THE NOSE BITING CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3768, 8 June 1907, Page 3

THE NOSE BITING CASE.

Court Proceedings,

Act committed while Drunk.

Accused pleads Guilty.

Dunedin, June 7. Thomas McKay appeared at the Police Court this morning to answer a charge of having assaulted Eliza Mary Hall and causing her actual bodily harm. Mr Graham was on the Bench. Sub-Inspector Norwood prosecuted and Mr Scurr defended. Dr Falconer (house surgeon at . Dunedin hospital) said; I examined Eliza Mary Hall at the hospital on May 25th. She was suffering from a wound caused by a bite; about half an inch of the tissue of the nose on the right side and point was missing. The bite had taken the tissue clean off and enlarged the nostril. A plastic operation will considerably minimise the present disfigurement, but there will be considerable disfigurement even then. Eliza Mary Hall said: I first met the accused some five or six months ago in Christchurch. He afterwards asked me to marry him, and we went to Melbourne to- , gether. I returned to New Zea--1 land, the accused returning with / me. We arrived here last Saturday week. The Sub-Inspector : On arriving at Port Chalmers did you and the accused have a quarrel ?-.-Yes. What originated this quarrel ? Some letters, I think. Were you addressing postcards to other men for your sister ? I was.

Did the accused get jealous?— Yes. He asked who _ the letters were to, and I told him to mind his own business. Did McKay go drinking that day ? —Yes. What took place at Athol place ? —I spat in his face. Did he say anything : —He said my sister and I should not whisper, and asked what it was about. What happened then ?—I smacked his face. He spoke to me again and I scratched his face and kicked him. Then he caught hold of me as if he was going to kiss me, but .lie bit my nose. i Mr Scurr: McKay left you for 'Some time when you got to Port Chalmers ? —Yes. In what condition was he when he returned ? —Drunk. You went to Melbourne to get married to him ? Yes, but I changed my mind. I daresay this aggravated him a good deal ?—I believe it did. Would you marry him if he was acquitted of this charge ? —I may He was always kind to you ? Yes.

Frances Louisa Hall also gave evidence. The Sub-Inspector: Did you see the accused holding your sister ? I saw the accused apparently kissing her. I heard my sister call out, ‘‘ My nose !’ ’ and I ran back to try and pull McKay away. Sjie said too, “ My nose is bitten,” arid she screamed. I could not pull McKay away, and called for a man in front for help. He pulled McKay away. I then saw that the top of my sister’s nose had been bitten off. Did accused seem in a bad temper ? —He was drunk. Have you before heard him threaten to disfigure your sister ? Yes on two occasions. William John Hall, father of the injured girl, stated that about 8.30 that evening accused came to his house smelling of drink. He was crying and excited. He said something about me taking off his nose, as he had done to her. Constable Fox stated that between 8 and 9 p.m. on May 25th he went to Hanover street. He found the accused in the kitchen of Mr Hall’s house. He was crying and speaking to himself. He was using the words “My poor, dear darling,” and was very excited, but he was not then drunk, though he had evidently been drinking. When the usual question was put, Mr Scurr pleaded guilty for accused, who was committed for sentence. Bail was fixed, self in and two sureties of ,£SO sach. i . ~