BROOMS AND BAYONETS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 9

BROOMS AND BAYONETS

WANTED TO CREMATE FAMILY EX-SOLDIER AT COURT Charging at his wife with a broomstick. threatening to cremate his family and talking longingly of the delights of a drop from the C.raftou Bridge are some of the hobbies of a mechanic, who appeared at the Police Court this morning on remand from yesterday. Accused, who blinked rapidly throughout the proce % ntts, was described os a mental case suffering from shell-shock as an aftermath of the war. He was charged with assaulting his wife on Thursday night and his wife also applied for a separation order. “On Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock he came home from the Evelyn Firth Home. where he has been treated since February IS.” said the woman. “He punched me on the mouth and drew blood. I was forced to get a constable and have him arrested to protect myself and my children.” Her husband had been peculiar for about eight years, said witness. She could talk to him for about an hour sometimes and then he would not know what she had been saying, or even that he had been addressed. He used to say he saw holes in the walls, where men with guns we I peering out at him. “Once he said he would cermate the whole family," said witness. “Another night he crept into the bouse and hid under one of Jhe boy s beds. Eater we found a large iron bar lie had left there. He might have killed us. He said, ‘Anybody could kill anybody in this house.’ He used to walk round and throw- his arms about in the air and scratch his head. ' Apart from these little idiosyncrasies, accused was quite decent in the normal spells, she told the court. He was very fond of his children, though he never had much consideration for her. He always said he had detectives watching her. “He charged me with a broom one day,” said the wife. “He said it was a bayonet charge, but he struck me with it, all the same. Another time, when we were walking over Grafton Bridge, he said it was time we. should all go.” Accused took an interest in proceedings and said: “So. I have been funny in the head for eight years, eh? What about you throwing a cup at me? 1 am willing to undergo any mental test, because I am mentally fit,” he said excitedly. Instead of asking his wife questions accused departed on a long rambling series of allegations against his wife until pulled up by the magistrate. “What about the cremation?” asked Mr. McKean. Accused: I know nothing about it. It is not true. It was explained that the wife did not want to break up her home, am? was applying for separation only as a protection. She would like her husband to undergo proper medical treatment. Mr. McKean said accused should go for proper observation for a while. Accused: I’ll go out present, but Fm going to engage counsel to-mor-row. I am all right. Accused was remanded for a month for medical observation, the application for separation to stand over In the meanwhile.