MURDER TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1930, Page 3

MURDER TRAGEDY

MURDER CHARGE. :Hy Telegraph—-Per Press Association.) WANGANUI, May 10. Herbert Frederick Manley was charged at the Police Court this morning, that on the 9th May, 1930. at Wanganui, he did murder' one, . Gladys.' Cromarty. An unusually large crowd was in. waiting at the Court to get a glinipse of*the accused. The police are searching for a chef’s knife with” which it is believed the tragedy was committed. The post mortem of the deceased girl' was held this morning, the inquest opening with evidence of identification.

FURTHER PARTICULARS. i.-M -ißi.-ASU-WANGANUI, March TO.' Not since Friday, October '26, 1923, when Mrs N. R. Oates was found brutally murdered at her residence Somme Parade Aramho, has Wanganui been so shocked as it was about 3.33 yesterday afternoon, when news began to circulate that a voting girl, Gladys Cromarty, aged 21, was’alleged to have been cruelly murdered by a jealous lover, Herbert Frederick Manley, at the residence of her mother, Mrs 0. Cromarty, N0."6 Ridgway Street.

It was alleged that Manley, who had only returned from Wellington on Tuesday last, murdered the girl in her bedroom upstairs, while she was resting, being only lightly clad.

The motive of the crime was apparently jealousy. Manley immediately left*’ the house but shortly after 6 o’clock walked into the Police Station and gave himself up, remarking “I am the iian you’re looking for.” From an occupant of the house it is gathered that lie came down stairs, about three steps fit a time, rushed out of the front door and was seen to run along Ridgway street to Wilson street, thence to the Quay and was then seen rvnjning in the direction of the gas works bn Taupo Quay. The unfortunate girl staggered down stairs and at the entrance to the kitchen, she collapsed and died in a few minutes .before Dr. Adams could arrivO, Mrs 0. Cromarty, and her eldest daughter, Dora were in the house at

the time. Mrs Cromarty ran outside for assistance and her cries attracted 1 .ii. s Dougali who resides next 'door.' he went into tlie'house alid» sizing tip. the situation .rendered what assistance ;: .u- (:• aid to ttie a;stra‘<;ted' mother; : ’ The police, were, quickly on the scene and as the unfortunate girl was beyond human aid, steps were taken' expeditiously to spread a net of police in an, ndCavour to apprehend Manley. The victim of the tragedy whs of a bright and happy disposition. She u -.,oeii employed at itoster’is Hotel :s waitress, for a-period of six months, >ut left to enter the emplov of G, -Hi 'urrie, of Kaiiwi. There, it is stated, ■he met Man ley wPo was employed as elibf, and the pair became' engaged, thC engagement being announced recently n the papers. .* ■

Both left there and went to Wellington. Miss Cromarty returned from Wellington recently to her homo-and on Tuesday last Manley also returned ind was staying at the house. Apparently none of the neighbours beard any commotion and the mother -4 si*tor of-tlm victim only heard what they described as a dull thud and >vere oblivious of anything unusual

up-pirng. until Miss Cromarty collapsed in the kitchen do'orway. ’The tod on which the unfortunate

v iil lay was saturated with blood and'’ V-*« were a few stains of hload;'on the A wall of the bedroom and a slight trail of blood down stairs, 1 and a large pool ■f lilood where, the yonng.A woman*/. breathed her last in the kitchen, '/-. -to The father of the victim died some ■ "iY voars ago. The family came from Scotland. The eldest sister;' Dora ■ame from Aberdeen about six years ago as a domestic' servant.- r She >v*as employed at Huriterville tor a time.'J*- was through Dora’s influence that ’ r th'a two other inethlfens" of /the family* ' "’’"dvs ancl a btother named' Nbrmim; eanjf But to the. Dominion eleven „■ mY+hk ago. •■.; The mother, a widow, in response to ■.tor eldest daughters rippcals ‘came out" to New Zealand with three other mem- ' ers ofi’the family, two daughters" and--it son aged 18. They, all gravitated to Wanganui, taking up residence first'ni Allison street, Durrie Hill. T atter- / ’v M'-s Cromartv removed to Ridgway treet. It was a homely, well furnishr-•-d: 1 resldenee,. wherCito ; thbre" -dutolt a happv family tilt the time of tlie tnv,.gedy. ;' l: J i •' -to.''j- i;iy..lAgtod/ ; r ' : VICTIM’S'FUNERAL, v |t ..The route : to Ai'Amohob' ■ lined \\lth people is /i«ir;'n ' the-’ funeraT' cortege*, of‘ liis's Gladys'-Urohiafty, tlieWictsmY Or riday’s, tragedy, passed through -tlie ;ty. At the graveside about 500 iicople^.were t in attendance* and sym- : iatilv" lor .the bereaved family 'tfas " * ' * • # - .. . "t". • -' to, ,'.r cry. evident. Y ' ‘ , . ; Rev. AV. S. King (Presbyterian), ■•oiilinctcd the burial sei-vice. j’. , t i “be 'search for the weapon; with which' the deed (was, committed JtondedY at 3' a.m. jb'n Saturday-'' when aYilaclto;! - handled .chef’s knife, on which staiiiif ;: ’jeyed to be those of human' blood,.' vycre-foVreii, was diseo eredv in' a caet*' le’ stop ih,the ydrd' of .'the Wanganui Sash and. Door Company;’ facing * Taupo .Quay. . The knife .blade tapers ;-, from one and a hall/ indhes at its a greatest width, to a sharp point, and * particularlv keen. The whole bladeis six inches long. ' .;rr*

Manley has a complete set /of ■• 1 * v, nvv instruments, and the knife is ’ pb'eved to be one of the set.

Mr J. Lowe, head groomsman employed at “Koatuni” Mr G. M. Currie’s stud’ farm, at Maxwell,) where the accused was employed, said' that, during two ‘or three months the accused in company "with deceased)' was engaged on the farm. They were, oytremMv popular. When Manley inhim that he was going ,v to ” T Tlington to work, Lowe made every endeavour .-.to get him- to stay. ptt-.it the farm. • ;h ;