ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 7223, 11 April 1885, Page 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

A MONSTROUS CRIME, (Lyttelton Times)

A shocking attempt at murder was mads on Wednesday night, in the neighbourhood of Lauren stroct, Timaru, on the outskirts of the town. Although the affair caused great exoitetnsnt in the vicinity, very little war gene* rally known about it until^ yesterday. It appears that a Mra Lucas, wife of a man employed in the harbour, was confined of her first child about 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and an hour or two later Lucas threatened to kill her. As he had been in the habit of ill-treating her, no special importance was attached to this threat, but the uuiße took the precaution to hide his razors and the knives. Later on ho re-entered the house and took away such money as there was, with wbich he went down town. About a quarter to 10 he returned, and entering the bedroom, locked the door, and, advancing to the bedside, informed his wife that he was going to kill her, and would do it in such a way aa to cause instant death. Having vainly searched for a razor, he drew his pocket-knife, and going to the head of the bed tried to Blab her in the neck near the spinal cord. She put put up a hand to ward off the blow, and in consequence her fingers wore dreadfully hacked. He then stabbed her several times about the nock, Terrified at his action, tho poor woman, with the temporary strength of despair, got out of bed, and the door having somehow been opened, she got outside. Meantime, tho monster threatened to do for the nurse also, but she got away, and, favoured by the darkness, the pair escaped. They ran along the street screaming " Murder I" On reaching the house of a neighbour who had been aroused by the noise the poor creature fell fainting at the door. The man opened the door, and, instantly picking the woman up, conveyed her to a bed in an inner room, and locked his door to prevent the brutal assailant from bursting it in, in pursuit. He then directed his son to mount his horse and go for the doctor and the police. Dr M'lntyre and a body of police were soon in attendance, and tho woman, whose deplorable condition may be bettor imagined than described, was at once attended to.' Tho doctor then, accompanied by the police, went over to the woman's house to see what had become of tbo baby, which, in her flight, she had left in the bed. To their surprise, the infant was found to be uninjured. Search was then made for the scoundrel who bad committed this unnatural outrage. He had hidden himself in some willows, and was not found until 2 o'clock in the morning, when he was at once secured. He was brought up at the Police Court at 11 o'clock, and remanded to April 18, when the magisterial examination will take place. The affair created a profound sensation when it became known, and the utmost sympathy is expressed for the poor wife, who lies in a most precarious state, The pair have been married six years, and their first child was the one born yesterday. The man is of forbidding appearance, and has been known to ill treat his wife, who has always been looked upon as a thoroughly respectable, inoffensive young woman.