TOWNSEND’S TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1930, Page 6

TOWNSEND’S TRIAL

ON MURDER CHARGE

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, Nov. 17

. .The trial of Alexander Townsend, farm labourer, on the charge of murdering liis wife, Cora Alice Townsend, at Fitzroy, a , suburb, early on the morning of .September 16, commenced before the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, to- day. . . The members of the household of Mrs Vickers, at whose, home Mrs Townsend was staying for the night, afier being disturbed eeveral times Spring the night by the visits- Of a man, found . Mrs Townsend dead in a room with her head almost severed from her body.. Townsend was arrested later in the day at Onaero, north of Waitara. .

Dealing with the facts of the case, Mi* 0. H. Weston, for the Crown, said that Townsend and Airs Townsend were married in August, 1916. The accused was .53 years of age, and his wife was 47. There were two children by the marriage, a girl, Jean, aged 17, and a boy, who died between the age of two and three. Mrs Townsend suf-'Jered-from,.a deformity of the hands,having a double club baud, but in suite of this, she was a clever needle woman, and earned a certain income ‘from the use ol the. needle. The’ evidence would show that, it was an unhappy marriage, and that the unhappy stated was riot- improved by the. acctJped’s personality. He was a man who drank a good : deal, .and could carry Ms drink well. When in drink,, he had a" bad temper. There was established in His mind a grudge against his wife,-her father, and her sister. In 1925, a separation order •was made between the accused an Mrs Townjscnd. Prior to this, in IJM, ‘there had been talk of a separation, but it was in 1925 that a: deed was drawn up at Hamilton. Under this, the accused had to pay £1 a- week for the maintenance of the daugh , until she was 18. Mrs Townsend came to .New Plymouth to be ..near her relations at Onaero. ; i Evidence was given iby numerous witnesses. It wafi the 'same...as was given in the Lower Court. Elsie Murray Petcheel, a nurse,- residing with-. Mrs Vickers, said, that ,pn the night of. September D, Mrs Townsend called at the liome-.ahout 7.15 Airs Vickers left a few minutes before Miri Townsend arrived. About 10 15 Townsend came. He knocked on the front, door, and witness’s niece Elsie Vickers, opened it. He asked for Mrs Townsend, who was m the kitchen. Elsie told her and Airs Townsend werft to the front door Airs Townsend called out, and asked if # he could, put. tl;e light on m the sitting room, but she did not say oi what purpose. The accused and Mis Townsend then went into the sitting rdorn, witness remaining in the kitchen. Witness heard Townsend, and Mrs Townsend arguing. They were talking in loud tones. Witness went into the sitting-room. Townsend was .'standing in. the middle of the _room,Airs Townsend seemed upset. Witness asked Townsend what he wanted, anc to get out. She opened the sitting room door, and the front door. a 1 tend Airs Townsend came into the hall, and witness returned to the kitciien. Mrs Townsend came down to the kitchen a few minutes afterwards, the accused having gone. Soon afterwards, Townsend came back, and shortly afterwards Airs Vickers came in. The conversation between Townsend and Mrs Townsend wari about their daughter Jean. He asked « Jean was working, and was told she was trying to secure work. A cup of coffee was given Townsend. Townsend asked Airs Townsend to go away with him. She refused, and lie went away again, paying that he would wait outside for her. He caiue back some time later, and -again asked his wife to go away with him. She refused, but, as he was leaving, she said she would meet him next morning. It was arranged, continued Nurse Patched, that Airs Townsend should spend the night at Airs Vickers’s. She was to sleep in the sitting room with witness. Neither undressed. A long time after they; retired she heard - two knocks at the hack door. She unlocked the door, lmt nobody was there, Then there came a knock at the French window. Witness opened the window and found Townsend standing there. He asked if Airs Townsend would go out with him. He came inside, and Airs Townsend told him it was too late to go out. She would go at daylight, and she asked him to sit down till then. They resumed the argument about the daughter, and money. Witness left, the room, and Townsend asked where she was going. The couple followed witness into the passage. He asked where the telephone was, and on being told, he seized the receiver and smashed the cord from the instrument. Witness said ishe became alarmed at the change in Townsend’s expression. He leaned towards Airs Townsend, and his face was white, and his teeth set. Witness became terrified, and ran for help. When she left, the' Townsends were standing by the telephone. The (Court adjourned till to-morrow. The trial will probably last three days.