MURDER CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1937, Page 11

MURDER CHARGE

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY

NURSE'S GRAPHIC STORY.

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

AUCKLAND,- Tliis Day,

Charged with the murder of his wife, Mary Elizabeth Gage-Brown, aged 87, in Auckland on April S, William Percy Gage-Brown, aged 70, appeared in the Police Court this morning before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M.

Mr. V. N. Hubble prosecuted for the Crown, and Mr. A. H. Johnstone, ICC, solicitor to the Public Trust Office, ap-. peared for the accused, who was given a chair in the dock.

Joan Kathleen Chalmers, nurse, who had sometimes attended the accused when he was a-patient in the Auckland Mental Hospital, gave evidence that early in-April she left the hospital staff and ■ obtained a position as nurse-housekeeper -. with the accused and his wife at'their home' in Epsom. Awakened by .a .noise at 6.30 a.m. oh April 5, she entered Mrs.. Gage-Brown's bedroom arid saw her-lying on her back on the floor. Her husband was sitting on her chest, with a 41b weight in his hand. Witness, saw'him strike his wife on the head two or three times. She pulled him off and- went to the.window.:and called for help, The accused got away-from witness at the window and sat: down by his wife and. held her hand.' Both the Gage-Browns were in • night attire; ■ While the accused was sitting on the floor witness telephoned for Dr.. ; Roche. As she returned she saw Gage-Brown pick up the weight again, saying, "She, is still alive. I must-finish her-." At this stage two men came in to ■ help witness, and took the accused to his bedroom, after which a constable and Dr. Roche arrived. Mrs. Gage-Brown was unconscious when taken by ambulance to the hospital. . .: