ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

Evening Star, Issue 22149, 2 October 1935, Page 2

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

WOMAN ATTACKED IN HER RED SEVERE THROAT WOUND YOUTH BEFORE CHILDREN’S COURT [Special to the ‘ Star.’] OAMARU, October 1. Before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., in the Children’s Court this afternoon, a youth, aged 16 years, was charged with attempting to murder Isabel Lindsay Henderson, at Tapui, on the morning of August 11, with a butcher’s knife. Inspector E. M. Thomas, of.Timaru, conducted the prosecution on behalf of the police, and Mr R. D. H. Swindley appeared for the accused. In outlining the facts of the case, Inspector Thomas said evidence would he produced to show that on the .night of August 10 accused l had secured a butcher’s knife with which he had inflicted a severe wound on the throat of Mrs Henderson while she was in bed sleeping, her husband being away in Christchurch at the time. Constable J. R. Kearton, official police photographer for the Canterbury district, gave evidence of having taken photographs of the wound on Mrs Henderson’s throat and l face, and of the buildings. He had also taken a photograph of two feet marks outlined in mud on the stained polished floor in Mrs Henderson’s bedroom..

Dr E.. S. J. Fitzgerald stated that on Sunday, August 11. at about 5.15 a.m. Mrs Henderson was brought to his surgery with her throat bandaged. Witness called in Dr Butler for, assistance in the operation. Mrs Henderson ■was suffering from shock, and she had a deep wound commencing on the right-hahd side of the neck, low down, proceeding up over the chin and across the lips. This wound proceeded into the mouth, exposing the jaw hone. There was, also a small wound on the upper flip, triangular in shape. The wound had severed the facial muscles of the jaw and extended deeply into the muscles into the lower margin of the jaw, and had severed several medium-sized arteries. It missed the main artery by half an inch. Had this artery been cut the woman would have died within a few minutes, he stated. The wound was of such a serious nature that three fingers could be inserted from the outside right into the mouth. The wound, was not slraigEt, and witness considered that this could have been caused by Mrs Henderson moving slightly. Had the wound proceeded across the throat the wind pipe would, in all probability, have been severed. The edges .of the wound were jagged, showing - that the cut had not been made by a razor, but witness considered that it could have been done by a butcher’s knife.: Mrs Henderson was also suffering from two parallel cuts across the right hand, which were consistent with her having grabbed the knife. There was also some bruising on the throat just below the wound, which required about 30 stitches. In his opinion a considerable amount of force would have been necessary to inflict such a wound. Dr E. E. Butler, also of Oamaru, said he assisted Dr Fitzgerald on August 11 to attend to Mrs Henderson; and corroborated the evidence of the previous witness ns to the nature of the wound. Isabel Lindsay Henderson said she resided at Tapui with- her husband, who owned trotting horses.. She had been resident in the district several years. She had a daughter Ellen who lived with her. On August 9 her sister, Mrs Innes, came to reside with her, and occupied a side room. Witness occupied a room with her husband at the back. On August 9 her husband, with two employees, left for Christchurch with trotting horses. On the morning,of August 10 she made the bed and polished the floor. The bed was ■ about halfway between the side walls of the room. Witness usually, occupied the left-hand side of the bed. On the night in question witness and the others retired to bed about 9.30. Witness read awhile before putting out the light and going to sleep. Witness lay on her left-hand side. The bottom portion of- the window was up about nine inches, and the blind pulled down to about two or three inches of the bottom. Witness awoke and felt her throat being cut. She'screamed out, and then felt- hands at her throat. Witness reached out for the electric light cord and jumped out of bed. There was nobody in the room when the light flashed on, and as far-, as she could remember the window was the same as when she went to bed. She heard no sounds as of a motor vehicle. . Her throat was bleeding profusely, and on proceeding to the kitchen, she found the door standing ajar, which had heqn locked prior to her going to bed. It led to the men’s dining room and out of the house to a side path. When witness went into the dining room after being attacked she noticed that the time was 12.45 a.m. Her daughter and Mrs M ( limes came to her assistance and helped Jier to bandage the wound. Afterwards (he three 'left by car and drove to Mr James Simpson’s place, where another car was procured, and they proceeded to Oamaru. However, before the journey was completed they got stuck in a creek,' and were obliged to get Mr Gardiner’s car to complete the journey. Witness stated that she also received two wounds on the fingers of her right hand when she put up her hand to defend herself. After she went back to the bedroom she found a butcher’s knife on the bed. The muddy footmarks on the floor at the side of the bed must have been made by the accused, as there were no such marks when she went to bed. Ellen L. M. Henderson, daughter of Mrs Henderson, stated that on August 4 Mrs M'lnnes, a relation, came to stay with her, and occupied the front bedroom with her. On August 9 her father loft for Christchurch. Witness retired to bed about 9.30, but, before doing so she saw her mother in bed reading. The bedroom door was open; it was always left open. Witness heard her

mother put her light out, and heard net more until she was awakened by her mother screaming. Jumping out of bed, witness switched on the light, and rushed out of the room to find her mother by the bathroom door. There was blood on her face, and witness got some cloth to bandage her .mother’s throat. After a while she got the car out of the garage, and drove her mother and Mrs M‘lnnes to Mr Simpson’s place. She also accompanied her mother to Oamam. Archibald Henderson, husband of Mrs Henderson, said he was a farmer at Tapui, and owned trotting horses. He left home on August 9 for Christchurch. When he returned to Tapui, a butcher’s knife left by witness, prior to leaving for Christchurch, was missing. Francis M. Wilde, an employee of Archibald Henderson, said he lived about two miles from the homestead. Witness identified the knife produced as having been used by him to bill a sheep. Constable J. O’Connell, stationed at Duntroon, said he arrived at the farm at 3.15 a.m., and immediately instituted a search and inquiries. There were blood stains on the floor in the dining room. On the arrival of Sergeant M‘Gregor and Constable Furriey, of Oamaru, a search of Mrs Henderson’s bedroom was made. Constable Thyne also gave evidence of making a search of the premises, and of the finding of the footprints on the floor and the blood-stained clothing. In company with Sergeant M‘Gregor, witness interrogated the accused who made a statement. The hearing was then adjourned until the following mornings When the court resupied to-day Sergeant M'Gregor stated that on receipt of information he proceeded to tno home of Henderson on August 11, There were bloodstains, on the bedclothes of Mrs Henderson’s room, and on the polished floor he noticed two footprints outlined in mud. It appeared that only one person had slept m the bed. After noting the facts he a constable in charge, and later interviewed accused in the presence of Detective Thomas. Accused admitted that he was responsible for Mrs H<mderson’s injuries. He said: “I don’t know what made me do it. I’ve been., a silly young fool.” Accused then said it was a good job Mrs Henderson did not die, otherwise there would have been hell-to pay. He said he was glad to admit the offence as it was a relief to get it-off his mind. A typewritten, statement was then signed by accused, who handed over a pair of mud-covered seeks which he said he had worn on the night of the offence. ; Detective Thomas corroborated the evidence of Sergeant M'Gregor as to the condition of the rooms and bedclothes, and the statement made by ao cused. That concluded the case for the prosecution. Accused then pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial to the Supreme Court on October 21.