FATE OF WIFE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20077, 25 October 1939, Page 8

FATE OF WIFE

HUSBAND’S TRIAL

WORKMATES’ STORY

TALKS WITH PATIENCE

BLOODSTAINS ON ROAD MURDER CHARGE CASE (Vor Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The Crown case against Arthur John Patience, aged 48, a labourer, charged with murdering his wife, Harriet Jane Patience, at Clavcrley on October 4. was continued before Mr. Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court to-day. Mr, A. T. Donnelly conducted the case for the Crown, Mr. Alan Brown, being with him. Mr. R. A. Young appeared for accused, with him Mr. T. A. Gresson.

Albert Edward Fletcher, a labourer, who worked at Clavcrley, said he was friendly with Patience. The relations between Patience and his wife were “not altogether the best.” Before her disappearance he knew that Patience was knocking about with Mrs. Chapman.

! On October 4, Fletcher said he had . his dinner with the Spencers. That j evening Patience came to witness’ hut, leaving as near as he could say |at 8 o’clock. Next morning at Suicide i Point Patience told witness that his j wife was missing and that she had left a note saying she was sick of camp life. I Some time later, Fletcher said that it | would be a good long walk to the imam road, Patience replying that she ; might have gone to Wellington or Christchurch. Fletcher said he did ! not see the note. He could not rc--1 member if Mrs. Patience was mentioned when he was in Patience’s hut on the evening of October 5. Left Notes at Nieee’s After the next week-end Patience ■ said he had twice called at Mrs. 1 George's while in town, added Fletcher. Mrs. George had been out so | he had left notes, asking if she had ; seen Mrs. Patience. On October 17 witness and Patience 1 went to the single quarters at Rosy Morn camp. Patience had previous- ; ly spoken about putting in for mar- > ried quarters at another camp, ; Fletcher continued. That was before Mrs. Patience disappeared. Patience ! had offered him a loan of his car, say-. ing, "they” were going to Blenheim in j Mrs. Chapman’s car, giving the impression that Mrs. Patience was also going. On his return, Patience said he and Mrs. Chapman had booked in ! at the Blenheim Hotel as man and wife. When he mentioned Mrs. Patij cnee's disappearance, Patience had ! little to say, continued Fletcher. When ; witness spoke of a police search at Suicide Point Patience said: “They j won’t find her there.” "Blood Trail” on Road

David William Mackay said that on ; October 4 he was working with Patience. On the morning of October 6 j he walkecjto work with Patience and he noticed a “blood trail” from Clavcrley Camp gate to Happy Valley ! gate. On the grass at Claverley gate ; it was not noticeable but five or six ! feet on at the metal it started. The j spots continued for between a quar- | ter and half a mile, quite a number 1 being at the incline going down to Happy Valley gate. When witness I drew Patience’s attention to it, he i said: “It may have been a dog.” Mackay thought it y/as on October 7 that he saw Patience go back from the place where they were boiling a hilly to the place where there were blood stains and wipe something with his | boot. When Mackay told Patience to | tell the police of his wife’s disappear- ; ance, Patience said she had gone away j and it was the police’s duly to find : her.

Hughie John Clark, another lab- | ourer who had worked with Patience, j said the accused had considered it j unfair that the letter for his wife was ‘ sent back to Mrs. George after Mrs. | Patience had disappeared. He told j Patience there were 'some ugly [ rumours going about the camp but Patience just grinned. The bloodstains that he and Mackay had seen with Patience extended about 200yds.

Replying to Mr. Young, Clark said he had told Patience that the public ! had "got him hung.” Clark could not i remember the day he saw the blood- ! stains.