A BRUTAL ATTACK.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4101, 30 April 1892, Page 3

A BRUTAL ATTACK.

An Infuriated Racon-Curer attacks his wife.

George Farmer, a bncon-ourer, made a brutal attack on l»3 wife at Ballarat od Thursday last. For some weeks Farmer, who is about thirtyeight years of age, had been drinking heavily, and at times his condition bordered on delirium, Mrs Farmer used her utmost endeavors to reform her husband, who, haying had a large and luorative business, is ni good circumstances, but without avail, In nearly every case her pleadings met with a bars!) rebuff. The police, too, have complr.ined of the riotous behaviour of Farmer, nnd the neighbours have been terrified at his eccentric conduct. . About ten o'clock on Thursday morning he returned to his home. When he entered the house Mrs Farmer and the servant girl, Mary Fitzgerald, were in a bedroom inspecting a new dress belbnging to the latter, and the man stepping into the room, asked " Where's my dinner ?" Mrs Farmer replied, " Dinner is not ready yet, it is only ten o'clock,"and Farmer said "I will have a drink then," and Mrs Farmer replied "You will not get one." Farmer then became greatly - excited and addressing his wife he exolaimed " L will do for you." Ho left the bed* room and went towards the kitchen, and arming himself with a large dinner knife he returned to the sleep* ing apartment in which were his wife and servant girl, In the meantime Mrs Farmer had placed several olothes trunks at the door to bail but he (Farmer) forced his way in, and knife in hand he made towards his wife. Mary Fitzgerald gallantly stepped in between him and his intended victim, and- endeavoured to seize his arm. Farmer thrust the girl aside, and clutching his wife by the throat, threw her on the bed, The poor woman, who was about thirty-live years of age and of alight build, struggled with her infuriated husband and screamed for help. Farmer cried " Shut up, sliut up I" ami thrust the blade of the knife into his wife's mouth, the full length of the steel going below the root of the tongue. Serious wounds were inflicted and blood flowed in streams from Mrs Farmer's mouth. Farmer made off, and when the woman was seen moving about the yard by a neighbour shortly after the brutal affair the knife was'still embedded in her neck, the handle protruding about two inches, Feeling weak from loss of blood, Mrs Farmer staggered to the house of Mr Dowtar, a miner, where her neck was bandaged, and the flaw of blood temporarily checked. . The sufferer hav • ing been put to bed, Dr Salmon was summoned, but owing to the peculiar nature of the injuries he was unable to make an examination of 'he throat. The condition of the. patient would not permit of her removal to the hospital, or of her trausfer to her own home. If the hemorrhage can bo permanently checked there will be a possibility of saving the woman's life. Farmer was arrested by. Constables Campbell and M'Pherson un a oharge of attempted murder.