A TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1930, Page 6

A TRAGEDY

THE HUSBAND CHARGED

WITH MURDER.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.!

WELLINGTON, Sept. 16

As the sequel to the discovery of tlie dead body of Cora Alice Townsend at Fitzrov this morning, Alexander Townsend, aged 47 years, . husband of the deceased, was charged in .the court this afternoon with the murder of his wife. On the tion of the' .police, he was remanded to September 24th, IN A FRIEND’S HOUSE. MAN ENTERS AT MIDNIGHT. NEW PLYMOUTH, Sept. 16. Tlie discovery of a woman dead, with her throat cut, in a house at Fitzroy this morning, was followed llater by the arrest of her husband, Alexander Tow.v>end, on a charge of murder. The women was Cora Alice Townsend, aged 47. It appears that about 2.30 a.m. to-dav, Constable King received a, telephone message, asking liim to. go to' a house .in SackviJle Street. He .communicated with a doctor and the police.. They iound .tlie woman had .been terribly cut about tlie throat. The Ixidy was removed to. the morgue, after which a search of the beach was undertaken.

In the: meantime, Waitara was telephoned, with the object of discovering whether. : Townsend had gone to Mrs Townsend's relatives at Onaero. Shortly afterwards he was reported in that district, and Constable Lapouple went fi'om Waitara- and arrested him.

The New Plymouth Police Court was crowded when Townsend arrived, under escort, at 2 p.m. He was represented by Mr L. M. Moss, who agreed to a request for a remand till next Wednesday upon the murder charge. A remand was granted by the Justice.

Mrs Townsend had been living apart from her husband, it is understood, and she and a daughter, ag|ed 17 years, were boarding at a house in Strandon. On Tuesday afternoon, Mrs Townsend went to town, where bhe met ,Mrs Vickers, who arranged that she should visit her place in SackviJle Street to do some sewing. That evening, Mrs Townsend visited the house, and when she was about to depart for her lodgings, about 1.0.30 p.m., it commenced to rain heavily, and she decided to wait. In the meantime, a- man knocked, at the door, and asked for. Mis n Townsend. After speaking to her for a brief period, lie wan ordered’'to leave bv the occupier of the house. It 'is alleged that he returned to tlie house periodically. He ...wanted Mrs Townsend to go with him to a car outside, but she would not.

During one of his absences, Mrs Vickers suggested she' should telephone the police to remove him from the property, but. Mrs Townsend would mot agree, because she was afraid of creating a scene.

Eventually it was decided to lock the door, and that Mrs Townsend should lie on a couch in the sitting room till the morning In the lionise besides Mrs Townsend were Mrs Vickers, her admit sister,, and t w o girls. Some time after midnight the household was disturbed by someone trying to break the door, and later someone was heard to break the French windowp between the verandah and the sitting, room. Voices wore heard. One of the women got up, and looked into the room, and, being frightened at the appearance of a man, she went to a neighbour's place to telephone the police. While' she was away the man came out „ to. Mrs Vickers, and asked her where the telephone was. Upon being told, he tore off the receiver. Then lie returned to the, sitting room. Some further arguments appeared to take place after which screams were heard,, and then investigations showed Mrs Townsend in a sitting, posture on the floor. Her throat was badly cut. There was no sign of the man who had been seen previously. Mrs Townsend was formerly Miss Latham, a daughter of Mr F. Latham, a farmer .of Onaero.

It ifs alleged that Townsend arrived at Onaero early yesterday morning. When he appeared at Mr Latham’s place, Mrs Townsend’s sister spoke to him. A telephone message was sent to the police, and subsequently Constable Lapouple arrived to make the arrest.

Townsend is 53 years of age. He is described as a larin-labourcr. He was farming in the Hamilton district till 18 mouths ago. Then he told his farm, and came to live at Now Plymouth.