>From the Grey River Argus, 9 May 1902 - A LOVERS' TRAGEDY. At the Circuit Court, Tamworth, Thomas Smith, aged 24, was indicted on a charge of attempting to murder Kate Ahern, aged 18, at Curlewis, near Gunnedah, on February 27th. A second count charged him with maliciously wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm. The case for the prosecution was that prisoner and prosecutrix were lovers, and that the former, as the result of jealousy, "and to spite her father, who was opposed to their engagement, attempted to take her life by attacking her with a razor. In the struggle prosecutrix received three gashes about the neck, besides several cuts on the hands. The occurrence was observed at a distance by several persons. Prosecutrix while giving evidence went into hysterics, and was carried out of court. She declared that she still loved him, and if he were free would be prepared to become his wife. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty on the second count, and prisoner was sentenced to 10 years penal servitude. On hearing the sentence pronounced prosecutrix had another fit of hysterics, and when taking final leave of prisoner she wept bitterly and clung passionately to him. ------------------------------------------------ Historic Australian Newspapers, 1803 to 1954 http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper Aherns in Australian Records http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~aherns/ahcrim.htm ------------------------------------------------