed and begged for mercy Brown seriously lacerated him with a knife m a moat painful part of the body. He then bundled his victim out of the gig and let him lay at the roadside. Coombs cried, "I will bleed to death 1" to which Brown replied, "Yes, you — — , you can bleed to death'!" He thereupon drove away and left Coombs, who lay all night. When arrested, Brown had a knife In his possession, and there was BLOOD IN THE GIG where Coombs had been sitting. William Coombs, a gardener, 58 years of age, told the Court that he had worked for four yeara on McGirr's farm, where the clearing sale was held. Witness and acoused were both present at the sale, ana although witness admitted that he had- had some liquor there, he could not say whether Brown had any. .The aale.was not finished when darkness had set In. Accused then suggested that witness should ride to Methven with him m bis gig. Witness did not greatly feel the effect of liquor, and he conversed with Brown O'i the way to Metbven, On reaching the township Brown drove into a back street and stopped the horse. He then leaned, over witness and< attempted to rip his clothe.3 open. Witnes9 struggled, bi\t was overpowered, and Brown Accomplishing 1 his purpose, m I flicte.d two wounds on witness with a knife. Cpombs screamed "Murder!" and also pleaded, "For God's sake don't ' murder me!" Accused, however, threw him out of the gig on to the road after slashing him, and when witness said, "I mfeht bleed to death," accused replied,*' You Y.ou can bleed to I death. Witness lapsed into unconsciousness and lay out all night Next day a little boy saw him and witness asked for a drink of water, but the boy did not bring It. On regaining consciousness witness found his clothes clotted with blood where they had been pulled open. He was suffering agonising pain, but managed to .walk to the township,. where he obtained a drink of water, ,He then met a friend, who took him to the hotel and summoned a doctor, on whose orders he was taken to the hospital, Previous to the assault witness and Brown had always been V ON FRIENDLY TERMS. J In answer to questions witness said he could not write, but he could use either hand at work. When cutting dinner he always used the knife m his right hand. Sydney A. Anderson said he saw Brown and Coombs a*t McGirr's clearing sale. Coombs was drunk at 5.15 p.m., but witness did not notice Brown's condition when he and Coombs were m the gig. The morning after the sale Brown stopped witness, on the road towardß McGirr's and said, 'Somebody has hurt old Bill, the gardener, and I'm getting the blame for it." A lad of 14 named Scoon said he saw Coombs and Brown m the gig, the latter driving. That was about a mile and a half from Methven, and it was then dark. Henry A. Nicholls, hotel proprietor, of Methven, gave evidence of Coombs and a friend having come to the hotel on the morning of May 8. Coombs's friend asked for some brandy for a man who he said was dying. Witness advised that Coombs be taken to a doctor. Neither Brown nor Coombe were at the hotel on the evening of May 3. A 13- year-old boy named Falrbairn, stated that about 7 a,m. on May 3 ho heard Coombs, who was lying alongside of a gorse fence, calling for water. His clothing was covered with blood and he also had blood on his forehead. Witness approached him, and Coombs explained that a shocking operation had been .performed on "him. In answer to a question witness directed him to a doctor. Dr. McKee, of Mothven, gave evidence of haying -examined Coombs on May 3 at 7.45 a.m. His coat sleeves and trousers were covered with blood and ho said he reckoned he was ABOUT DONE FOR. There was a large lacerated wound and two outs on a certain part of the man's body, the injuries being such as it would be possible for at', insane man to inflict. The wounds were m the centre, whereas if they had been self-inflicted they would have been either to the left or right side, according to whether the man was left or right-handed. Coombs Was mentally alert when witness saw him, but ho was also pale, weakened and pulseless. When asked how he came by his injuries Coombs replied, "That — — Brown did it!" Witness remarked that the clothes were not cut, and Coombs replied that Brown had ripped his clothing open. Dr. Wells, medical superintendent of the Ashburton Hospital, stated that when admitted to the Institution Coombs was m an exhausted, seroicollapsed condition and showed signs of having lost a considerable quantity oC blood. The situation and severity of the wounds did not suggest that they wore self-inflicted. They could have been caused by the pocket knife produced. It was likely that Coombs might suffer PERMANENT DISABILITIES by strictures. •> ■ • John Clarke, laborer, Methven, said he met Coombs, who was his friend, on tho morning of May 3. Coombs was m a collapsed condition. Ills hands and clothing were covered with blood, and he asked for a drop of biandy. Witness took him to tho hotel and later to a doctor. Some time afterwards witness mot Brown, who said he had hoard that witness had taken Coombs to a doctor. Ho wanted to know what Coombs had said and when witness told him Brown replied "What rot," I'll tako you down to McGirr's wharo and show you blood on tho floor." Witness accompanied Brown to tho whare. where Brown pointed to three spots on the floor, which he explained wero blood spots Witness considered they were ereaso spotH and the mark of a dog's paw. Brown then wanted to see Joo McGirr, but, when he could not bo found witness and Brown went back to town. On tho way accuaod showed witness a pocket knife and aald, "That's the only knife Tve got and you can't cut a man with that." Witness replied. "You could if it was sharp enough." whereupon acquaed said, "If this case goes to Court I'm done. Brown said Coombß got out of the gig at the Methven Hotel. Constable Orchard, of Methven, said that when arrested accused said he took Coombs In the gig with him to Methv<<in and got there about dusk. He left Coombs at tho hotel and then drove home. Coombs, he said, was under the influence of liquor at tho farm. Thore wns no Bltfn of blood on accused's clothing when examined. Ho had a large slnsrle-blmlwJ pocket knife, which, ho explained, wna his tobacco knire and the only one ho possessed. When aaked to account for n cut on his left thumb necunod oald he must have cut h!m»«lf while getting things together at McOlrr'a «al«.