A WIFE’S HONOUR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3271, 17 July 1911, Page 3

A WIFE’S HONOUR.

ENGLISHWOMAN’S TRIAL FOR SHOOTING A MAN. STRUGGLE IN THE DARK. Ail extraordinary tragedy, in which Mrs Proudlock, an English lady, is charged with the murder of Mr Steward, a mine manager, at Kuala Lumpui on the night of Sunday, April 23, has.lately occupied the attention of’the Singapore courts.

According to the evidence given at the 'preliminary inquiry by a magistrate, the facts of the case are as follows:

Mr Proudlock was on the Sunday night dining with a friend, having left his wife at home. She, in accordance with, her usual custom, was in evening dress. Shortlv before nine o’clock a native servant rushed in and summoned Mr Proudlock to return home. He did so, and was met by his wife on the verandah

Mrs Proudlock. whose dress was torn and stained with blood, and who appeared almost demented, ran to her husband crying, “I’ve shot a man.” He questioned her, but she could only say, “Blood, blood,” and “He ran, he ran.” The husband followed her glance and went into the garden 1 . There he found the body of Mr Steward lying in tlie rain. There were six’bullet wounds in the head and body. When his wife had regained her composure a little she said that Mr Steward had called soon after her husband left. He asked if Mr Proudlock was in, and made no sign of going when told he was out. She was only very slightly acquainted with Mr Steward. As lie did not depart she talked to him of indifferent topics, such as the level of the river. The conversation turned to religion and she rose to take a book from a shelf.

At that moment, she said, Mr Steward rose, put liis arm round her, and kissed her. He turned off the electric light, and would not let her go. She struggled and called for the servants. No one answered. She fell against her husband’s desk, and felt tlie butt of a revolver against her hand. She clutched it and fired. Mr Steward gave a cry and ran on to the verandah. She, not knowing (as she maintained) what she was doing, followed him, and fired again and again until she lost sight of his white coat in the garden. A servant who heard the shots then ran and fetched her husband. The evidence of the police and servants bore out in the main Mrs Proudloclc’s statements. ■ Other evidence showed that Mr Steward had left some friends just before the tragedy, declaring that he had an appointment. Mrs Proudlock. was refused bail and committed to the assizes on the charge of murder. [More recent news stated that Mrs. Proudlock: was sentenced to death, but was later reprieved by the Sultan.]