ADJOURNED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 936, 5 December 1933, Page 7

ADJOURNED.

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE. Case Against Mrs Pike. ACCUSED ALREADY COMMITTED TO MENTAL HOSPITAL. Charges of attempted murder and attempted suicide against Mrs Bertha Nathalia Pike, thirty-five years of age, of 26, Newcastle Street, set down for hearing in the Magistrate s Court this morning, were adjourned sine die on information being given that accused had been committed to a mental hospital. The charges arose from happenings on November 29. when Mrs Pike and her baby daughter' Florence Fay Pike, were found with wounds in the throat. Mr Twyneham, with him Mr Russell, appeared for accused, and asked for the attempted murder charge to be disposed of, but the Magistrate (Mr E D. Mosley) said he could not do so. “ I don’t like the idea of bringing her up,” said the Magistrate. “It seems bordering on the inhuman. Vet I don t want to do anything in the world to prejudice her chances.” _ . , Mr Twvneham added that it mignt have some effect on accused's mental condition if the case was disposed of "In this case I understand accused has been committed to the Mental Hospital,” said Chief-Detective Dunlop. “Under the circumstances I ask that the charges be adjourned sine die. Mr Twyneham said he felt inclined to agree with the adjournment in the case of the charge of attempted suicide. “However, if there are any means of doing it, I would like to see the charge of attempted murder disposed of. I understand she may* be in the Mental Hospital for a time. It may be long; possibly it may be short. It seems preferable to have the charge disposed of. It is hanging over her head, even in the Mental Hospital.” “How can we do it?” asked the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley. Mr Twyneham said that the position also arose that it was impossible to obtain a remand for more than seven days without her consent. Magistrate's View. The Magistrate pointed out that it would not be a remand, but an adjournment. “ I don't see mv way out of it,” he added. “ I can't even have the case brought before the Court while she is in the Mental Hospital. It wouldn’t be right to have a woman, obviously mental, and place her in the dock and charge her.” “ People who have been mental have been in that position,” said Mr Twyneham. “ But the cases have not gone this far.” said the Magistrate. “We know the evidence of Dr M’Killop (of the Mental Hospital) is available. He was the man who saw her after the accident.” The Magistrate said that Dr Brown had seen her time and time again. Mr Twyneham said that if accused were in the Mental Hospital for, say, three years, that evidence might not be available at the end of that time. “ Their records are available and would, I think, be admitted as evidence,” said the Magistrate. “It would be much more involved,” remarked Mr Twyneham. The Magistrate suggested that counsel should have a conference with the chief-detective, and adjourned the case sine die.