Ordeal for Wife

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 37, 13 February 1937, Page 19 (Supplement)

Ordeal for Wife

ATTACKED WITH HATCHET HUSBAND’S DUAL PERSONALITY That he had a dual personality and that one personality would do things of which the other knew nothing, was the statement of a doctor at Lewes Assizes recently, in reference to William Shipman, aged 59. As he had been out of regular employment for about six years, Shipman and his wife, Florence Elizabeth Shipman, had acted as caretakers of premises in Old Steine, Brighton. One night Mrs Shipman nagged him about being out of work, but he took no notice and they went to bed perfectly good friends. Then in the morning -the wife woke up with a severe pain in the back of her nock and head, and found her husband standing by the bed with a hatchet in his hand. She was able to take the hatchet away quite easily, but Shipman afterwards pressed a pillow over her face and also tried to strangle her by placing something round her neck. When Shipman was indicted for attacking his Wife with intent to murdor her, Mrs Shipman stated that they had been married 28 years. His conduct was inexplicable, but she recalled that he was blown up in the Russo-Japanese War, and had suffered from sunstroke. Detective-Inspector Polling reported that but for the present charge Shipman would undoubtedly have been sent lo a mental institution. Dr. Ivor Kinsley added that on the day after the offence Shipman suffered, from complete loss of memory, and was of unsound mind. Iho jury decided that Shipman was “Guilty, but insane, 77 and Mr Justice MacKinnon ordered him to be detained during the King’s pleasure.