A SHOOTING SENSATION
A Woman and a Revolver
MRS. MOODY AND HER MAD MISSION.
Was Jealousy at the Bottom of it All?
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) Something akin to a sensation was caused in Maitland-street, Dunedin, about 3.30 on Monday afternoon, September 9, when it became known that Benjamin William James Moody, who carried on business in two shops in Princes-street, as George Moody and Co., tobacconist and hairdresser, had been shot, and that his wife had been taken into custody by the police on
A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED MURDER. The police were first informed by telephone by a woman who acts as housekeeper for Moody, that Mrs. Moody had ran amok. Chief-Detective Bishop, Detective-Sergt. Cameron and Constable Aitcheson at once proceeded to the spot in a motor car, and on arriving at the home of Moody found him in the kitchen, sitting on a chair in a dazed condition. The Chief-Detective had been informed by a little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Moody that her father had been shot.
Moody's arm seemed to be partially paralysed, and an investigation showed that a bullet had entered the left shoulder close to the arm, and had passed nearly through to underneath the left shoulder-blade. He was removed to Nurse Thomson's private hospital in Stafford-street, where he was attended by Doctors Barnett and Evans, who extracted the bullet. The bullet, it is understood, severed an artery, and the arm was considerably swollen in consequence.
Mrs. Moody, who was sitting on the pavement awaiting the arrival of the police, was taken into the house and afterwards removed to the police station on a charge of attempted murder. She had a seven- chambered revolver in the waistband of her blouse, one chamber containing an empty shell, which bore evidence of having been recently exploded, and the other six chambers being fully loaded with ball cartridges.
Mr. and Mrs. Moody had been living apart for some months, the latter having been absent from Dunedin for some time. She returned to the city about a week previous to the tragedy. She made her appearance in Maitlandstreet about three o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, and had
A TALK WITH THE HOUSEKEEPER of whom, it is said, she entertained jealous suspicions. This young woman became alarmed and went into "The Mansions," next door, and rang up Moody, who arrived promptly, and found, his wife in the backyard of the premises. She was in an excited state of mind. She also had their elder daughter, a girl of about 12 years of age with her, but the latter was in the house. Mr. Moody tried to put his wife off the premises, and a severe struggle ensued. He seems to have got her as far as the front gate, and had just succeeded in getting her through, when she whipped a revolver from her blouse and fired. By this time there were quite a number of onlookers, but the display of the revolver frightened most of them, and they fled in all directions. Moody called out several times: "I'm shot!" but this only had the effect of frightening the interested onlookers, some of whom took to cover and watched events. Mrs. Moody, quite coolly put the "shooting iron" back in her blouse belt or waistband, and allowed the injured man to find his way back to the house. She sat on the kerbing awaiting
THE ARRIVAL OF THE POLICE, and at once handed the Chief-Detective the weapon. It is understood that she purchased the firearm and took it to Sydney with her about twelve months ago, and had carried it ever since.
There are three children, two girls and a boy. The elder girl was taken care of by the mother, and the others remained with the father.
Mary Jane Moody stood in the prisoner's dock at the Dunedin City Police Court, the following morning, and was formally charged with attempted murder. She is a tall, thin woman, of good appearance, apparently about 30 years of age. In the vicinity of one of her eyes there was a discoloration, and one side of her face was swollen.
The Chief-Detective asked for a remand to Wednesday, the 18th inst.
Lawyer C M. Scurr, who appeared for the accused woman, offered no objection, and did not ask for bail.
Magistrate Young then granted the remand as asked for. Benjamin Moody is making good progress, and no serious results are anticipated. His appearance after the shooting was that of a man who had had a severe struggle. Blood was running down his cheeks, his hands were scratched, and the linen collar round his neck was hanging by the back button.
