A Strange Affair.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 198, 28 August 1901, Page 1

A Strange Affair.

“ YOU MUST DIE TO-NIGHT.”

I Thekk was quite a touching scene at Marylebone recently, when a middle-aged inan named Sheridan F. Smith, of PadI dington, was charged on remand with violently assaulting his wife, Lilian Matilda, with intent to do her grievous bodily harm. The wife attended with her head heavily bandaged, and when her husband was placed in the dock she burst into | tears, and seemed quite overcome. Mr Plowden begged her to compose herself, I stating that if her husband did not know what ho was doing at the time he would be discharged. “He could not have known,” she said ; “ he is one of the best husbands in the world.” Defendant, who also soemed distressed, hero asked her to “ cheer up.” Mrs Smith’s story was to the effect that they had been married nine years. On the night in question they retired to rest as usual, and between twelve and one in the morning she was awakened by a noise, and found her husband walking | about the room with a poker in his hand. She asked what ho was doing, and ho declared he would kill her. She got out of bed, and he struck her several times on the head with the poker. On leaving the witness box Mr Smith went by the dock, when her husband rushed forward with outstretched arms and tears in his eyes to embrace her, and she made towards him, but they were prevented from meeting by a constable. Constable Goddard deposed to hearing shouts of “ murder ” and “ police.” He went to the house and burst open the bedroom door. The wife rushed out, blood pouring from her head. The accused was in the centre of the room holding a shovel. Witness asked what he was doing with the shovel, but without replying he dropped it and got into bed. He was then arrested. The bent poker (produced) was under the table.

Beatrice Guy, the landlady, said the accused had been strange in manner before this occurred. When she heard a scuffle in the room beneath she went down, and heard the wife say, “Ho is killing me,” to which he replied, “ Yes ; say your prayers, for you must die tonight.”

The accused, who said ho had been worried because he could not get employment, and never intended to hurt his wife, was committed for trial, he and his wife kissing their hands to each other as he went out.