WIFE-MURDER CHARGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 72, 17 December 1937, Page 8

WIFE-MURDER CHARGE

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Hearibroken Husband Arrested

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"SYDNEY, Dec. 10. A young husband, Dudley Lorraine O'Brien, stood at a graveside in the Windsor (New South Wales) cemetery, shaken by sobs and supported by relat'ives, as he watched the body of his j 20-year-old wife, Margrethe, victim of a murderer, lowered into the grave. Hers was the body, in an advanced state of decomposition, which had been found in a Parramatta peach orchard a few days earlier. O'Brien was in extreme distress as he was helped from a car in front of the church. He repeatedly called his dead wife by name as he walked hehind the girl's mother, Mrs. Boesen. While the burial service was read, the mother had stood in tears with a sunshade screening hcr face. She embraced her son-in-law. On Sunday four detectives drove in two cars to Windsor, which is about 40 miles from Sydney. George street — the main street of the town — was practically deserted when the cars pulled up outside a large modern cottage, where O'Brien had recently been living. The detectives were admitted to the house, and waited until O'Brien and members of his family had finished breakfast. O'Brien then accompanied the detectives to the Detective Office. Later the' detectives, with O'Brien, visited Liverpool, Parramatta, and Dumbleton. At Dumbleton they placed a ladder over a large growth of blackberry bushes, and pne detective crawled along it. In the thick of the bushes he found a woman's handbag. On return to the city O'Brien was charged with murdering his wife. O'Brien, who is 23 years of age, appeared at the Central Police Court. Of smallish built, he was neatly dressed in, a quiet grey suit. His dark, curly hairi was carefully brushed. He sat most of j the time with his head against the back' of the dock, gazing at the opposite wall of the Conrt. A remand was granted until December 14. Without having! spoken, O'Brien walked from the dock. He was .taken to Long Bay penitentv' ;ary. _______