A WIFE SHOOTS HER HUSBAND.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11920, 23 January 1894, Page 2

A WIFE SHOOTS HER HUSBAND.

A Pitiful Story. On January lbh, Mai Ilia June Hydo was brought up at tho Wallsend Police Court, N.S.W., before Mr Henry, &.M., charged with the wilful murder of hor husband, Thomas Hyde, sergeant Grennan deposed to the arrest of the accused and to a voluntary statement made by her to the effect that she had for some time kept a loadod revolver under her pillow, with a view to protect herself against the brutal assaults of the doceased. On Tuesday morning lust he cumo to the residence of the accused abiut one o'clock intoxicated, and refused supper, stating that it. was not good enough. Deceased was a shiftman at the Northorn Colliery, Teralba, and only came home when that pit was idle. There were three children at home. One sat up for Hyde and cleared away the table, the mother having retired to rest at 7 o'clock. The children went to bed, and at daylight the mother woke them, and sent the eldest child, Percy, a»ed 12, to a neighbour, a Mr Castle, to ask him to go to Wallsend and get Sorgoant Grennan to como out at once, The boy went. Mr Cabtlo came, and went off for Sergoant Grennan. The accused told the sergeant when he came that deceased had referred to his having been tried at the last Newcastle Quarter Sessions for an outrage upon hor, and had been discharged. Ho intended to do as he liked. She resisted, and, in selfdefence, drew the revolver and shot him. The sergeant deposed that deceased had died from tho effects of the gunshot wound in the temple. Ho asked for a remand for eight day and tho accused was remanded accordingly. The circumstances attending this case are of a peculiarly distressing character. The accused is the daughter of a Mr Joseph Eodgers, formerly a resident of Wallsend. and at one time owner of the Young Wallsend Colliery Estate, which he uold to that company, Mrs Hyde bears an excellent character, and it liua ever been a wonder to the neighbours why the married a man like Ifydo. The husband ha 3 served two terms of imprisonment for ill-using his wifo. Two years ago b'jo obtained a Judgft's order against him. He still, however, used to frequent tho house. The testimony of many residents is to the effect that Hyde kicked and abused his wifo without tho least peovocation. Thero are several children— Porcy 12 years, Albert 10, Cecil 8, and Bose 5. The youngest has been taken care of by a Mrs Griffiths, and the others aro still iv tho home at Young Wallsond, been looked after by the neighbours. One instance of the husband's brutality occurred on last pay Friday. The mother went to Teralba to get some bread and bring home her son Percy. While waiting for the boy Mrs Hyde came up to the fence of a friend's garden, where deceased was standing, und he invited her into his hut cloeo by. She mfused, and pr'esentiy started home. A f ter going some distance in n lonely place, near some water, Hyde dartod out of the scrub upon her and dragged her into the bush. She struggled and tried to got back to Terolba. but without effect. From two oVloek till fire he kept her in the bush in the heavy rain, threnton.u(» hor with doath. A man named Kearns oamo by in a cart, and she wanted Hydo to let him drive hor into towp, but her husband refused, Sho lay on the bank exhauttsd, cold, and wot, and in great pain, Hyde standing over her. At last two of her little boys came up in search of her, as it was gettiug di\rk. Hyde wanted her to go back with him, but she told him she would rather die first. He went back to Terelba, and she crawled homo, a distance of 3 miles assisted l>y hor children, more dead than alive, When in bod she got her eon Percy to hold a momo book up for her, in which she managed to write the above particulars as a record of what hud happened. She was in a continual dread of Hyde, as he followed her whorever she went. The neighbours say that Mrs Hyde is a very respectable hard-working womau, who provided herself and children with the necessaries of lifo by washing and scrubbing wherever-she could procure it. The cable;! have informed ua that Mru Hyde has beeu acquitted by the courts. A