CHASED WITH REVOLVER

Taranaki Daily News, 9 July 1929, Page 11

CHASED WITH REVOLVER

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE SEQUEL TO NORTHCOTE INCIDENT. CRIMINAL ASSAULT CASE LAPSES By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A sequel to an incident at Northcote on June 28 occurred in the Police Court to-day when a charge of criminal assault preferred against Jerko Didovich, a Dalmation aged 39, was withdrawn. Evidence was heard on a charge of attempted murder against Robert Francis Maddox, aged 28, and accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. When Didovich appeared Chief-Detec-tive Hammond said Mrs. Maddox had made a complaint to the police that Didovich assaulted her. Since then certain letters had been found which Mrs. Maddox admitted she had written to Didovich. She also admited that the statement she made against Didovich was false. In consequence the police would offer no evidence on the charge against Didovich. Counsel Said Didovich had done everything possible to protect the good name of Mrs. Maddox.

The charge was withdrawn and thi» charge against Maddox was then proceeded with. Jerko Didovich said he resided close to Maddox’s house at Northcote and worked in the same quarry as Maddox. On Friday morning witness was mending a puncture in the tyre of his cycle. Maddox having proceeded to work, Mrs. Maddox brought her husband’s working trousers to witness as Maddox had forgotten to take them. Didovich returned from the city about 9.30 p.m. to find a note requesting he should call on Maddox.

Mrs. Maddox answered when he knocked at the door of the house, accused being close behind her. Maddox said: “You don’t sign this paper, you will die.” Maddox then put his hand in his pocket and produced a revolver. Didovich ran back to his house.

Later Didovich heard someone open tho outside door of his house so he placed himself behind the door of his room, keeping the door closed. Maddox called to him: “If you don’t sign this paper you will die; I will give you a few seconds.” Maddox then tried to open the door but Didovich leaped out of the window and ran toward Takapuna, where he stayed the night.

He had not been told what was in the paper he was to sign. He did not hear any shots fired. He had been very friendly with Maddox and his wife. Detective Knight said he found an automatic pistol behind the front door of Maddox’s house. In the breech of the pistol was a ball cartridge which had not been discharged but which bore the identation of the striking pin of the pistol. The spring of the pistol was weak and the mechanism filled with grease, this probably being the reason why the cartridge failed to explode. There were a shotgun and two rifles in the house, one being loaded. In a statement to the police Maddox had said that after tea he questioned his wife and she made certain allegations against Didovich. Ho then became very excited and loaded the pistol, intending to kill Didovich. When Didovich called at his house he pointed the pistol at him and fired but tho cartridge did not explode. Running after Didovich he fired several cartridges but none would explode. At this stage counsel submitted that the justices should consider whether a prima facie case had been made out and whether in view of the circumstances a jury would convict accused. Maddox, he said, had been living in an ideal home with his wife when a statement was made to him which threw him off his balance. During that time he attempted to take the law into his own hands.

After consideration the justices held that a prima facie case had been established. A plea of not guilty was entered and accused was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail at £4OO was renewed.