CHARGE OF MURDER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 123, 10 June 1937, Page 5

CHARGE OF MURDER

-Press Assn.-

Man of 70 Alleged to Have Killed 87-Year Wife AUCKLAND CASE

fRv TeleeraDh-

-Copyriffht.)

AUCKLAND, This Day. Charged with the murder of his wife, Mary Elizabeth Gage-Brown, aged 87, in Auckland on April 5, William Percy Gage-Brown, aged 70, appeared xn the Police Court this morning before Mr. Wyvern Wilson. Mr. V. N. Hubble proseeuted for the Crown and Mr. A. B.. Johnstone, K.C., solicitor to the Public Trust Office, for the accused, who was given a chair in the dock. Joan Kathleen Chalmers, a nurse who 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-house-lceeper with the accused and his wife ' at their home in Epsom. She was awakened by a moise at 6.30 a.m. on April 5. She entered Mrs. Sage-Brown's bedroom and saw her lying on her back on the floor with her husband sitting on her chest with a 41b. weight in his hand. Witness saw him strike his wife on the head two or three times. Witness pulled him off and went to the window and called for help. He 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 witnessed telephoned for Dr. Boche. As she xeturned she saw GageBrown pick up the weight again, saying: "She is still alive. I must finish her. ' ' At this stage two men came on to help wi'tness and took the accused to his bedroom, following which a constable and Dr. Boche arrived. Mts. Gage-Brown was unconscious when taken by ambulance to hospital. Dr. Edward Henry Boche, in evidence, said that Mrs Gage Brown was his aunt. Accused was committed to a mental hospital in November. 1935, suffering from delusions. Witness did not consider he was suicidal or dangerous at that time. Mr Wyvern Wilson: Were you one of the certifying doctors? Witness: "No, sir, I was not." Witness said that dn February, 1937,. on the applieation of Mrs Gage Brown, her husband was allowed to return home, subject to a nurse being engaged to look after him. Witness saw him weekly. At first he appeared excited, but gradually settied down to normal condition. Witness vdsited him on Sunday, April 4, in response to a summons from Miss Chalmers. He was told that accused had threatened his wife with a tomahawk. Accused gave hiin what appeared to be a rational explanation, stating that he was only being a bit theatrdcal. He was normal then. Witness told them it would be necessary for him to go ihto a home, and said he would return next day and show them the homes available. Mn? Gage Brown was agreeable, but witney? forgot whether accused was or not. Witness described accused 's condition next morning after the wife had be«r. injured. (Proceeding.)