On the Saturday before the affray, Lawyer Scurr, acting on behalf of Mrs. Moody, had served Mr. Moody with a summons for judicial separation. After her arrest, Mr. Scurr had Mrs. Moody examined by Dr. Harrison, who found marks on her eye, nose and neck, which are alleged to have been caused, as a result of
THE STRUGGLE IN THE YARD. Moody started in business 14 years ago in a small way in a shop known as "The Palace," on the site of the present Grand Picture Palace. At that time Mrs. Moody worked as an assistant in the shop, and subsequently the employer and his employee married. Moody's wife still kept her position in the shop, and was apparently a hardworking woman, washing the saloon first thing in the morning, serving in the shop, and making cigarettes during the day, and doing her housework at night. After a while Moody started a branch establishment in the Octagon, which Mrs. Moody managed. Moody is now the proprietor of the two largest hairdresser and tobacconists' shops in Dunedin. The housekeeper, who aroused Mrs. Moody's jealousy, is described as an attractive young lady. Moody is said to bear an excellent character. After Mrs. Moody's return from Sydney, it is stated, that certain domestic friction arose which resulted in the untoward events recorded above. She left her house, leaving the three young children, all girls, in charge of her husband. Moody allowed her a handsome allowance, fixed through his solicitor, Mr. S. Solomon, K.C., and was obliged to employ a housekeeper to look after the children. Mrs. Moody then went to Wellington, where she got in touch with "Private Detective" Munn, and, with him went to Dunedin and stayed at a boardinghouse in Dowling-street. They occupied their time in watching Moody's house, and their nocturnal habits were so pronounced as to attract the attention of the boardinghouse-keeper, who reported them to the police. The sequel was the tragedy reported above. -NZ Truth, 21/9/1918.
ALLEGED ATTEMPTED MURDER
DUNEDIN'S LATEST SNESATION
Mary Jane Moody and her Husbans
A Graphic Story of a Struggle
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
Mary Jane Moody was charged at the Dunedin Police Court on Wednesday of last week with the attempted murder off her husband, Benjamin William James Moody.
Chief-Detective Bishop prosecuted and Lawyer C N. Scurr defended.
The chief "demon" said that on the afternoon of September 9, he was called to 198 Maitland-street, and was accompanied by Detective-Sergeant Don Cameron and "John Hop" Aitcheson. When he arrived there, he saw the accused sitting on the kerb of the footpath near the gate of her husband's house. He went to the house and there found Moody, who was wounded in the left arm. He at once had him removed to a private hospital in Stafford-street. He then took accused to the police station, where she was
CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, but made no reply. Witness produced a bullet which was given him by Dr. Evans, who stated that he had extracted it from Moody's shoulder. He also produced Moody's coat which had two holes in it near the left armpit. The material of the coat was much blackened and scorched in the vicinity of these holes; which suggested to witness that Moody had been shot at a close range. The two holes in the coat were caused through a fold in the garment. Accused had in her possession a five-chambered revolver, which was loaded in four chambers, and one an empty shell. Accused also had a box containing four cartridges similar to those found in the revolver.
Andrew Peter 'McCarthy, gunsmith, said that the revolver (produced) was a 32 calibre C. F. weapon, and the cartridges (produced) fitted it. The bullet extracted from Moody's shoulder also corresponded with those in the cartridges.
