NOSE BITING.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8834, 10 June 1907, Page 4

NOSE BITING.

Per Press Association. Buhedin, 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. i 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 halt an inch of the tissue of the nose on the righ> side and point was missing. Those injuries will result in permanent disfigurement. The bite had taken the tissue clean oft and enlarged the nostril. A plastic operation will considerably minimise the present disfigurement, but there will be considerable disfigurement all the same. Eliza Mary Hall said: I first met the accused some five or six .months j ago in Ohristchurch. He afterwards asked me to marry him, and we j went to Melbourne together; I returned to New Zealand, the accused j returning with me ; we arrived here i last Saturday week. ) The Sub-Inspector: On arriving at Port Glialmres did you and the accused have a quarrel?—Yes. What originated this quarrel?— Some letters, I think. Were you addressing post cards to other men for your sister? —I was. Did the accused get jealous?—Yes; he asked me who the letters were to, and I told him to miud his own business. Did McKay go drinking that day?—Yes. What took place at Athol place?— I spat in his face. Did he say any tiling?—He said my sister and I should not whisper, and asked what it was about. What happened then?—l smacked his face. He spoke to mo again and I scratched his face and kicked _ him. Then he caught hold of me as if he was going to kiss me, but.ho bit my nose. • 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 dare say this aggravated him a good deal?—l believe it did. Would you marry him if lie was acquitted of his charge?—l 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?—l saw the accused apparently kissing her; I heard my sitsor call out "My nose!" and I ran hack to try and pull McKay away; she said, too, "My uoso is bitten," and she screamed; I could not pull McKay away, and called to 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 the accused seem in a bad temper?—He was drunk. Have yon before heard him threaten to disfigure your sister?— Yes ; on two occasions. Annie Lyons, aged 13 years, gave evidence that she saw accused apparently kissing Miss Hall. She saw after that that they were struggling and going closer saw that accused was biting Miss Hall's nose. ' A man pulled accused off, and he then ran into a timber yard. William John Hall, father of the injured girl, stated that at about 83.0 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 lie 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 iie 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 £lO and two sureties of £SO each.