THE ASSAULT ON MR. J.L. KIRKBRIDE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XIII, Issue 4303, 24 December 1892, Page 2

THE ASSAULT ON MR. J.L. KIRKBRIDE.

Albert Thomas appeared on remand at the Wellingro'ii Police Court yeß- - terday morning before Mr H. W. ! Robinson, K.M., to answer to the j charge of having assaulted John Law Kirkbrido with a hammer on 26th November with intent to kill, ~ Sereeaut-Major Rainsay appeaaij;. to prosecute, Mr Poynton appeafagV for the acoused. The first witness called was John Law Kirkbrido, who. being sworn, deposed that he was the principal proprietor of the' Evening Press. He. resided' in Peroeval-atreet, Mrs ■ Stewart keeping house,'.and a servant girl coming in the day time, Witness retired to bed about ten o'clock on the' evening ■of 25th November. A few minutes after fonr o'clock next morning he was awoke by a blow ,on the head, He sprang out of bed, but unfortunately his sight was injured by the blow, and he could not see his assailant plainly. The man was able, owing- to witness 1 condition, to keep him off with his hands while he re* treated gradually to the door. When the man reached the door, lie closed it quickly, in an endeavour no doubt toshut witness in. Witness, how« eyer, shoved Ms l bare foot between the -joint and prevented tUMHe followed the man, who had \ front door. Witness'sight had now\', returned, and he saw crouched down on the verandah near I tho Rate, Witness beoaihe giddy, and , stood at the front door looking at the ' mail, hut unable to more. The man ovidently.saw' witness' condition, and took'advantage of it to open, the gate and disappear. Witness could not see the man's face, and lub impression was that it was covered. Beseemed to hold his arm over it, v Saw, bow* ever, how lie was dressed, and that he had what appeared to he a macintosh under his arm. , Witness returned to his' bedroom after' the man went away,. Mrs Stewart had by thistioie been. aroused, She picked up a hammer (produced) at the: side of witneuu 1 bed. Had never seen the hammer befofe. Witness "described his assailant to Detective Berbertthat morning. Mr Poynton asked that this description, which was taken down in writing, should be produced. • • Sergeant-Major Kamsay agreed to' this,. . : Mr Kirkbrido continuing his,j|(U dence, described tho. dress of the man who assailed iiiln, Had never seen the man beforo; | Saw the accused at'* the police station this morning. H& was there with half a dozen others. Witness picked him out at once as his assailant. The servant girl came to ! witness'house''about 7 o'clock in tho morning, get'tihg in by taking the key from -under! the door mat; 1 where it was always kept, and opening the | door with it, and on the morning of . the assault the key was in the door.

Examined by . Mr' Poynter : Described hia assailant to tho police aa about 20 years of ago, and wearing a white billy-cook hat. Was euro of hiiidcßoriptionofthemon being correct, but waß a bit dazed when telling the police, and might not have made it so very clear. Could not say when accused was crouching by the gate. When witness first aaw him by the gate his (acoiised's) hand was on the latch of the gate, and was trembling. Did not seoacoused with any weapons, but Mb them. Did say whence first saw the accused this " I don't know any of theao except this one,' 1 pointing to the acoußod. This was after he'first glanced round. He afterwards, on taking a better look, became certain accused was the man. The door mat might easily bs shifted and the key exposed.' Tho whole ooourrence of the assault lastod, he supposed, about 5 or 7 minutes. Had a clear idea of all that took placo. His brain was not muddled by the blow. Did not think he tad any blood on his hands until after tho acouaed had gone. Dr Collins gave evidenco regarding the extent of Mr Kirkbrido's injuries. Mrs Mary Stuart deposed that she lived in Poroeval Street, Mr Kirkbrido residing with her aB a boarder. A few minutes after 4 o'clook on the morning of the 26th November, she heard a noise in the house. It seemed as though it came from tho verandah. No one answered when alio called, asking what was the matter and she therefore got up, She found 'Mr Kirkbride standing by the street do«f which was open, Ho was leaning upon the door. She asked what was tho matter. Ho turned round and she then saw he was covered in blood, Sho assisted him to bisroom,and then went for assistance. In Mr Eirkbride's room she found the hammer 'produced. Had a servant in her employ named Kate Amos about July last. Tlio girl was only there for a week. She used to get into tho house in the morning in the manner described by Mr Kirkbride. Was not aware this girl kept company will) anyone, ThoughtacoußPd came to her house with a message about the girl one night. Could notawear that accused was the man who brought the message as it was in the Wilight. Had bad other servant. Tho key had always been left, under'the mat overy day since July i QS t, Mr Kirk, bride left tho key under the mat every evening. Did not think there was any blood on Mr Kirkbride's hands the morning of the assault, whon wita A first saw f

Catherine Amos deposed that she bad known tbo accused about too years, More in Cbrietchurch than in Wellington, Came to Wellington about 7 months ago. Had kept company with him for about 2 years, and up to about 5 weeks ago. Was in witness' employment for a week some six months ago, Was keeping company with accused at that time, Accused bad accompanied ber on three or four mornings to Mr Kirkbride'a house, He only went part of the way, He could not see the front door, Never bad any conversation with him about the way eho entered the house. He used to go home with her in tbe evenings, Never told Bim where the key'was kept. Had told .. Detective Campbell that accused have known where the key was kept. He may have heard ber tell her mother. So far as she knew tbe accused had never Been her take the key from under the mat. Remembered sending accused to Mr Kirkbrido's, with a message,, ; m Maud Deinpsey deposed that'tha accused boarded with ber'mother some time ago, He was thero last month; From the position of the room he could go out of the house without being heard.„ She wa'a not aware that he was in the habit of going fishing in the morning. Could not romember thn day she saw accused with a coat rolled up in a bundle. It was in the evening! ■ ;

, Oroas'oxamined: • She,, only ..saw bim with the.coat once. . The door of the hoaso was generally locked at night, Witness usually opened it in i tbe morning.

housekieppi', : deposed that accused lodged with ' her, and gave evidence similar to that given by her daughter. Cross-examined: Was certain accused was in M and asleep on the night of 25th Novoiuber. He o«me down to breakfast in tie usual way. All the doors hud been locked us usual 60 far aa she knew, Re-examined: She did not see the accused at breakfast on the morning of the 26th November. Sheaskodihe girls if thoy were all at breakfast as usual, and tbo girls said yes. Accused bad not pajd for his bourd. At 1,15 the Court adjourned for litnoh.—Press,