A PAINFUL CASE.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2736, 28 December 1881, Page 2

A PAINFUL CASE.

The Hamilton correspondent of the Auckland “ Herald” tells the following story: —A very painful case arising from jealousy has occurred near Hamilton. A man named Alexander Smith, living on the Fiako road, just below Captain Steele’s, has for some little time past been living unhappily with his wife, the mother of eleven children. About a month ago he behaved so roughly to her that she had to leave her house, and take refuge in that of a neighbor. Smith came after her, bringing with him a piece of flax, with which he said he intended to hang her. They were, however, reconciled again by the interference of friends, and she returned to bis house. On Wednesday night last Smith and his wife, with their infant child, went to bed, when he became angry with her for suckling the baby, and asked her how long she was going to be doing so, and immediately on her putting the infant down, drew a piece of thin rope from under the pillow with a noose ready prepared, and getting it over her head, made a determined attempt to strangle her. A desperate struggle ensued, in which the woman succeeded in getting free from the rope, and snatching up her baby fled from the house, leaving four other children—the rest are at service in different parts of the district —behind her. Some friends gave her shelter, but on Saturday night Smith having turned the four children out of the house, the matter was communicated to the sergeant of police here, and Smith was arrested, and will be brought up to day. It is thought that he is a littfe bit touched in the head, and rendered worse by recent drinking; but now that that he is in custody seems perfectly sane and in his right mind.