Benjamin William James Moody said that he had been married about 14 years. Accused's maiden name was Jopson, and they were married in Dunedin. Her people belonged to Central Otago. They first lived at Musselburgh, and lived fairly happily until after the third child was born. The three children were aged 12, 9, and 7 years. They had some domestic, squabbles and the services of Mr. S. Solomon K.C., were requistioned to draw up a separation order. Subsequently, Mr. Solomon's good services*were sought to draw up "a peace treaty." But this was treated as "a scrap of paper" as
"ANOTHER DECLARATION OF WAR" was made in January of this year. Witness then engaged a Miss May Medley as housekeeper to look after the children. As soon as the last separation took place his wife went to Wellington. She returned in July, and then went back to the windy city. She came back to the dour city a few days before the shooting took place. She went up to the house in Maitland street, and took the eldest girl Edna away and left her at a hotel. Witness then instructed Miss Medley to telephone him if accused returned to the house. At about 3 p.m. on September 9, witness was seeing a patient in the Stafford Private Hotel when he received a telephone message, and returned to his house. He went in by the front entrance. When he got to one of the bedrooms he found his eldest girl there, with some things in her arms, as if she were packing up. He told her to stop in the room. He then heard his wife's voice on the back verandah. She was speaking to Miss Medley in an excited manner. Witness took it that she was going to assault her, so he rushed out. He grabbed hold of accused from behind round the arms, and said: "You get out of this." He practically carried her over to the garage gate which was ajar. While he was getting her out her purse fell and her money scattered. He tried to get her out by the gate, but she put her body against it and closed it. Witness's right hand got jammed against the post. In trying to get his arm over the post she bit his finger. He got his hands behind her back, but he could not hold her on account of rheumatism in his wrists. They then faced each other, and he got her by both wrists. Previously, when he had the "lock" on her, she was calling out "Murder!" Witness said to her: "Will you go out?" She said: "Look at my clothes,"
WHICH WERE SPOTTED WITH BLOOD. The blood was from the bite on his hand. He let her go, and she stood against the garage at the gate. Witness then walked towards the house. He then heard quick steps, and on looking round saw accused throwing a big stone at him with her two hands. He "ducked" the stone, and then closed with her again. He jammed her into the corner of the gate. As he closed with her he saw her draw a revolver with her right hand from under her jacket on the right side. At that time he had hold of her left hand. He then grabbed her right hand, which held the revolver. He tried to keep her from using the revolver. The struggle continued, and they got a little farther away from the gate. Finally she got the revolver up in front of his left armpit and fired it. The bullet entered his arm near the left shoulder. Witness felt weak, but did not really think he was shot. His little girl ran over and said: "Put it down, Mummy; you'll shoot Daddy." Accused replied that the revolver was not loaded. Witness saw blood on his coat, and then knew that he was shot. He was gradually, getting weaker, and was losing the power of his arm. Realising that he had been shot, and that
IT WAS A FIGHT FOR LIFE, he decided to try to knock his assailant out with his fist. He tried to hit her on the jaw, but struck her somewhere about the eye. The blow was not effective. She then got his thumb in her mouth, and in trying to stop her from biting he forced her head back towards the gate. She would not let go the revolver, and the eldest girl appeared on the footpath near the gate. Accused could not bite him because he was forcing her head back with his thumb. He attempted to get hold of her windpipe with his teeth, but only skinned her neck. The eldest girl said "Give it to me," and accused then dropped the revolver and kicked it outside the gate with her foot. Witness was then absolutely exhausted, and he let her go. The girl got the revolver, and he went into the house. He was excited, and he believed his wife meant to kill him, and this prompted him to hit her and grip her by the throat.
Dr. Evans said that, acting on instructions by the police, he visited the private hospital where Moody was a patient, and, in conjunction with Dr. Barnett, examined Moody, who was
SUFFERING FROM SHOCK and a swelling of the left arm, due to a bullet wound. It was a small lacerated wound, and the edges of it were black. As no pulse could be felt, he concluded that the auxiliary artery had been lacerated, and an immediate operation confirmed this. An incision was made in the shoulder and the bullet extracted. That same evening witness, by instructions from Lawyer Scurr examined Mrs. Moody, and found the left eye blackened, the skin of the lower lid being broken in two places. The flesh was also swollen. He also found bruises on the right cheek, and a circular red swelling on the right side of her neck. There were also bruises on the left shoulder and above the right knee-cap.
