MURDER CHARGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20036, 7 September 1939, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE

CLAVERLEY MYSTERY CASE AGAINST PATIENCE NO TRACE OF POISON TESTIMONY OF NEIGHBOUR (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Nine of the 43 police witnesses had given evidence when the hearing of the charge of wife-murder against Arthur .John Patience, was continued in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court to-day.

The public gallery was again well tilled with spectators. E. Pcrcival, iprofessor of biology at Canterbury College, described the habits of the sea louse commonly found on the coasts of New Zealand. He said that they moved in very large numbers. They were capable of dealing with a large amount of material.

Professor Percival said he saw no reason why they should not deal with a human body and strip it to a skeleton.

F. T. J. Grigg, Government Analyst at Christchurch, said he had examined the contents of the stomach of the woman found at Taratuhi beach and hc found no trace of poison. Talks With Neighbour Elizabeth Amelia McKay, a married woman residing at Taratuhi Camp, said that she first met Patience about 12 years ago. Up till the time that Mrs. Patience disappeared Patience and his wife had visited them quite frequently. Witness and her husband went to Clavcrley in August 193 G. Patience arrived some lime after and was joined by his wife later. .Mrs. Paticrtcc had been in camp for more than a year when she disappeared. “I saw Mrs. Patience every day, sometimes twice a day,” added witness, who said her (Mrs, McKay’s) hut was on the beach side of the camp. Mrs. McKay said she was very friendly with Mrs. Patience. “I think I was the only one she would discuss her private affairs with,” said witness.

On October 3 Mrs. Patience came to her house in the morning and again in the afternoon, said Mrs. McKay. Mrs. Patience was not too good in spirits, but her health was quite all right. Next day, Mrs. Patience again visited witness and she appeared to be rather worried. She had -not seen Mrs. Patience alive since that day. When Mrs. Patience did not call on October 5 she was worried and, early on October 6, she called at the hut occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Patience. The door was locked, which was rather unusual. A letter arrived for Mrs. Patience and witness re-addressed it jo Mrs. George, Riccarton, and posted it. Accused Annoyed On the Tuesday after his wife disappeared. Patience called for his mail. She told him about the letter for Mrs. Patience and what she had done, explaining that this, was the only way she had of letting Mrs. Patience's people know that Mrs. Patience was not in the camp.

“Patience was annoyed one! said my husband should not have allowed me to do it. I told him that I would do the same thing again in similar circumstances,” witness. Next Friday she met Patience and asked him if it were true hc was selling his furniture. He said “yes,” and when witness asked him not to sell it and to give Mrs. Patience a chance to come back, he said that what he could not sell he would burn. 1-Ie did not agree then, but later called her back and said she could keep them, and also asked her to keep two pictures for him. Patience told her that he. had not informed the police of his wife’s disappearance, but that he was going into Kaikoura next day and he might sec the constable there. On July 21 of this year, she identified the body of a woman as the body of Mrs. Patience. Bonfire Before Ilut Alice May Vellenworth, Taratuhi, said she formerly lived at Claverley Camp. On the morning of October 5, she did not see either Patience or his wife. Witness went round to see if she could rouse Mrs. Patience as she wanted to use her washhouse. St e knocked and, when there was no answer, she jried to open the door which was locked. Later in the morning she returned and, as she thought Mrs. Patience might be ill, she looked in the windows. There was no one in the rooms. The double bed had not been made. After Mrs. Patience disappeared, she saw Patience about the camp, but did not speak to him. On October IG, witness and her husband went to Patience’s, and as they heard h e was selling out they bought certain articles. During the sale she asked Patience where his wife was, and he said she was down town on holiday. Patience lit a fire in the front of his house at dusk just a day or two before the sale. She did not know what be was burning. The hearing is proceeding.