THE ADDINGTON MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), 20 December 1907, Page 3

THE ADDINGTON MURDER.

■ V. ""»1 ■■ WILSON BEFORE THE COURT. A PLEA OF LUNACY. Hans Wilson, who, on November 13, murdered his. write at Addington, aoid then attempted to commit suicide, was brought before Mr H, W. Bjehop> S.M., this afternoon on a charge of wilful murder. Since the crime was committed Wilson had been in th© hospital, recovering from hie eeif-innicted wounds, and when he. appeared in. Court he was apparently a physical wi'ecki and had to sit dawn., "W^son was, some time before the murder,, released from Sunnyside, where he had been committed as a lunatic on account of. his. having previously at tempted to kill his wife, and a great deal of interest has been taken in the question whether his previous committal as a lunatic affected his position when charged with the second crime. Mr T. W. Stringer, X.0., appeared for the Crown, and the case • was, conducted on behalf of the police by Detective Bishop) . The Magistrate said that the circumstances were peculiar because the' accused had been committed as a lunatic prisoner, and was subsequently allowed out for a year's probation, ,on the recommendation of the medica-l superintendent. Such a proceeding was quite irregular, not being provided j for by legislation. The. man was n.Qt j only de jure, but de facto, a lunatic still. Mr Stringer said that the Criminal , Code provided for such a, ca.se; because a man who committed a crime was to, be presumed sane till he was proved' a lunatic. Mr Bishop said that as the man was prinxa facie a lunatic the depositions should contain a history of the ca6e. Mr Stringer said that no matter how insane the man was, or whether he was committed to the asylum before or after the crime, he was still liable to be tried for the murder. His Honor : Of course, in this case it is a mere farce. Mr Stringer: Yes: but in other circumstances it might be quite other than a farce. Dr J. D. Marks stated that on November 13, at 8.15 a.m., he was called to the residence of the accused, and 6aw Mrs Wilson, who was ouite. dead, and was lying at the backndooir of the house. He described the injuries which ha<l been inflicted upon the woman, the primary cause of death being a perforating bullet wound in the abdomen, penetrating a coil of the bowels, and other wounds aggravated the effect of that wound. The accused, who was almost too weak to stand, or even epeak, asked no questions. Harold Francis Burley, a next-door neighbour, said that at 7.3Q a.m. on the day of the murder he was going home, and while passing the accused's house heard revolver shots fired in the house. The noise was followed by the cries of the children. He got into his own premises, and looked over the "fence into the accused's premises, and saw Mrs Wilson lying at the back door. He sent his brother for the police. Going out on to the footpath, he heard two other shots, one of the bullets coming through the window and striking the fence close to him. A constable arrived a few minutes later. Witness went into the house a few minutes later, and in the front room, whence the last' shots came, he 6aw the accused lying, apparently, seriously injured. The accused asked no questions. Arthur Wilson, son or the accused, said he was thirteen yeans old. He was roueed on the morning of the muiv der by his mother calling him, and recognising she was in distress he went to her at once. His father was struggling with his mother. The w-itnees tried to hold the accused's hands, and his mother got away as far ac the back door, where she fell down. Witness ran outside, and, meeting liurley, told him whiat had happened. He heard no shots. Constable M'Keefry, stationed at Addin^ton, stated that he was called on November 13 to go to Wilson's residence, and got there just before 8 a.m. Mrs Wilson was lying on her side at the back door, apparently dying, and he sent for ur Marks, who arrived some ten minutes later. There was blood along the floor, from where she lay to the front end of the passage and under the bedroom door. The door of the front sitting-room was locked, and when witness burst the door open he found the accused within. He had locked the door, taken the key out, and placed it on the table. The accused lav on the floor, semi-uncon-scious, on liis back, xi track of blood lay from the other side of the room to hie body. A revolver was beside him, with three of the chambers full and two fired: there were a number of empty shells in the room and a quantity of live ammunition. The accused was removed to the Hospital. Detective Bishop stated that at 2 p.m. to-day he read the charges to the accused, who said he understood them. He admitted that he had shot his wife . with a revolver. Dr Gow, who was present, was asked if he would care to say anything, but said he did not think it was necessary. The Magistrate said ho did not mind ; Mr Stringer would see that all the facts came before the Judge at the Supreme Court. Mr Stringer said, that Dr Gow could give evidence before the Supreme Court if necessary. In answer to the usual first caution, accused said he did not want to say anything. The offence being capital, the oharge as to what plea he would enter was not made. He was committed to the Supreme Court, at its next criminal session, for sentence.