MURDER CHARGE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 10

MURDER CHARGE

DEATH OF WIFE TRIAL OF PATIENCE NEIGHBOURS' ST OKIES TALKS WITH ACCUSED WOMAN'S DISAPPEARANCE (Per Fitss Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Neighbour:; al Clavcrley camp were the principal will teases lor the Crown heard yeYerday at the trial in the Supreme Court of Arthur John Patience, aged 48, a labourer, chargcci with wile-murder on October 4.

Mr. A. T. Donnelly, with him Mr Alan Brown, conducted the Crown case, and the accused was represented by Mr. R. A. Young, with him Mr. T. A. Gresson.

Mrs. Elizabeth Amelia Mackay, Taratnhi public works camp, said she knew Patience quite well. She met him 12 or more years ago, when she was living at Cheviot. He at the time was employed at Mendip Hills station. She saw Mrs. Patience evciy day when she was in Clavcrley camp. She and Mrs. Patience visited one another and discussed together one another's affairs.

On October 3 she saw Mrs. Patience in the morning, and again in the afternoon. Mrs. Patience was quite well but unhappy. On October 4 she saw Mrs. Patience in the morning and again in the afternoon. Mrs. Patience came to her house in the morning and she went to Mrs. Patience’s in the afternoon. Mrs. Patience was short of money and was worried over it. She did not see ’Mrs. Patience again until she saw her body in the morgue at Kaikoura this year.

On October 0. since Mrs. Patience had not come to see her, she went up to her liut about r. 45 in the morning. She knocked and, getting no reply, she tried the door. It was locked. This was unusual. Letter Readdressed On Friday of that week, October 7, a letter came for Mrs. Patjence, witness continued. Mr. Mackay had charge of the Post Office, and the letter therefore came to her. She readdressed it to Mrs. George. Mrs. Patience's niece at Riccarton. The next Tuesday night. Patience came and asked for his mail. He said he wanted the letter that came for Mrs. Patience the week before. She told him she had sent it to Mrs. George, because it was the only way she had of letting Mrs. Patience’s relatives know. He was very much annoyed with her over this, and asked her husband and son why they had allowed her to do it.

She next saw Patience on the following Friday. A neighbour had come down and told her that Patience was selling Ills furniture. She went up and met him on the way home from work, and asked if it was true that he was selling his furniture. He said that it was true. She asked him to wait and give Mrs. Patience a chance to return. He said that what he could not sell he would burn. She asked him why he did not report his wife’s disappearance to the poiice. He said lie was going to Kaikoura on next Saturday and he might see Constable McLennan. She told him to leave the “might.” out and do it.

Clothing Identified

Mrs. Mackay identified the clothing produced in court as the clothing which belonged to Mrs. Patience.

Replying to Mr. Young, Mrs. Mackay said that she was very fond of Mrs. Patience. She was a good woman and well liked by everyone in the camp.

Mrs. Alice May Vellcnowelh, Tara* tuhi, said that she used to live at Clavcrley with her husband. She last saw Mrs. Patience between 7.20 and 7.30 p.m. on October 4, covering up wood outside her house. Patience had a motor car, which nc kept outside his hut. She was more or less accustomed to seeing Mrs. Patience about in the mornings, but she did not see her on the morning of October 5. She went over to Mrs. Patiences hut and found that the door was locked, and she could get no answer to her knock. Later in the morning she went back and looked in at the windows, but there was no one there. There were two rooms with beds, and there was a kitchen in between. The double bed was not made.

Gone For Holiday

Oni October 16. witness continued, she and her husband went to a sale held by Patience and bought some goods which were produced in court. She' asked Patience where Mrs. Patience was. and he said she had gone.to Christchurch for a holiday. Answering Mr. Young, witness said that her house was very close to Patience’s. If a person spoke in a loud voice in Patience’s house, it would most probably be heard in her’s.

She said that Patience did not ask her to go to the sale at his house. She heard lie was selling out and went to see if this was so. When she went to Patience’s house the (irst time on the morning of October 6, another neighbour. Mrs, Spencer, was with her. Alfred Vellenoweth, husband of the previous witness, said that when he arrived at work before starting time on October 5 he found Patience sitting there. It. was not till he came home that night that he knew Mrs. Patience was missing. Once lie had heard Mrs. Patience say to her husband: "You never take me out in the car any more, Dad.’ Patience said. “Shut up,” or something to that effect. Witness once asked Patience for some sacks, and Patience said he could have some. He went to look lor them about the time the accused was selling up, but he could find none. Gone to Town Daphne Gladys Spencer, Christchurch, said she used to live with her husband at Clavericy camp. She saw Mrs. Patience covering up wood outside her house on the evening of October 4. She went to Mrs. Patience’s hut next morning, but goi no answer to her knock. The door was locked. Later she went again, this time with Mrs. Vellenoweth, to Patience’s house. They looked in the windows and saw that the double bed was unmade.

When Patience came back from work she asked him where "mother” was, aiKl he said she had “one to town that evening. On Oeluber li,

she asked Patience when his wife was coming home, and he said be would not know until Sunday evening.

To Mr. Young, Mrs. Spencer said that on October 5 she saw Patience going to his work. That night Patience came to her house and, while he was there, he said he was going to Christchurch on Friday to see if Mrs. Patience was there. He seemed very concerned about her. On one occasion Mrs. Patience had been ill at the camp and had been taken to town, where, she understood, she had collapsed.

The court adjourned