ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 8

ACCUSED GIVES EVIDENCE

Auckland Murder Trial RELATIONS OF WIFE WITH AMERICAN (Er Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, -May 16. The trial of Thomas Philip Haworth, a’ed 32, on a charge of murdering his wife, Patricia Florence Haworth, at Otahuhu on March 16, was continued today before Mr. Justice Callan. • Bernard Dennison Osgood, U.S, Army corporal, gave evidence of meeting Haworth and his wife at a friends Place ■ last’ February. When he asked if he could visit them Haworth had,said, Yes, so long as your intentions are honourable." He visited Haworth’s house a ’ number of times and during the weekend prior to Mrs, Haworth’s death he stayed for two days. Witness twld Haworth that he planned getting a divorce from his wife in June, and it was suggested that Mrs. Haworth should get a divorce and marry him. They were talking all night over-it, and the next morning, wpeii witness was leaving, Mrs. Haworth fainted three times. The following M eduesday, in response to a message' from -Mr. and Mrs. Haworth that they wanted to see him, he was there again, but stayed only a few minutes, though he was with Mrs. Haworth from 7 to 11 o clock that night. . Cross-examined, witness said it A ' as planned that he should look after Mrs. Haworth till after the war. To his Honour, witness said that -Mrs. Haworth had asked Haworth if they were going to continue living under the same roof, and he had replied that it was. up to her. Witness admitted that he had kissed Mrs. Haworth, but said that nothing improper beyond that had occurred between them. After the Thursday of her death he received'a letter from her written earlier which was in endearing terms. Accused in Box. Accused said he and his wife had lived happily for their 10 years of married life and had one child, a- boy aged seven. There was a birthday patty for their boy Phillip and Osgood was present that night. He said, to witness: “You’ve got a great wife.” and then “You ean trust me.” Witness replied, “I trust my wile, too.” At his wife’s suggestion he agreed that Osgood, who was on leave, should stay the night. Osgood said he was due to return on the Saturday night. At about 9.10 p.m. on Saturday witness said it was time.to go, but Osgood said he wouldn’t bother, but would leave in the morning. “We were all sitting in the sittingroom.” continued witness. “My wife said to me, ‘We have something to tell '■ you. I am in love with Ossie (Osgood) and he is is love with me. He is coming back for me after the war.’ Osgood said, •Yes, that’s right.’ This knocked me, and I said,.‘ls this a joke?’ and my wife said, ‘No, it’s no joke. We mean it. We have made our plans.’ “I said. ‘What about Phillip I and she replied, ‘You can have him.’ W hen I asked what about-her father and mother, she said, ‘I am sorry about them, but -I’ve my own life to live and no one matters but Ossie.’ ” ■ Witness said there was some more talk, and he later said: “What are you going to do in the meantime?” She said, 1 don’t know.” , , , ~ „ . “I said to Osgood, ‘you had better fret out,’ ” witness added, “and my wife sum: ‘lf he goes. I go with him.’ I argued with them for two or three hours, and about 2 a.m. on Sunday morning Osgood lay down on a couch and my wife and I went to our bedroom. (Neither of us undressed and I did not sleep for about two hours. , “At 7.301 wakened and went and woke up Osgood and pointed to the door. He . had no sooner gone than njy wife called out something and dashed to the front door, Osgood was then going out of the gate, and she ran up to him and I followed. I tried to bring her inside, but she struggled and fell to the grass. When I lifted her up, she broke away and ran after Osgood.” , . Witness said he ultimately got his wits home and she went to sleep. Day of Tragedy. Referring to the day of the tragedy, accused said: “All that morning I was thinking how I could stop my home from being smashed up. I thought there' was only one way and that was to see Osgood and force him never to see my wife rngain. I knew he was in Otahuliu 1 and-'would visit her every time I was out of the way. I was working alongside a bench and I picked up a hammer and stuck it in my belt. That would be about 10 o’clock. This would be the onlv cliance since Sunday of seeing Osgob'd, and I was going to force him out of 4iy home, and I was taking the hammer to frighten him, and if it. came to a fight I wiiuld use the hammer to defend myself;'--- He was a much bigger man and about three stone heavier. “I cycled home and my wife was in the scullery. She said: ‘What are you doing home?’ I said, ‘Where’s that Yank?’ And she replied he was not there and went into the bedroom. I followed, her and caught her by the arm, saying, ‘Pat, please.’ She said it was no good talking, saying: ‘I told you on. Saturday night that I love Ossie.’ She pushed me away and struggled, and I went mad. When I came to my senses she was lying ou the floor bleeding and I had the hammer in my hand.” , Cross-examined by Mr. Meredith, witness said that when he left the works he felt pretty certain Osgood would be at his .home. Mr. Meredith: Did you think there was a possibility of a fight with Osgood ? Yes. Re-examined by Mr. Terry, he said he told his wife on that Saturday night that under no circumstances would he give her a divorce. This concluded the evidence, and toe addresses to the jury will begin tomorrow.