STABBING INCIDENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26709, 2 March 1948, Page 6

STABBING INCIDENT

YOUNG MAN ON TRIAL ALTERNATIVE CHARGES

PA AUCKLAND, Mar. 1. Arising out of a stabbing incident in Symons street on the evening of December 3, Edward George i Thomas Brold a«ed 21, a baker’s labourer, stood his trial before Mr Justice Calllan to-day on two charges. Thefirstwas of attempting to murder Frederick George Streeton and the second an alternative charge of wounding Streeton with intent to do him grievous who conducted the prosecution, said that about a couple of weeks before the stabbing, Streeton was introduced to accused s wife as “Betty” in the lounge of an hotel and he went out swimming with her and to the pictures and dances, ine accused gave her permission to go to a bach at Long Bay with Streeton jon the understanding that Streeton s parents would be there. On the night of December 3 the accused saw bis wife and Streeton talking together in Symonds street. He returned to the house for a sheath knife, approached the couple and after a few words with Streeton stabbed him in the left breast. Streeton gered into the passage-way of a house and collapsed. In a statement to the police the accused said he was very wild when he saw Streeton on December 3 and went and got the sheath

knife, “a good sharp one in good • order.” He did not give “Freddy much chance and stabbed him very quickly. He left the knife sticking in him and took his wife inside. He had not intended to use the knife but just to frighten “Freddy.” , . , A single man, aged 22, Frederick George Streeton, a butcher, said he met Mrs Broad by arrangement outside her lodgings about 9 p.m. on December 3. She wanted him to meet her husband, but he told her he was finished and had decided to leave. Until that time he thought she was living by herself. The accused approached them and asked witness what his intentions were as far as “ Betty ” was concerned. Witness said he was finished and was going. Witness then described the stabbing. In cross-examination, witness said that “Betty” had given him to understand she was living apart from her husband. He denied that he had ever been intimate with her. Dr R. R. Talbot described Streeton’s condition on admission to the casualty ward as “ desperately ill and almost dead from loss of blood.” He responded slowly to a blood transfusion. His Honor expressed a desire to know who was the officer who was wide awake enough to realise the position and immediately order the transfusion, thus saving this mans life. Witness said it. was the house sur- ■ geon. Dr Hayes. The aecused, in evidence, said that 1 after his wife met Streeton she showed ; no sign of affection for him and shortly | before December 3 she told him she : was going to leave him; He detailed a brief conservation he had with Streeton on the evening of December i 3 and added: “ The next thing I knew ; was my knife was sticking into him.” ; The wife of the accused, Lola Mar- i garet Broad, said that on the evening : of December 3 she wanted to tell : Streeton she had finished with him and to tell him so in the presence of her husband. The hearing was adjourned.