MURDER TRIAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 103, 14 February 1950, Page 3

MURDER TRIAL

DEATH OF WOMAN A 1 OHAKUNE CROWN’S CASE BEGUN (P.A.) WANGANUI, Feb. 13. Charged with the murder, of * Mrs* Ivy Monica-Marsh, also known as Mrs Soper, aged .37, at Pokaka, near Ohakune, on January 24, Alexander Lennie Soper, a butcher and mill hand, of Manutahi, Taranaki, aged 40, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court today before Mr Justice Smith. Evidence called by the Crown followed the lines of that heard when Soper appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Ohakune. The case for the Crown was conducted by Mr N. R. Bain, and Mr L. N. Ritchie, of Raetihi, with him Mr E. H. de Jour, also of Raetihi, appeared for Soper.

Mr Bain said the accused and Mrs Marsh or Mrs Soper, as she was known in Pokaka, had been living together as man and wife. Three children had been born to them.

Joseph Thomas Peacock, a farmer, of Maungaturutaru, said in evidence that he first made the acquaintance of the accused in October, 1948, when he told the accused and Mrs Soper that they could have the use of his house if they gave him meals. They moved into the house in November, 1948. Later a man named William Charles Thompson came to live at the house, the boarding arrangement being made by Mrs Soper. At times the accused seemed satisfied with the arrangement; at others he was dissatisfied, and he had said that the sooner the Thompson children got out of it the better. On one occasion the witness found Mrs Soper crying. When he asked her what was the matter she had replied: “This dirty . cow has accused you of being the father of this child.” “I told her that was impossible as I had not known her three months,” said the witness. “Soper was present and I' asked him to apologise to the woman. Soper said he was sorry.”

Heard a Scream The witness then described hearing a scream on January 24 about 9 p.m. after he had gone to bed. Thompson rushed into the room and said: “You had better get up. Soper is here.” The witness then heard a scream and Mrs Soper saying: “Joe. Joe.” He went out and found Mrs Soper standing against the door frame with her hands across her stomach. She said that Soper had shot her. She died later. . , . Cross-examined by Mr de Jour, the witness said that Mrs Soper was a good housekeeper and looked after the children well. He thought she intended to go with Soper and live at Manutahi as Soper wanted. That was until Just before Christmas when she said she did not intend to live with him again, and that he had not sent her any money. At the time of the shooting there were 1G people in the house. Counsel: Did you ever threaten to shoot Soper on two occasions? The witness replied that he did not. Counsel: were you on friendly terms with the dead woman? The fitness: What do you mean? She called you Joe. What did you call her?—l, called . her Mona. Were you ever familiar with No-Cross-examining a medical witness, Dr. L. E. Jordan, of Ohakune, Mr Ritchie asked: “Would you suggest that this place was desirable for 1G people to live in, some of whom were children? The witness replied that it was not suitable, and was prejudicial to good health. The employer of the accused, John Herbert Couch, master butcher of Manutahi, said that the accused had been employed by him from November, 1949. The rifle produced belonged to the witness.

Evidence of' Boarder , . William Charles Thompson, bush hand, said' that on. the night of the shooting he heard voices on the veranda. He heard Mrs Soper say: “Keep your hands off me.” “I heard a bumping noise as if someone had fallen against the wall,” said the witness. “I went to Joe’s room to tell him to get up, rushed out, and when I got nearly out of the back porch I heard a shot from the front veranda.” The witness said he saw Soper leai>ing from the veranda. He was halfrunning down the front path. “I had not quite reached the veranda when I heard Mrs Soper say: ‘Soper shot me,’ ” said the witness. "Soper stopped, half-turned, and looked toward the veranda, pausing for three or four seconds. Soper then . went off ‘pretty fast.’ ” The hearing, which is expected to ) last three days, was adjourned till tomorrow. - v