Neil McNamara, a clerk employed by Park, Reynolds and Co., Ltd., auctioneers, said he came up in the Mornington cable car that afternoon, and when near Moody's residence saw Mr. and Mrs. Moody
SCUFFLING IN THE YARD. When witness was opposite the gate, the two stopped struggling and stood apart, arguing the point as to who had done the biting. Witness was leaving the spot when the Moodys resumed struggling, and he heard what he took to be a revolver shot and saw smoke. Moody called out that he was shot, and witness proceeded to the nearest telephone to call the police, who, however, had already been summoned, and were on the way up. Witness was present when Constable Storey asked the accused who had done the shooting, the latter replying that there had been no shooting; there must have been a mistake. Accused also told Detective Cameron that there had been no shooting and that she had no revolver.
Edna Moody, aged 12 years, said she remembered her mother taking her to Murphy's Criterion Hotel on September 5. That evening she saw her mother take a revolver from a box which she had in the bedroom. Witness asked her mother where she got the weapon, and the reply was that she had bought it in Sydney. It was loaded. When her mother was putting it back in the box she said:
"I'LL SHOOT HIM SOME DAY." She did not say whom. On the day her father was shot she saw her mother take the revolver from the box and put it under her waistbelt. Witness told her not to take it. She said she would. Witness went with her mother to her father's house. She went into her bedroom to get her things. When in her room she saw her father, who told her not to go out. While her father and mother were at the gate fighting she heard her mother call out "Murder!" She saw her father try to get the revolver from her mother. Witness ran away to a neighbor, and, on returning, her mother called her and gave her the revolver. She afterwards took the revolver from witness and replaced it in her belt.
Dorothy Moody, aged nine, said that she telephoned her father on the afternoon in question. She saw her father and mother fighting in the yard. Her mother had a revolver. Witness told her to leave father alone, and not shoot again, and she said she would not. Witness tried to take the revolver from her, but could not get it away. She told her to leave him alone and not shoot again. Later she saw her mother pass the revolver to sister, Edna. When she had hold of the revolver she smelt something.
May Medley (a prepossessing young woman) said she had been living at 108 Maitland-street since January last, keeping house for Moody. On September 5 accused visited the house, and took Edna away with her. On September 9 accused came to the house again. Witness was speaking to Mr. Wootton, a piano tuner, when she arrived. Witness instructed Dorothy
TO RING UP HER FATHER on the phone. Accused did not ask to see the children. Accused said to Wootton: "What are you doing here?" and he said he had come to tune the piano, the same as he had done when she was there. She replied: "You never came here unless my husband was in the house." Wootton said: "Excuse me, but I did." Witness left them talking, and went to attend to the youngest child and give her a drink. When she returned they were standing in the passage by the back door. Moody then arrived, and told her to go out and speak to accused, who was on the verandah then. Witness went out to her. Accused said to her:
"IT'S YOU, YOU BEAUTY." Witness said: "Yes," and accused said: "You are not fit to look after the children." Witness replied: "I think I have looked after them as well as you ever did. I did not allow them to sit round the fire and abuse their father, and dare them to speak to him when he came home. You allowed them to smoke cigarettes and called them — kids and little swine." Mr. Moody then came out and took accused by the shoulder and pushed her off the verandah. When they were near the gate Dorothy picked up her mother's bag and money which had fallen. Witness left the children in a room and went into "The Mansions" next door. When she returned she found that Moody was wounded in the shoulder. She found a rock near the verandah, which was not there when the couple commenced fighting.
Constable Storey said that when he arrived in Maitland-street he found accused sitting on the footpath. She appeared to be very much upset, and was crying. Edna was sitting beside her, and McNamara was there also. Witness asked her who did the shooting, and she replied that there had not been any shooting. Accused handed the revolver to Constable Aitcheson when he arrived with Detective Cameron.
Constable Aitcheson said he heard Detective-Sergeant Cameron ask accused where the revolver was, and she replied that there was no revolver. Witness demanded that she should hand over the revolver, and she replied: "Yes, I've got it," and, putting her hand inside her blouse, drew it from under the waistband. Handing it to witness, she said: "Be careful, it's loaded."
