A Serious Charge.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3700, 24 July 1906, Page 3

A Serious Charge.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAD. Wellington, July 20. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day, Carl Max Mielsch, a German, a wharf labourer, by occupation, was charged with attempting to murder his wife, Maria Mielsch, on June 23rd. A gruesome exhibit in Court was a full-sized axe with a jagged edge, the one prisoner was alleged to have attacked his wife with. Prisoner and the woman had been living apart for three weeks before this alleged offence was committed. Mielsch was convicted of biting his wife’s nose. Mrs Mielsch, who was obviously in a very weak state, said in evidence that she was with prisoner at his lodgings in Cubastreet on the night of the 23rd, and that he seized her by the arm, dragged her out into the yard, and struck her on the head with the axe. Dr Hogg stated that he was called to Rasmussen's house, 130 Cuba-street, on Saturday evening, June 23rd, between half-past eight and nine o’clock. He found Mrs Mielsch suffering from a large wound on the right side of the head about 4m long and penetrating the skull. There was also a smaller scalp wound running down and forward from the posterior end of the larger wound. The second wound was from an inch to an inch and a-half long. Both wounds might have been caused by an axe such as that produced,

The blow must have been a particularly heavy one to have penetrated the skull. The woman was dazed, but conscious and able to answer questions. Witness ordered her removal to the hospital. Dr Robertson, medical officer in charge of the hospital, gave similar evidence as to the woman’s injuries. Mrs Mielsch had been in the hospital until the previous day. For the first two or three days she was in a critical condition and it was impossible to say what was going to happen to her. Chief Detective McGrath : “I suppose the wound might have caused death ? ’ ’ Witness : “ I cannot understand how it didn’t.” Other evidence was tendered concerning Mielsh’s movements on the night of the assault, and his attempt to take his life when arrested. Mielsch was committed for trial.