COURT SENSATION

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 363, 26 October 1932, Page 5

COURT SENSATION

(Press Assn.-

WOMAN'S RASH ACT ENDEAVOURS TO PLUNGE PEN INTO HER THROAT HAMILTON INCIDENT

-By Telegraph.— Copyrlght)

Hamilton, Tuesday. A sensational. incident occurred in the Magistrate's Court this morning when Lynda Mabel Pearless, married, a well-dressed woman ofattractive appearance, aged 40, was dealt with by Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., on a charge of a breach of her prohibition order. Immediately after the magistrate ordered the woman to be committed to the Fakatoa Inebriates' Home fof a year she grasped a pen and attempted to plunge it into her throat. Struggling violently v^ith Sergeant Angland and Constable Watts, she was finally assisted from the ' Court shouting, "You wicked man!" Sergeant Angland said accused was prohibited on April 18 last. Her over-indulgence in liquor had eaused her to become a voluntary hoarder in a mental hospital for, two months. Last week, after a heavy drinking bout in Auckland, she was overcome with depression, partly as the result of alcohol and remorse, and attempted to take her life. Apart from the craving for liquor, she was far from disreputable and was well connected. Uncontirollable Dr. E. T, Rogers expressed the opinion that accused was uncontrollable so far as liquor was concerned. He had to order her to the Waikato Hospital. Reginald L. Pearless, husband of the accused, who is on bail in connection with the Arnold assault case, and will appear in Auckland on Thursday, said he could only look after his Wife when he was home, which was rarely. When the magistrate intimated that he was considering sending the woman to the Inebriates' Home she exclaimed, "I think you are wrong, and you know it. Must you report this in the papers?" Mr. Wilson replied that he reported nothing. All this trouble, he said, arose through the woman's over-in-•dulgence in liquor. The magistrate added: "She cannot control herself, and for her own safety and peace and the happiness of her husband and children there must be some reformation." The charge of attempted suicide at Hamilton last Wednesday and two other charges of breaches of her prohibition order were dismissed for want of prosecution.