Lawyer Scurr did not cross-examine any of the witnesses.
Accused, who reserved her defence, was committed by Magistrate H. A. Young for trial, bail being allowed, herself in one surety of £150 and one surety of a like amount, which was forthcoming. -NZ Truth, 12/10/1918.
A DUNEDIN SENSATION
The Shooting of Moody
Charge of Attempted Murder Fails
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
Mary Jane Moody was charged before Mr. Justice Sim and a jury of twelve in the Supreme Court on Thursday, with the attempted murder of her husband, Benjamin William James Moody. There were minor counts of causing actual harm, and of assault, so as to cause actual bodily harm.
Accused was defended by Lawyer "Charlie" Scurr, and entered a plea of not guilty. Mr. W. C. MacGregor, K.C., was Crown Prosecutor.
Benjamin William James Moody, was the first witness called. He had not got far with his evidence before there was a slight scene. When reference was made to the issue of the marriage, accused
COMMENCED TO WEEP and became slightly hysterical. The witness also broke down, and it looked for a time as if the court would have to adjourn. The sobbing of the two was the only sound which could be heard for several minutes. Calm having been restored, the witness proceeded with his evidence which was on the lines of that given in the Lower Court and published in "Truth" at the time.
To Mr. Scurr: Witness was annoyed at his wife over taking the girl Edna away. He had not said he would make it hot for his wife. Learned counsel read a letter from witness, in which he had said: "Jean is down again to give trouble in the house. How I wish I had been there. She would have got it hot from me."
Counsel cross-examined witness as to the condition of the children's heads, suggesting that they were unclean.
His Honor: What has that to do with this case?
The Crown Prosecutor: The revolver was taken to shoot the lice!
His Honor: It is not relevant.
Learned counsel then proceeded to cross-examine as to the actual attempt. Witness said he only struck his wife once. Their heads might have got together, and accused might have got bumped accidentally. He never kicked her. Accused called "Murder!" while "he had "the lock" on her.
Mr. Scurr: Did she on two different occasions take proceedings against you for cruelty?
His Honor: What has that got to do with the case? What is the use of washing all Moody's dirty linen here?
Mr. Scurr: Were you in the habit of beating your wife? — No.
Accused (excitedly from the dock): You have; you have beaten me fifty times.
Lawyer Scurr then went forward to the accused and spoke to her.
Witness admitted that on the Friday previous to the shooting he had
CHASED HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER to Mr. Scurr's office. The two had taken refuge in a watchmaker's, Mr. Scurr's office being closed. Witness had not said he would smack his wife on the nose.
Mr. Scurr: You are a boxing man? — Well, I don't claim to be that.
Mr. Scurr: You have fought in the ring? — Yes. I have fought in the ring twice.
You know where to go for a knockout blow? You are a man of bad temper — I don't say I have the best of tempers.
Mr. Scurr: If your wife says your conduct was that of a wild beast, what will you say? — A man could not possibly be calm under these circumstances.
Evidence was given by Chief-Detective Bishop, Arthur Peter McCarthy, gunsmith, Dr. Evans, Neil McNamara.
Edna Gwendoline Rose Moody, a daughter of the accused, said that her mother had the revolver in her right hand behind her back. Her father had hold of her mother's left hand and was trying to get the revolver. Witness
SAW NO SHOOTING, neither did she hear the report of a revolver.
To Mr. Scurr: Witness's mother told her to pick up the revolver and run away with it. She did not say to run to Mr. Scurr's office. She (witness) saw Moody hit accused first. He hit her near the chin with his closed fist. She did not see any biting at all. She heard her mother call out "Murder." Moody was then holding Mrs. Moody's hands. Witness remembered saying to her father, "Leave mother alone," and he said, "I won't."
