HUSBAND CHARGED

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 10

HUSBAND CHARGED

ASSAULT ON WIFE ALLEGED

EVIDENCE OF INSANITY

DOCTORS DIFFER

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. A defence of insanity was set up at the trial today of John Shaw Gordon, aged C 8 years, a retired bricklayer, on a charge that with intent to do grievous bodily harm he did actual bodily harm to his wife, Nellie Gordon. The Crown'alleged that in tho early morning of August 31 Gordon attacked his wife with a hammer and then attempted suicide. The Crown Prosecutor said that in a case of this kind the wife might givo evidence,; against her husband, but in New Zealand she could not be compelled to do so. In this case the wife would not bo a witness. Evidence was given on the lines of that in the Lower Court hearing. Counsel for the defence questioned medical witnesses to show that the accused's mentality might have been affected by a discharging wound which was found when he was examined. The accused's son, aged '20 years, said that his father was of apeculiar disposition, and seemed over-sensitive to noise. Dr. T. G. Short said he was satisfied that the accused was insane. • Ho had a sense of grievance against the family, and delusions of persecution. His condition was a result of chronic alcoholism, probably accentuated by chronic suppuration of a sore on the hip. The accused might have known what he was doing when ho attacked his wife, but tho witness did not think he fully | understood tho significance of it. Dr. H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of tho Mental Hospital, said he did not find any symptoms of insanity in the accused. There was nothing unusual about his mental condition for a man of (38 years. His peculiar behaviour consisted of foibles. Dr. G. M. Tothill corroborated Dr. Buchanan's evidence. Counsel's addresses are being heard.