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Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1932, Page 2

The di ,vot of the lorry was not r-ctiousy injured

aroused on December 13 by Mrs Donaldson calling at his' door. Mrs Banks came down at once. Witness asked what the trouble was and the accused said she had injured her husband. Witness telephoned a doctor, and accused told witness that her husband had hit her over the head, and was coming at her again. She picked up a knife, and he ducked on to it, and cut himself. “Poor Alf,” said the accused, “1 worshipped the ground he walked on.” Edward John Reed, who knew the Donaldson’,s, said that- Mrs Donaldson visited his home on December 13. She was very upset, and said she couldn’t stand It any longer. She spoke of leaving home. Witness said that, as she had ,no young children, that was a good idea. Witness said that Donaldson was quite a decent sort of chap on the street/ but m the home he was a man that witness would be ashamed to associate with. Witness told of the filthy names that Donaldson had applied to the accused. Mrs Donaldson was a thoroughly good woman, and an excellent house wife. The first days’ hearing was concluded with the taking of police evidence by Detective John Walsh and Constables Claude Smith and O’Brien. This was on thejines given in the Lower Court. Counsel for the accused cross-exam-ined and closely-questioned police witnesses as to when the accused was given the usual warning regarding anything she might say being used against her. Neither constable had questioned the accused, and they thought it unnecessary to warn her or to advise the detective that s?ie had used anything that might be used against her. The Court adjourned until to-mor-row morning.