SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST MAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19237, 26 November 1930, Page 9

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST MAN.

WIFE ALLEGES SHE WAS HIT WITH AXE. Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, November 26. At Ohura yesterday before Justices of the Peace, William Barrett Browning, aged 51, was charged with attempting to murder Lucy Ann Browning, at Te Kapuiti, on November 6. Detective W alsh prosecuted and Mr J. N. M Kenzie, Taumarunui, appeared for accused. Lucy Ann Browning, aged 41, wife of accused, said that she married accused at Rewa on April 19, 1930. Her husband described himself as an overseer in the Public Works Department. After marriage, she joined her husband at a camp at Te Kapuiti, She met him first at Auckland on January 8. On the evening of November 6, she and her daughter, Lucy, accused, and John Dobree, were playing cards in the kitchen. A dispute arose and she asked Browning to light the lamp. The accused did not speak nor did he light the lamp. She said she would throw him and the lamp through the window. She was angry. They did not resume playing cards. Later the accused forced his way into her bedroom. She was near the doorway and the accused moved towards gher. She pushed him and he stumbled against a box in the porch. Ran Outftide. Accused then struck her on the chin and blood streamed from the cut and she ran outside, screaming, added witness. She could not say what the accused struck her with. She then ran towards the garden, where she slipped or overbalanced and fell on her back. The accused was then at her side with a tomahawk in his hand. The accused attempted to strike her on the face and she put her left hand in front of her face. She received a blow on the left forearm but she could not say what part of the axe struck her. The wound was six inches in length and one inch deep. She received another cut on the right wrist. She received that while the accused had the axe. She succeeded in getting the axe from accused while she was still on the ground, but the accused kept on hitting her. Her eye, her arm and her face were bruised. The wounds bled freely. She also sustained a wound on the back of her head, but she may have received that when she fell. She screamed, and John Dobree came along and helped her to her feet. She held the axe while Dobree went for assistance. Evidence was given by Lucy Browning and John Dobree that they' heard screams and ' ran towards the house, where they found Mrs Browning lying on the ground and accused standing over her. Lucy Browning fainted. Constable’s Evidence. Constable Ebbett said that in response to a telephone message on November 6 he went to Takapuiti with Dr Turnbull. They went to Browning’s house and Dr Turnbull dressed Mrs Browning’s wounds, which comprised a cut six inches long on the left forearm, a cut on the right forearm, a cut on the chin, and a cut on the back of the head. She had bruises on her face and her left hand. Accused told witness that he would make a statement showing that he had provocation. Accused said he could not control himself, and complained about men who visited the house being in positions and places they had no right to be. His wife had told him to get out of the house and go to a tent. He caught hold of the axe and his wife fell, but he did not know what he had done. There had been one long quarrel over men, and if he was jealous he had reason to be. Accused also told him that there had been a party, and everyone had more drink than was good for them. His wife got “silly drunk”. Accused also stated that of his six months’ married life, his wife had spent two months in Auckland having a good time, and when she returned she told him to go to Hell. Accused pleaded not guilty, and reserved his defence. He was committed for trial at Hamilton.