SEARLE’S TROUBLES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 3

SEARLE’S TROUBLES

SECOND COURT CHARGE ACCUSED TO APPEAR IN SUPREME COURT. Discretion certainly did not characterise the deeds of Frederick Searle on the night of April 14 — it was a Friday—and he has already been brought to book by the Wanganui police with some effect. On Monday, Searle was sentenced to hard labour for three months for trespassing on his wife’s property during the currency of a separation order. Yesterday in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr W. H. Macey, J.P., and Mr C. H. E. Rhodes, J.P., Searle was further charged with breaking and entering on April 13 with intent to commit a crime, the house occupied by his wife, Mary E. Searle. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial in the Supreme Court. Ernest A. Guilford, a plate] yer, said that on the night of April 13, about 6.15 o’clock, accused was intoxicated and had to be put out of the boardinghouse controlled by witness’ wife. Accused, referring to his wife’s house, said: “I’m going over to smash the show up.’’ Accused left and witness, becoming apprehensive, caught the next tram to Wanganui East and was told by a neighbour that there was trouble on. Bleeding on the Floor. Witness found Mrs Searle at the gate and found Searle lying bleeding on the floor of the house. An axe and a razor were lying on the floor. Accused said he had brought the axe to break up the piano he had paid for. He made rambling statements about his wife. Accused (who was not represented) to witness: What you have said is quite correct. Herbert G. White, clerk at the Magistrate’s Court, proved the separation order existing between accused and his wife. Alary E. Searle, wife of the accused, said that since the separation order was made, her husband had made several overtures to return. The grounds of the separation v/ere habitual drunkenness and cruelty and in consequence of accused’s drinking, he was until recently on Roto Roa Island. About 7 p.m. on April 13, she heard someone at the back door and heard her husband say: “Let me in.” Witness went out to the front to call the police and when she returned found her husband in the house under the circumstances described by Guilford. Accused said: “You’ll come to gaol with me, too.” The back door had been broken by an axe and furniture was damaged. Fear of Accused. Senior-Sergeant C. W. Lopdell: Why are you afraid of your husband? Witness: Because he’s threatened my life. Accused (to witness): How much drink do I take? One or two glasses, usually. Witness: You are not responsible when you havc had drink. Air Rhodes (to accused): You were sent to Roto Roa Island. Vincent Searle, son of the accused, said he had seen accused since his return from Roto Roa, two or three times outside the gate. On April 13 the back door was locked as a safeguard against entrance by the accused. Witness heard a knock and asked ‘ ‘Who’s there?” Accused said: “Open the door and let me in,” and witness said: “I can’t. You know why.” Accused smashed the door with an axe, and on entering, splintered the table and tho sink. Axe Over His Head. He rushed up the passage with the axe above his head, looking as though he were going to hit someone, continued witness, and entered his wife’s bedroom. Accused returned and looked as though he would hit witness, so for protection, witness stunned his father with a hammer. “Accused made it clear to me that he would hit my mother,” said witness. Accused: Did I threaten you? Witness: You said you were going to knock my brains in. Accused: Did I not say I was going to smash the piano and that was all? Witness: No, you threatened me. Constable D. Wallace, stationed at Wanganui East, said he found Searle lying in the passage way with two men holding him down. He was slightly under the influence of liquor and was excited, saying he would smash the piano. An axe and a razor were lying on the floor. Accused grabbed the razor, but witness took it from him. At one stage of the case accused broke down and rushed from the court, weeping convulsively. He was led back and, leaning over a table, buried his head in his arms. Searle still had a large lump on his head through being struck with a hammer, and on his previous appearance in court, hud his head swathed in bandages.