The Isaacs' Case.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 15 April 1890, Page 2

The Isaacs' Case.

BEFOBB THE MAGISTRATE.

Major Isaacs, M.P., appeared at Richmond Police Court to prosecute bis mistress for attempting to shoot him.

Major Isaacs, M.P., said : I hare been intimately acquainted with the defendant for some years. Some time back I made her a settlement on her child of £2000, £1000 for her to go into business, and £500 d A posit on the house in which she resided. She- took a house is 110, Churchroad, Bichmond. I received, on or about sth October, a letter from her. In consequence of that I went on Bth October to the house in question, and found her there. She admitted me into the house. I went with her into the dining-room.. So Jar, as I know there was nobody chic.in the house. She looked the door and intimated to me that there was nobody else in the , house. She locked the door as we entered. She produced a paper, which she said I should hare to'sign, I read the paper, and t»zt a piece of it off. What was left was a promise on my part to do certain tbjngi, and'lhis I «gned. At the Unit I signed the paper she had a revolver in her hand, which she had previously taken out o* the dwwer. She said sbe would shoot me unless I signed the paper. I ultimately signed the paper, being induced to do so by fear. The defendant afterwards asked me to sign cheques to the am unt mentioned on the paper. I replied that I had not my cheque book, whereupon sbe produced some half sheets of note* paper with stamps on each She said that would do quite as well, and that I must sign the cheques on those sheets' of pafrer. I then ' saw it was necessary for me to take | some action, 1 declined io ligh, an I then made for the defendant for th* purpose of getting the pistol out of her hand. I attempted to close with her, when she pointed the pistol at my head and fired. I threw up my arms as she fired, and received tho bullet on the arm. But for the arm the bullet would have entered my head. 1 then succeeded in getting the revolver from her hand. The defendant shrieked, aud upon this I heard a violent kicking at the diningroom door, and a demand to be admitted. The door was opened by the defendant, and a young gentleman entered. I had seen his likeness before, but did not know him personally. He asked what all this meant, and demanded who and what I wa». I replied rhat he had better ask the lady. By this time I was getting faint from loas of blood and pain. The bullet is still in my arm I asked for a little brandy, which the defendant wag good enough to give mo. I then left, and I waa accompanied by the young man. I had some con* versation with him and then returned to town. I was attended by my own doctor, who put me in a cab and to&k me home. Sir William M'Cormack was then sent for. I was placed in bed and could not get up f)r a week I have lost the use of ,threa of my fingers since the bullet ' has been in my arm. On theSOth, December I , had a visit fro^thf -$9tsft "» n * e> ferred to.

Cross examined— The witness said he wa3 not aware it was an accident. He did not says!/ rn«r- if you shall have it," aud then chase her round the table, Benight have pushed the tab'e against her when running. Hj* migli have-barred In* progress through the pushing of the table He rushed towards ncr to take the pistol out of her hands, not, the paper. He wa» shot before the strngg'e. The shooting took place as he was going round the table to close with her.' Whoa he got to her he said, I'm shot" Ht did not then kiss her; the 'kissed him. He did aot recollect her saying " Oh where huve you been shit?" or ♦ Oh what, shall: Ido ? " Bhe noight have expressed regret. She kissed him and then put the pistol on the table. . He did not recollect kiswiug the defendant. He ha£< known' her since she was fifteen y^ars of ige. The defendant her« asked the wishes whether he 'seduced her by violence, when see was .eighteen ? The witness said that he knew nothing about her age. He was wi ling tp admit, that he had seduced b«r. He gave her a paper promising har £400 a ye*r during his life. The word " marriage "never oocared.

Major Isaacs was recalled, and produced the document whioh was handed to him by the defendant At 110 Church road. The amount demanded was £20,000 and not £10-000. He believed defendant had completed her 27th year. Gross-examined — I aßkod her when I went into the room. " Where is Amy and baby ? " acd she replied they are still in the country. The'-e is no one in the house bat you And me." She fired the pistol deliberately at me. Mr Dutton-— On your oath hs a gentleman Mr If aacf , will you under

take to say that the pistol did not go off accidentily? Witness -I can't say that it did not go off aeciden tally.

Mr Dutton— After she had askedyou to sign the paper did she not say when she took the pistol out, v If you don't sign the paper I will shoot myself and make the whole thing public? Witness I think she sad that. (Sensation*) Mr Dutton— You also stated that you did not care to have a document with your name in her possession ? Witness— Not any document. I ob* jected to ft portion of the document being in her possession. Mr Dutten - 1 belitre there was a scuffle? Witness — There certain* tainly was a scuffle. William Matthias Nott, surgeon, said he attended Mr Isaacs on the evening of Bth October. He found he had a wound on the right fore* arm close to tke wrist. The arm was very much swollon. , The Major told him what had happened. The wound had the appearance of a gun* shot wound. Mr St. John Wontner— l now pro pose to leave the case where it is. Mr JDutton— And I don't intend to say aujthing en behalf of the de* fendanton fchig oaoMJoiy "sho must be committed lor tr4«V ,and it is much better in her interest that anything in her behalf should bo reserved. > The priponw waj xomoyed to Hoikroay Gaol, to > await her trial on tho 3rd March. ■>