HUSBAND’S FRENZY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 193, 4 November 1927, Page 13

HUSBAND’S FRENZY

SORDID WHANGAREI CASE

WIFE ATTACKED. FURNITURE WRECKED (Prom Our Own Corespondent) WHANG AREI, To-da\. A dramatic sequel to a sordid case was heard in the Whan gar ei Magistrates Court on Monday, when the wife of John Thomas, a half-bred Portuguese, was granted a separation together wit h the custody of her children, and £. 1 15s a week maintenance. The question was again before Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., yesterday. At the conclusion of Monday’s case Thomas said he went home and did not see his wife till Wednesday, when he met her on the Taipuha Station, and finding that she proposed taking some of her furniture away threw her on the ground and tried to strangle her. The position was becoming serious when three strangers rushed up anl dragged him away from his wife, who had become black in the face. Thomas then rushed to the house where he seized an axe and demolished over £3OO worth of furniture, even pulverising the cutlery in his demoniacal fury. Gazing at the ruins sudden remorse must have seized him and he got on a train for Whangarei. immediately going to the police station and giving himself up. He admitted that “he saw red." and said he was afraid he would murder his wife when he saw her again. In sentencing accused to three months* hard labour, Mr. Levien remarked that it would be better in the meantime to keep accused under observation.