WIFE ON TRIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 34, 9 February 1934, Page 6

WIFE ON TRIAL

HUSBAND’S INJURY SHOT FIRED IN HOUSE SENTENCE DEFERRED. I Per Press Association. 1 AUCKLAND. Feb. 7. A verdict of guilty of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm, with a rider recommending leniency, was returned by the jury in the Supreme Court to-day in the case of Mary Little, aged’ 49, who was charged with attempting to murder her busband at I’okeno ou October 14. Sentence was deferred. The Crown Prosecutor said the woman was addicted to drink, and was under the effects of drink, about noon ou October 14. Her husband, angered by her condition, said he would have her prohibited. A bo.y in the house would say that he saw her point a »hotgun at her husband in the passage, that ho heard a report, and saw her husband with half his hand blown off. When the police arrived the accused told them the shooting was accidental. The lirst witness was George Little, the accused’s husband. Point of Law Raised. The accused’s counsel said there was a grave question as to whether a hubband could give evidence against his wife. The husband declined to give evidence, and it was for the Judge to ieeide whether he was a compellable witness. After hearing the Crown Prosecutor, Mr. Justice Herdman told the jury he had decided that the husband was a competent witness, but in view of the ieeision of the Court of Appeal, and a similar decision of lhe Court of Criminal Appeal in England, his compcllaoility was doubtful, and he would not be called unless he so wished. His Honour added that he would reserve the point for the Court of Appeal. William Liddicoat, aged 12, said he lived with his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Little, at Pokeno. On the lay prior to the occurrence he came home from school and saw that his aunt had been drinking. For some time that night he heard his uncle and aunt talking. His unde said something to the effect that ‘-it had been going on too long. ’’ On October 14 he had returned from an errand, and saw some cartridges in a glass dish on the mantelpiece. A gun was standing with its muzzle on the ground. Ho had never seen it that way up before. Little came in, and accused, who was lying down in the next room, said something. Little said, “it’s all right; you will be receiving a peice of blue paper in a few days. I’ll have you at Pukekohc at half-past 10 on Thursday.” Witness said his uncle went into the next room and accused then came out into the kitchen. Witness saw her picking up the gun. He was going out through the door and glanced back when he saw she had the gun at her shoulder. The hammers were cocked. A few seconds afterwards he heard the report of the gun, and Little ran out oi the back door. Witness returned to the kitchen and saw accused still standing there. He rang for the doctor. Accused Enters Box. Accused, who entered the witnessbox to give evidence on her own behalf. said she had worked hard to help her husband. He was really a good man when not in a temper. The shock of the gun going off had made her forget, until about six weeks after the incident, what had happened, so that she had not been able to give an account of it for some time. Accused said she was in bed resting when her husband came into the house, bhe heard him ••roaring’’ in the kitchen about the food. She got up and he seized her by the hair. Knocking her down, he started kicking her. Her hair came out and she got away somehow into the kitchen. She did not remember touching the gun. but she might have done so. She did not know it was loaded.