PEEP THROUGH KEYHOLE

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16034, 27 January 1920, Page 10

PEEP THROUGH KEYHOLE

GIRL WITNESSES TRAGEDY,

Peeping through, a keyhole, a twelve-year-old girl saw a struggle between an ex-soldier and his wife, which she described at Perth, Scotland, when she gave evidence against John McManus, of Dundee, who was charged with the murder of his wife, Jane McManus. The little girl. Boss Ann Johnstone, related that she heard the sound of “bumping” proceeding from the room, which the couple occupied in her parents’ house in Larch Street, Dundee. She peeped through the keyhole of the door and saw the man grip lie woman by her shoulders and bump her on lie floor. Evidence was also given by Mary Jane Johnstone, mother of the previous witness, who stated that prisoner and deceased and witness and her husband all visited a publiehouse on the evening of the tragedy. When they eventually came out deceased was unable to walk, with the result that witness was obliged to assist her home and put her to bed. Prisoner, who arrived later, very much the worst for drink, was also put to bed. Witness then went out, and on her return was informed by her daughter that the couple had been fighting. She entered the room and found the woman lying on the floor with dishevelled hair, seemingly sorely bruised, and wifi both eyes blackened. Prisoner was lying beside her, and when witness upbraided him for his conduct he replied: “I know I’m a brute; but I’m sorry.” Witness tried to waken the woman, hnt found she was dead. Prisoner, who wore three wound stripes, and was given a good army character, was found guilty of culpable homicide, and was sentenced to ten years’ penal servitude, '