ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 279, 25 November 1931, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

THE HAMILTON TRAGEDY CROWN’S OPENING ADDRESS [ Per Press Association. ] HAMILTON, Tho trial of Arthur Walter Smith, aged 50, painter, of Hamilton, for tbe alleged murder of his wife, Lois Alexandra Smith, aged 29 yearn, opened at the Supreme Court at Hamilton to-day before Mr. Justice Herdman and a jury. The Crown Prosecutor, in his opening address, detailed the events leading up to tho tragedy and stated that he intended to show that Smith was quite sane and was suffering from no mental disease when he killed his wife. He understood that the defence would be insanity and a verdict of not guilty would be asked for on that ground. Smith was quite composed on entering the dock. He pleaded not guilty in a firm clear voice. He seemed much stronger than during his appearance in tho lower court some weeks ago.

Addressing the jury th l . Crown Prosecutor outlined the j’Wner’s life prior to the wa r io tho beginning of the present year. Uo state 1 that Smith had been obliged go bankrupt, ana for a time was in financial difficulties. Then he obtained a job up north and worked long hours for good money. On meeting his wife again in Auckland they had what was termed a second honeymoon. However they had differences there over a costume which his wife wanted and which Smith could not afford. Prisoner also became annoyed because his wife did not disclose that she had been out to parties during his absence. Tho evidence would show that Mrs. Smith met a man on the night before the murder. On the night of the tragedy Smith asked his wife if she required any supper, and the only remark made by his wife throughout the night was “No.” It would be shown that Smith drew up a will on that night. Apparently ho expected death for himself in tho immediate future.

Counsel said the prosecution was unable to state definitely what took place in the bedroom on that night, but the prisoner had made a statement of his version of the circumstances. Tho prisoner found his wife lying on tho extreme side of tho bod. It was at this time when tho prisoner, according to his statement, got out of bed and returned with a jack knife. Prisoner’s Statement. Counsel read a portion of tho prisoner’s statement: “I slipped off the bod to the floor. I took a jack knife out of my trousers pocket and got back on tho bed. Again I looked at her face once mare and then struck the knife into her throat. The feeling was terrible. She grasped, looked at me for a moment, jumped out of bed and called for Phyllis. I slipped off the bed and ran round to try and stop her from falling, but was too late. I touched her, but she collapsed on the floor. Then I had an awful feeling of remorse and I stuck Jhc knife into my own throat, but was too weak to cut far.” Counsel said that the prisoner’s statement of the deed was incorrect, as medical evidence would show that ho referred to stab wounds in tho back and mouth which could not have been made in the circumstances the prisoner described. Counsel advised the jury to disabuse their minds of certain colloquial expressions of insanity and reminded them of the legal definition of insanity. He would attempt to show the jury that the prisoner knew what ho was doing and was suffering from no mental disease. Counsel said he understood that the defence would be insanity, and a verdict of not guilty would bo asked for. on that ground. Medical evidence on tho lines of that in tho lower court was taken and the evidence called of the policemen who were first on the scene of tho tragedy. The father of the deceased, Lois Smith, stated thnt for the past two years the couple could not get on together*