May Medley said she was engaged by Moody to look after his children. Her wages were 80s per week. She did all the housework. Mrs. Moody called on the Thursday and took away the eldest girl, Edna. Witness detailed what happened later on (already published in "Truth"), and was understood to say that Mrs. Moody adopted a sneering manner towards her.
Evidence was also given by Constables Aitcheson and Storkey, and the case for the Crown closed.
Mr. Scurr, in opening the case for the defence, said he would call Mrs. Moody, who would give a detailed account of the whole proceedings up to the time the police arrived, at her husband's house and arrested her. She would say that she had, since July 17, carried a revolver daily — and she found it necessary for her protection, and that it was not put in the waistband of her blouse that day with the intention of using it upon any person. It was not her custom. She had gone to the house to get Edna's clothes and see the other child, "Chatty," who was ill. She had been most greviously assaulted by this man. He had rushed her and jammed her against the wall, inserted
HIS TEETH IN HER THROAT, and she had felt herself done, and had used the only means she could to save herself from destruction, and that meant the use of the revolver. It was used in self-defence, and was a good defence in law.
Accused, being sworn, said she had three children. On September 5 she took Edna away. She went to her husband's home on the Monday and had then a revolver. She bought it to protect herself against men.
His Honor: What men?
Witness (after some wandering from the point): Any man that might accost me. Continuing, she said her husband had sworn to compromise her. The revolver was under her pillow of a night. That morning she put it in her belt as usual before she went to breakfast. She knew her husband would not be at home when she went to the house. "Chatty" (one of the children) was ill, and witness was breaking her heart to see her. She heard a woman and man discussing witness's judicial separation case.
She went in. A Mr, Wootton was there, and he said he was tuning the piano when asked what he was doing there. Miss Medley was there, and Wootton said I have known her for years; every girl to me is a sister. She asked Wootton if he was aware that that woman (Miss Medley) was living in adultery with her husband. He said: "You can't prove adultery." and witness said, "Oh, yes, I can. I and the detectives have been on the case for a fortnight." Witness went on to describe what occurred subsequently between herself and Moody.
Mr. Scurr: There is a conversation with Miss Medley, which may or may not be relevant.
His Honor: I suppose your client wanted to tell it.
Witness continued that her husband sprang up at the door
"LIKE A MAD BULL," and hit her three blows in the eye with his right hand and one across the mouth. He said: "You get out of this, you." Again, he used the same expression, and said. "You ___; you have drawn blood." He hit witness again on the shoulder. With his left hand he forced witness's head back and caught her by the throat with his teeth. She felt suffocating and sinking, and she remembered the little revolver. She whipped it out quickly, and put it somewhere into the armpit of her husband. It was all done in a moment. She knew her husband got so frightfully violent that he did not know what to do. After the shot was fired witness said: "You be quiet and I won't shoot again." Moody grabbed the muzzle of the revolver with his left hand while he held witness's left hand behind her head. He let go witness's throat. Then Dorothy (a daughter) appeared. Moody was sinking, and witness passed the revolver into Edna's hands. There was one struggle for the revolver before it went off.
Mr. Scurr then addressed the jury, his point being that what accused had done she was compelled to do in selfdefence. She had done no more than she was compelled to do.
The Crown Prosecutor, addressing the jury, contended this was wrong in law. The jury retired at 6.15, returning about an hour later with their findings.
His Honor said that the findings were negative in their application, but the general effect was not guilty.
Applause from the audience was quickly suppressed.
Accused was then discharged.
Mrs. Moody has since made application for alimony, and a judicial separation, and this will be heard before a jury of 12 during the current session. It is understood that Lawyer Hanlon will appear for Moody. -NZ Truth, 16/11/1918.
At Dunedin
(From "Truth's" Dunedin Rep.)
MOODY v. MOODY.
Sequel to a Shooting Case.
