STATEMENT OF THE VICTIM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 361, 20 April 1889, Page 3

STATEMENT OF THE VICTIM.

Mary Ann Wilson deposed ; "I know the accused ; I have known him to the best of my knowledge about three months. I have been living with him. - I lived with him about two months. I have lived with him at Tupaki and Waikomiti. I remember Friday night, thssth ot this month. I lefD Auckland with him for Waikomiti about midnight. It mu&thavebeenafterllo'clock. The hotels were closed. I remember getting as far ps Arch Hill. Both of us wenb into the bushes to have a rest when we gob to Arch Hill. I don't know if it was midnight. I had had some drink, .but was not so drunk as I he accused, because he had a bottle of beer, and drank it all himself. When we were in the bu&hes together, I must have been asleep, as I do not remember what first took place. When I awoke I found him stretched on the top of me with a knife in his hand. 1 tried to prevent him getting at my throat and he dragged the knife through my hand. When lie could not cut my throat he stabbed me there (pointing -to her bieastj. He stabbed me on the right breast. I don't think he stabbed me more than once. When he stabbed me I must have fainted, as 'I did not wake until the morning. -I was groaning and moaning with pain when he awoke. It must have been early in the morning. I asked him to give me a drink of water and he -did so. Then he broke down some ti-tree for me to lie on and wanted to goawayand give himself up to the police, and I said, " Oh don't leave me to die, you come to the Hospital with me." He came to the Hospital with me. He went,away very quick. ' I have "previously stated I could not tell who stabbed me. The accused asked me not to tell, and I didn't like to punish him. I didn't provoke him in any way to use this violence to me. He was saying somethingwhile he was on the top of me, bub 1 could nob tell what it was. I have marks on my neck and hands from the injuries I received. He pushed me down on the Wednesday before the Friday. I remember getting the letter (marked A) from the accused,- He' always .spoke in English to me. I can't tell what became of the knife." Cross examined by the accused : " You did do what I have stated you did. , No one else was present but you" and I." This was signed by mark, Mary Ann Wilson, and witnessed by J. P. King, J.P., S. Y. Collins, J.P., and E. Rawson, clerk. Louis Payet asked foi his solicitor Mr Hugh Shortland when asked if he had any questions. As he left the room when the woman finished her deposition he turned round to her and said, "C4od bless you," and then asked. " Are you very bad ?" Since his incarceration in Mount Eden Gaol Payet wrote a letter to Mary Ann Wilson. It was pub in as evidence, and read as follows :: — ~ puAR Mary Ann,— l was greatly sur. pi ised and grieved to find that I am charged with a wilful act against you, which I w ould bo the last to think of doing, and of which 1 have not the slightest idea or recollection, and if done by me must ha\e been a pure accident. I am very anxious to hear that you are mending or to know jusb how you are getting on, and till I do hear from you I shall be vei'y uneasy about you "in remembrance of "the old banes when we were happy together. This matter is in your hands now and the police will, of course, try to make ib out as-done wilfully, but you know that I was too ftfnd of you to let anyone do it, much less to do it myself. When you receive this, please leb me have an answer how you are getting on, and send full particulars. I am remanded bill" next week (Monday). I .hope to see you before very Ion" if all goes well.— l remain, yours 'affectionately, Louis Payet." DEATH OF THE WOMAN. Evidently Inspector Broham was just in time in taking the depositions of the woman, for ius'b as the parby were leaving the Hospital Dr. Beale came after them, and stated that the woman had fallen back dead. While she was making her statement she was interrupted by fits of coughing afc intervals, otherwise she did not appear near death to a casual observer. Y\ hen it became necessary for her to affix her mark to the document shewas&o weak that Inspector Broham rendered her some assistance. As soon as the business was done and the party had retired another fit of coughing set in and the woman died almost immediately, most probably from hemmorageof thelungs. When the woman wasfirstadmitted, Dr. Bell expressed the opinion that the lung had been punctured, and this has no doubt been he case.