The Sandon Block Sensation,

Manawatu Herald, 6 May 1899, Page 2

The Sandon Block Sensation,

The Paraekaretu Express furnishes the following additional particulars :— ... On Sundaw morning word was brought into Hunterville that Josoph Monteith, a settler on the Sancton Block, attempted to murder his wife that afternoon. Dr Smith immediately proceeded to the scene of the assault, and attended to the woman's injuries, which, it is stated, are of a dreadful nature. Sergeant Moon was also -' quickly on the spot, and arrested Monteith, who was brought into town at four o'clock on Monday morning, and lodged in the lock up. It appears that Monteith and his wife had not been on good terms for some time past. Last week, a young man was charged at the Hunterville Police Court with assaulting Monteith, with attempt to do grievous bodily harm. The case was withdrawn, owing, it is supposed, to Mrs Monteith refusing to give evidence for the prosecution. This may have led to further estrangement between husband and wife. No particulars are at present available as to the immediate cause for the assault, From what we can gather, Mrs Mon« tieth was engaged cooking, when her husband attacked her with a slasher. There are nine wounds in the head, apparently caused by the weapon; in fact, a great part of the hair and scalp had been cut away. The injured woman has several cuts on the .„ hands, which evidently resulted from ' her attempting to save herself by grasping the slasher. Monteith went to the house of a neighbouring settler, fxom which he took a double barrelled gun. Whilst his wife was lying op the ground, he discharged the weapon, which was loaded with shot, close to his wife's head. The shot tore off a « portion ot the hair, but did not penetrate the skull. Some of the hair was found embedded in the ground, having been driven in by the shot. Monteith, in his frenzy, then struck his wife on the head with the muzzle of the gun, the marks of the two barrels being plainly visible on the scalp. About this time, a son of accused arrived, and took the gun from his father, who it is stated, pointed the weapon at Ji«n. The young man acted very pludkily, though it was found on examination that the gun was not loaded. Monteith was brought before. Mr Reinington, J.P., yesterday morning, charged with attempted murder, and remanided for a week, as it is thought the woman will not be in a condition to giveftvidence before that time. The accused, who is forty-five years of age, had frequently complained that there ; was something wrong with his head,' and expressed fear that he would do some harm to himself. He had been in the habit of expressing great affection for his wife. Dr Smith expresses hope of the woman's recovery, though owing to the number and extent of the wounds a dangerous change may take place. Yesterday afternoon, Mr Remington, accompanied hy Sergeant" Moon, proceeded to Pakihikura to take, Mrs Monteith's depositions.. Detective Bishop, of Palmerston N., has arrived to assist Sergeant Moo|it in making enquiries into the lamentijole affair. " !li Monteith was brought down from Hunterville by the first train this (Wednesday) morning and taken on to Wanganui by Constable Dnddley, of the Wanganui Police tprce.