ATTEMPTED MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1926, Page 3

ATTEMPTED MURDER

DORN SENTENCED,

[by TIXTXrP.APH —PEB Pit ESS ASSOCIATION.]

HAMILTON. February 20. The young man. Roy Charles Dorn, stood in the dock at the Supreme Court to-day charged with attempting to murder Muriel Tetzlall on January 7t ; h with counselling her In commit suicide. The major charge was withdrawn be fore the case went to the jury. When asked to plead, the prisoner, who wore a worried look, in n firm voice answered “Not Guilty.” The prisoner followed tile proceedings with keen interest, occasionally flushing as the more sordid parts ol the evidence was adduced. Muriel Totzlalf, who appeared in Court looking very trail, pale and ill. told her story in a weak, nervous voice. She was attended by her mother, hut Mr Tomkins (for the prisoner) objected to too close an attendance by the parent, as counsel alleged that in the Lower Court the mother had noticeably prompted the daughter in certain a nswers. The mother was permitted to remain, hut at some distance from the girl. Brokenly, the girl told her story—how she first: met Dorn, and their subsequent relationship. When she found she was about to become a mother she pressed Dorn to marry her. He made no oiler to do so, idling her that the only girl he loved was at Gisborne. Evidence was given along the lines of that in the Lower Court showing that Dorn had given the girl ammonia and cordite for her to take to put herself out of the way. Mis* TetzlafT hail written letters to Dorn to the effect that she loved him hotter than life itself and was going to put herself out of the way so that he might ge free, asking him not forget the little fool who had loved him unwisely hut only too well. Letters written to her own mother and Dorn's mother indicated her intention to commit suicide. She took the poison, in a house at Ngakuawahia and became violently ill. Under cross-examination to-day Aliss Tetzlall' said that she had on more than one oeasion threatened to take her life. This was only to frighten Dorn into marrying her. She had no intention, however, of committing suicide.

Dorn, in his evidence, said That ho gave, her the cordite thinking to give tier a headache, and merely to frighten her. The ammonia was weak, lie did not expect to kill the girl, or even that she would take it. The jury after a brief retirement, found Dorn guilty. A sentence of two years’ imprisonment was passed.