'DRAGGED BY HAIR’

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20744, 2 March 1939, Page 8

'DRAGGED BY HAIR’

EVIDENCE OF WITNESS GISBORNE MURDER TRIAL SCUFFLE IN HOUSE DESCRIBED (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) GISBORNE, Thursday The trial of Dave Grace, on a charge of murdering his wife, Matekino Grace, at Tuparoa, on December 10, was continued before Mr Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court this morning. Nehe Grace, a brother of accused who yesterday gave evidence regarding the accused’s attack on deceased, was cross-examined at length regarding the incidents. Witness said he did not interfere becadse he was afraid of accused and was not much good in “ rough and tumble.” Asked by the Judge if he had ever seen accused strike his wife previously, witness replied in the negative, adding that whenever they had arguments he went outside. Dress Torn Off A nine-year-old daughter of accused, by a former marriage, Matemoana Henry, also gave evidence of a scuffle in the meeting-house on the night her mother was injured. Her mother's dress was torn off by accused, and when they returned, after being in the kitchen for some time, accused was carrying deceased, who had no clothes on. “My mother was then placed on the bare floor and accused later dragged her out to the verandah by her hair,” added witness. Accused then took a mattress and a blanket out to her find he came back and went to bed inside the meeting-house. The luncheon adjournment was taken at this stage.