MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON WIFE

Thames Star, Volume LII, Issue 13819, 8 October 1918, Page 2

MURDEROUS ASSAULT ON WIFE

Sensational Occurrence

AUCKLAND. October 8. A sensational O'courrwice ait AlfYistotv early yesterday morning led to the aanrest of a farm worker name<i Johai Arnold on; a. charge of attemptiingi to murder his wife. Arnold with his wife and six childinan lived in -a''large house in the centre of the township; The wife's father, Hanson., was 6taying with. them. On Sunday wight they entertained some friends, eveirything passing off pleasantly. After mddnigiit flansch. and the younger children; were aroused by Mra Arnold's screaotns. Hansoh rushed ta the room, asking what was the matter. Arnold pushed him out \and looked the door. Hansth then rushed out for assistance. \ As he returned with a. neighbour they saw the ihousa burst into flames, which were so nesrco by the time they reached the building that they weirei unable to: enter. The ohildreoi escaped under the guidance of the eldest girl.Mrsi Arnold subsequen.tly stated that her 1 husband quarrelled with, her in vhe bedroom and then attacked her with a stick, with which he Beat her head. *He then bound her by the anikles and wrtste to the l»ed posts. During the struggle she collapsed, and Arnold said, "Now your dead Til fire the house." This he did. Mrs Arnold .recovered and worked her hands free and put fhe fires out. Her husband observing this attacked her again, making five savage assaults in all. ' According to heir account he finally left her for dead. On recovering consciousness again Mrs Arnold crawled' out) of house across rough, swampy ground to her mother's residence a miilei away.

She was then in & terrible sibate, being weak from loss of blood. The house was burned w> tihe ground. ■ Arnold waa arrested later in a dazed state. The wife's condition last evening was low.—Press AssaciaSiotti).