ATTACK ON GIRL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 204, 31 August 1935, Page 13

ATTACK ON GIRL

BY REJECTED SUITOR A HAMMER AND VERSE Written partly in rhyme, an extra- | ordinary letter was read to Mr. Justice du Parccjf and a jury at York Assizes when a jealous lover, who attacked a girl with a hammer, stood in the dock, says the Daily Express. The Judge sentenced Thomas Henry Ellis, aged 27, to eight years’ penal servitude for 1 atteroptihg to murder Miss Margaret Smith, of Dcanbank, Ferryhill. “I must pass a sentence,” his Lordship told Ellis, “that will show to young men that in this country they are not permitted to punish a woman who decides to transfer her affections to someone else, by inflicting upon them terrible injuries.” Ellis and Miss Smith had been engaged for about 12 months. In January last Ellis went to work at Luton, and letters he sent Miss Smith, explained Mr. Denis Robson, prosecuting, became more and more of a jealous nature. It was because of this that Miss Smith wrote Ellis breaking off the engagement. The letter which Ellis sent in reply was that of a man. frantically in love. Carrying with him a heavy hammer. Ellis took train to Darlington and called at the house where Miss Smith was employed. An interview took place between the couple in the kitchen in the presence of the cook. Ellis pleaded with Miss Smith to be given another chance. “No,” replied Miss Smith, and she ran upstairs for the engagement ring and handed it to Ellis. The Attack. Telling him she would see him at seven o’clock that evening, Miss Smith advised Ellis to go away, and she walked with him to the backyard gate. There Ellis wanted to kiss her, but she would not let him. She then turned to walk back to the house, but had only proceeded a few paces when she received a heavy blow on the back of her head. The cook, who was looking out of a window at the time, saw Ellis strike tho girl, and ran out of th© house, calling him to desist. “You get by, or you will get it,” shouted Ellis, and he hit the girl one or two more blows with the hammer and then ran away, leaving the weapon on the ground. Miss Smith received six separate wounds on the head, including a depressed fracture of the skull. She was in hospital seven or eight weeks. A tall, well-built girl, who showed considerable emotion when giving evidence, Miss Smith related that, owing to the jealousy displayed by Ellis in his letters, she decided to break off the engagement. On March 4 she wrote him:— Dear Tommy,.—Sorry, but I cannot go on as 1 have been going. I know it. will be very hard for you, but you will get over it very soon. Try and get another girl and'don’t take it too much to heart. . . But the next girl you get try and understand and don’t be too jealous of her. “The Only Girl.” Next morning, Miss Smith explained, she received a letter from Ellis which contained the following passages:— You are the only girl for me, I will never stop loving vou. 1 love you more than ever. Well, my little love bird, I went to work singing last week; this week I have been in tears ever since you wrote that letter. Yo nTommy don’t moan to hurt his little girl. I will sacrifice everything for you. Dramatic, evidence concerning a sealed letter found i n Ellis’ possession after arrest, and addressed to his mother, was given by police Constable Jarvis. .Part of the letter, which Ellis requested should be published as a memorial, ran: Death did to me short warning give. Therefore be careful how vou live. My weeping friends [ leave behind I have no time to speak my mind. <>h, Lord, how sudden was my death, Unlocked you came Io me. 'I here lore, prepare thou looker-on. Eor it may fall to thee. .Ellis did not go into tho witnessbox, and Mr. Norman Harper, his eou», sol, frankly admitted there was i«i legal defence to the charge. He S'iL mitted, however, that the way in which Miss Smith broke off the engagemen; , was somewhat unfortunate, and El >s temporarily lost control of himself. Ellis was also charged with attempted suicide. For this he was sentenced to .12 months’ imprisonment, the Judge ordering this to run concurrently with the eight years for attempted murder.