The Shields Evening News
Tuesday, February 15 1949
Page 1
SHIELDS PUBLICAN FOR ASSIZES
Forgives husband facing 'bid to murder her' trial
Mary Ellen Ariss, wife of a North Shields publican, who is charged with having wounded her with intent to murder her, told Tynemouth magistrates today that she had completely forgiven him for what happened and would have no fear of going home and living with him again.
She said of William Ariss (49), of The Crown and Sceptre, Stephenson Street, whom she married on Novenber 5 last year; "I have always benn on very good terms with my husband—always very happy. He has never in any way been cruel to me."
He was committed for trial at York Assizes on the murder bid charge, and on a charge of attempting suicide by cutting himself in the throat and stabbing himself in the chesy with a pocket knife.
The alleged offences are stated by the proscution to have taken place in the Ariss's home above the public house on January 26.
"SPLENDID CHARACTER"
After three witnesses had described Ariss as not being a violent man, a Police Inspector called him a man of splendid character, respectable, civil, mild and good tempered, well respected in the town.
Mr. R. W. Stokoe, defending, suggested there was insufficient evidence to send Ariss for trial on the first charge, and added, "But if you wish to send him on a charge of unlawful wounding. . ."
The Bench rejected this submission.
Ariss pleaded not guilty to the charges on which he was comitted.
WIFE'S EVIDENCE
His wife said on the morning of January 26 he got out of bed, went into the kitchen and brought back two cups of tea, and got back into bed. Later he returned to the kitchen. He started to scrape the bowl of his pipe with a pocket knife and handed his wife a cigarette.
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Page 8
DOCTOR SAYS WOUNDS ON HUSBAND AND WIFE
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He got back into bed and asked her to stay a little longer as they hadn't much to do down-stairs.
"Immediately after he just turned over towards me and jabbed me under the neck. I felt I was bleeding from the neck, and pulled the bedclothed over my neck."
She then felt a " twinge " on the chest as though something had pricked her.
Later, after running down-stairs. she saw her husband again in the bedroom bleeding from the throat and chest. He said to her, she alleged: " You were going for me. I am sorry for what I have done."
DOCTOR'S STORY
Dr. J. R. K. Robson, of Tynemouth Infirmary, told the court that he found Mr Ariss was suffering from, shock and four wounds—one on the neck, three on the chest. They were about an inch deep. His wife had a wound about two inches long and about a third of an inch deep, below the chin, and a small scratch on the chest.
Dr. Robson could not describe the wounds to Mrs. Ariss as serious. Her life was not in danger.
Ariss's brother Henry Ariss, said he saw his brother lying on the bed with a small penknife embedded to the full eztent of the blade in his chest and pulled this out.
DIZZINESS BOUTS
Det. Insp. A. Graham, of Tynemouth, said that when charged, Ariss replied: "I did not intend to murder her. My mind went blank at the time through ill health." and, charged with attempted suicide: "My mind went blank. I did not know what I was doing."
