ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2514, 21 August 1888, Page 2

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

—« (BY TELEGRAPH.—-PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Thames, Monday. William Davis, a milkman, was murderously assaulted by his wife on Saturday night, about 11 o'clock. John Lloyd, who resides at Mount Pleasant, was awakened by a boy in hi.s employ, who informed him that Mrs Davis wished him to come to her house, as she and her husband had had a row, and she was afraid that she had murdered him. Lloyd accompanied the boy to Davis' house, and on entoring found the inmates (Mrs Davis' girl and three children) in a room at the back of the house clustered together. The body of Davis was lying on the floor. On examining it closely he found that the head, beard and face were smothered in blood, and the features impossible of recognition. The principal wounds were on the temple and head, and from each gash blood was slowly welling forth. Lloyd ran for Dr. CalUn, who returned to Davis with him, and they procured a bucket of water and removed the blood from the face and head of the wounded man. When the serious nature ot the wounds was observed Dr. Calliin concluded to convey Davis to the hospital at once, and a cart being procured this was done. Davis and his wife have not been living on good terms for a considerable time past, quarrels between them being of frequent occurrence. Mrs Davis gave the following version of the affair. On Saturday night Davis came home under the influence of drink, and while undressing he commenced to quarrel with his wife, and subsequently (as she alleges) took up a largo butcher's knife, and threatened to cut her throat. At this time Mrs Davis was in bod, and fearing that he would can-y out his murderous threat, she caught up a tomahawk that was on the window-sill (close to the bedstead), and struck at her husband several times. She inflicted no less than seventeen woHiids on her husband's head, which is terribly mutilated, being one mass of severe cuts. Mrs Davis, when arrested by the police, remarked, " I'm sorry I did'nt kill him." The reason that the tomahawk was at hand is explained by Mrs Davis that she bad been using it for the purpose of driving nails into the, wall. Sergeant Murphy subsequently arrested Mary Davis and she was brought up at tho Police Court to-day charged with attempted murder of her husband and remanded for eight rlays. It is now thought there is possibility of Davis recovering as the doctor thinks there is no immediate danger. Davis has been married to his present wife for about five years and he is described as being honest and industrious.