ATTACKED HIS WIFE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 676, 31 October 1933, Page 5

ATTACKED HIS WIFE

(Press Assn.-

DEFENCE OF INSANITY PUT FOR WARD IN GORDON CASE DOCTORS DIFFER

—By Telegraph — Copyright).

Auckland, Monday. The defenee of insanity was set up at the. trial to-day of John Shaw Gordon, aged 68 years, a retired bricklayer, on a charge that with intent to do grevious bodily harm he did actual hodily harm to his wife, Nellie. The Crown alleged that in the early morning of August 31 Gordon attacked his wife with a hammer, and then attempted to commit suicide. The Crown prosecutor said that in a case of this kind the wife might give evidence against her husband, but in New Zealand she could not be compelled to do so. In this case the wife would not be a witness. Evidence was given on the lines of .that in the Lower Court. Counsel for the defenee questioned a medieal witness to show that accused's mentality might have been affeeted by a discharging wound, which was found when he was examined. Aecused's son, aged 20 years, said his father was of -peculiar disposition, and seemed over-sensitive to a noise. Dr. T. B Short said he was satisfied.that aceused was insane. He had a sense pf grievance against his family and delusions of persecution. His condition was the result of chronic alcoholism, probably accentuated by chronic suppuration of a sore on the hip. Accused might have lcnown what he was doing when he attacked.his wife, but witness did not think he fully understood the significance of it. Dr. H. M. Buchanan, superintendent of the mental hospital, said he did not.find any symptoms of insanity in accused. There was nothing unusual about his mental condition for a man of 68 years. His peculiar behaviour consisted of foibles. Dr. G. M. Tothill eorroborated Dr. Buchanan's evidence. Found Guilty After a retirement of 35 minutes, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on the second count (a charge of assault so as to cause actual bodily harm) and guilty of attempted suicide. S'entence was postponed.