CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 100, 27 April 1880, Page 4

CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.

At the Police Court on Saiurday (says the Southland Times) Louis Schmoll, on remand, was charged with shooting his wife, Sophia Scbmoll, with the intention of killing end wounding ber, on the 7th instant. Inspector Fox conducted the prosecution. The prisoner, who was undeftnded, appeared to feel his position most keenJy, and burst into tears several times during the hearing of the case. The firct witness called was Sophia Schmoll, wife of the accussed, who deposed that she resided with her husband and five children io Jackeonstreet, East Invercargill. She went to bed about 10 o'clock on tbe 6th instant, and her husband followed about au hour afterwards. He got up at midnight and went into tbe kitchen. About half-past three, while witness was lying in ber bed awake witb one of the children, accused canoe into the room wiih a lighted candle in his hand, which he placed on a chest of drawers near the bed. He came up to tbe side of the bed, and witness thought he. was goin» to look at the child, when all at once, without the slightest warning, sbe received a heavy blow on the forehead. She heard a great noise, lut at the time did cot know from wbence it proceeded as she was so confused. Prisoner never epoke at the time. Witness heard something drop on the floor, whieh sounded fco her like a'piece of iron. She then jumped out of bed and ran out of the room. She tben felfc blood trickling down her face. Prisoner ran outside, but she could not say in wbat direction he went. Did not see him again until an hour later, when he came back with a policeman. Did not know that there was a pistol in fhe house. There was no powder either, thafc she knew of. She was aware that her eldest son had some cartridges about the place. On the 6th inst. prisoner appeared very, confused. He came home as usual for his meals, bu£ was nofc so good temper. He was employed ht Messrs. Pleming and Gray's flour mill, in Tyne-street. He bad teen jealous of witness for seven or eight mon ts, and during the last four or five months bad often threatened to take her life. On cme occasion she asked Dr. Hannan to examine him, but he never came. She frequently thought he was nofc quite right in his mind. She was in bodily fear of him for many months. He was often in the habit of getting up during the night. He was always a sober man. Besides the wound on her forehead she had her face marked with gunpowder. t?he picked up the pistol off the floor; alao a pebble (both of which .were produced). After some further evidence, accused

said be wished to make a statement. After some unintelligible remarks h6 said that last Sunday he went with three of his children to Mr Ward's church. "When he returned home to dinner he could get no satisfactory answer from bis wife to any questions he asked to her. One of the children was unwell, and he went to the chemist to get some medicine. On his way he saw the Rev. Mr Bunn and several men in deep conversation. He mentioned i thia faet to his wife on his return home, when she called him a d d hypocrite. Prisoner said, " Oh, Sophy, dear, remember this is Sunday ; you should not speak so." On Monday morning he went to his work, but not being well he returned home again. They were both quiet on Monday. On Tuesday he went to work again, and returned as usual to dinner. She laid it on tbe table, and eaid, " I hope you'll die after it." On returning again for tea he told her he had seen the Eev. Mr Ward, when she again called him a hypocrite, and used other insulting and irritating language. The pistol used was loaded three or four months ago. He kept it in his possession to take his own life if his wife continued to annoy him. Prisoner was then committed to take his trial at the next criminal sittings of the Supreme Court.