A sequel to the Moody shooting case, which, last September, gave to Dunedin its greatest sensation of 1918, arose last week, when Mary Jane Moody was granted a decree nisi, with leave to make it absolute in three months, in connection with her petition for a dissolution of her marriage with Benjamin William Moody. The grounds upon which the petition was based were those of misconduct. The respondent
DID NOT DEFEND THE PROCEEDINGS, though Mr. A. C. Hanlon rose up and said that it had been his client's intention to defend in the case of application for judicial separation. However, in the divorce action he had no instructions to defend and, after consenting to trial before the judge alone, he intimated that he would take no further part in the proceedings except in so far as they would, subsequently, have to do with the questions of custody of the children and alimony.
Mr. B. S. Irwin acted on behalf of Mrs. Moody, as he did on the behalf of the other three petitioners who had their matrimonial bonds that day severed by his Honor, Mr. Justice Sim.
Mary Jane, the petitioner, is a perky little lady of age and appearance that have not drifted beyond the limits of attractiveness. In her well-fitting gaberdine costume she was somewhat garrulous and often got out of hand in her inclination to introduce irrelevant details having to do with Moody's carryings-on with "Medley," as Mary Jane was pleased to dub the disturber of her domestic peace. Nevertheless, she made out a very clear case against her husband.
As told by Mary Jane, the story runs as follows: Mary Jane was married to Benjamin William, at St. Paul, Dunedin, on December 2, 1903. Though his name appeared on the marriage certificate as Benjamin, and over his business premises as George, his proper cognomen was Benjamin William. They had lived, sometimes happily and some time unhappily, until November, 1917, when
MARY JANE GOT OUT. Ben had a very nasty temper and (so Mary Jane said) insisted on having dealings with ladies to which she took exception. When she protested he told her he would continue to please himself, as it had nothing to do with her. When she finally left him, Mr. Solomon drew up an agreement, under which she was to receive £1 a week. Eventually, she went to Wellington in March, 1918, Moody having, in the meantime, taken the children away from her. In July she returned to Dunedin, having sent Bert William Munns, a private detective, ahead of her to watch the movements of her beloved Benjamin William. From July 13 to July 16, she and Munns kept the house in which lived Benjamin and his housekeeper, Mary Medley, under observation. Many details were then cited as to the hearing of a man's cough and a woman's giggle, at different hours of the night. Early in the morning of July 16, Munns flashed an electric torch through the partlyopened window of the room, and both Munns and Mary Jane saw — well, what they wanted to see. The shooting of Benjamin William occurred nearly two months after this interesting discovery. After his Honor had heard Bert William Munns recite, from notes taken at the time, his corroboration of Mary Jane's story, he wasted no time in scratching out the decree which Mary Jane sought, giving her £25 in costs by way of additional solatium. -NZ Truth, 1/3/1919.
SEVERING THE BONDS
DIVORCE DAY IN COURT.
A LENGTHY LIST.
There were thirteen applications for divorce, nine by the wives and four by the husbands, on the list which came before His Honor Mr Justice Sim in the Supreme Court this morning. A formidable array of counsel appeared in connection with these cases, none of which was defended.
MOODY v. MOODY. Mary Jane Moody (petitioner) v. Benjamin William James Moody (defendant), an application for variation of order of custody and for reduction of alimony. Mr J. S. Sinclair appeared for the respondent, the applicant in this instance, and Mr W. G. Hay appeared on the other side. Mr Sinclair said the parties had come to an arrangement, and asked His Honor to approve of a draft order submitted. The position was that one of the girls of the family had reached twenty-one, and respondent was entitled to have the order reviewed. His Honor made an order in terms of the draft. -Evening Star, 16/2/1925.
Ten years after the above, Benjamin is in court being sued for money owed a furrier for adjustments to his wife's fur coat. The wife gave evidence, her name being reported as May Moody. May Charlotte Moody died, as a recent widow in 1962, the address in her burial record being the same as that of Benjamin who had died the previous month.
Mary Jane died a decade later, at the Central Mission Home in Andersons Bay.
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