TRIED TO KILL WIFE.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1924, Page 6

TRIED TO KILL WIFE.

CONTRACTOR FOUND GUILTY. S>MAN PUSHED OVER CLIFF. TO BE SENTENCED TO-DAY. ®y Telegraph—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. John Edward Jeffreys, aged 31, a shingle cartage contractor, of Southbrook, was found guilty in the Supreme Court to-day, of the attempted murder of his vFife by pushing her over a cliff on July 27 and causing her to fall 88 feet. He was remanded for sentence till to-morrow. On the day in question accused, his brother, and two Maoris, accompanied by Mrs. Jeffreys and two children, went pigshooting at Glentui in the Ashley Gorge. The woman and children stayed in the car till th© party returned in the / afternoon for refreshments.

Subsequently the others went down the gully and accused, his wife and a boy walked along the top of a cliff. Accused, it was said, disengaged the boy’s hand from his mother’s, and pushed her over the cliff.

The Crown said that Jeffreys was ten years younger than his wife and there had been domestic unhappiness, Jeffreys having his meals apart. After being picked up in the gorge the woman said: “Jack, you did this,” and Jeffreys answered: “My God, if you say that I’ll get six months.” Her story was a plain indication that prisoner was a desperate, cowardly and wicked man. Detective Pickerdike gave evidence that in a statement Jeffreys said: “This trouble has been brought about by domestic trouble and through my marrying a woman older than myself.” He then wrote out a statement in which he admitted giving his wife a push, which sent her over the cliff.

Mrs. Jeffreys gave evidence that, after th? Maoris in the party had gone away, her husband and she went towards the cliff. There he took the little boy’s hand out of hers and his own hand went out and pushed her over. Her husband said something when h e pushed her over, but she did not know what. For six years her husband had not had many meals at home.

Henry Teuki, labourer, said Mrs. Jeffreys remarked to him that she did not know how the accident happened. Jeffreys said that the bank had given away. No evidence was called for the defence.