A TERRIBLE NIGHT

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1930, Page 13

A TERRIBLE NIGHT

TOWNSEND REMANDED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) NEW PLYMOUTH, 16th Sept, The New Plymouth Police Court was crowded when Alexander Townsend arrived under escort at 2 p.m., charged with murderoofif his wife, Cora Alice Townsend. Ho was represented by Mr. L. M. Moss, who agreed to the request for a remand till next Wednesday.

Mrs. Townsend had been living apart from her husband, it is understood, and she and her daughter, aged 17, were boarding at a house in Strandoii. On Tuesday afternoon Mrs. Townsend went to town, where she met Mrs. Vickers, who arranged that she should visit her place in Saekville street to do some sewing. That evening Itrs. Townsend visited the house, and when she was I about to depart for her lodgings at about 10.30 p.m. it commenced to rain' heavily, and she decided to.wait. In the meantime a man knocked.at the door and asked for Mrs. Townsend. After speaking to her for a brief period he was ordered by the occupier of the house to leave. It is alleged that he returned to the house periodically. He wanted Mrs. Townsend to go with him to a ear outside, but she would not. During one of his absences, Mrs. Vickers suggested she should telephone the police to remove him from the property, but Mrs. Townsend would not agree because slip was afraid of creating a scene. .. . ■ . Eventually it was decided to lock the door, and that Mrs. Townsend should lie on a couch in the sitting-room till morning. In. the house besides Mrs. Townsend were Mrs. Vickevs, ■ her adult ■ sister, I and two girls. . : j DISTUKBANCB AX NIGHT. Some time after midnight the household was disturbed by someone trying the back door, and later someone was heard to break the frenca windows between the veranda and the sitting-room. Voices were heard. - t One of the women got np and looked into the room, and being frightened .; at the appearance of the man she went j to a neighbour's place to telephone the police. While she was away the man came out to Mrs. Vickers and asked her where the telephone was. Upon being told ho toro off the receiver; then he returned to the sitting-room. - ' . ' Some further argument appeared to take place, after which screams were beard. Mrs. Townsend was found sitting on the floor. Her throat was badly cut. There was no sign of the man who had been seen previously. Mrs. Towiisend was a daughter of Mr. P. Latham, a farmer, of Onaero. It is alleged that Townsend arrived at Onaero early yesterday morning, when he appeared at Mr. Latham's place. Mrs. Townsend's sister spoke to him. A telephone message was sent to the police, and subsequently Constable La Pouple arrived to make the arrest. Townsend is 53 years of age, and is described as a farmer-labourer. He was farming in the Hamilton district till 18 months ago, then he sold his farm and came to live at New Plymouth.