ALLEGED MURDER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5241, 20 February 1928, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER.

CLERGYMAN ABBWEft

STORY OF INTRIGUE. The small mountain town of Omeo is seething with excitement following the arrest of the Rev. Ronald Reeves Griggs (27) on a charge of having murdered his wife, Ethel Constance Griggs, aged 22), at lOmeo on or about January 3, says a Melbourne paper.

The arrest was made by DetectiveSergegnt Mulfahey, He took Griggs into custody early, and the z ,accused later appeared before two justices of the peace at Omeo. After the formal evidence of arrest Griggs was remanded to appear at Sale. .

Ever sin|ce the tragic death of the parson’s young and pretty wiife there has been commotion in the town of Omeo. It was common talk that Mrs Griggs was dissatisfied with her home life, and the reason given was her husband’s attentions to a girl member of his congregation.

. About six months before her death Mrs Griggs left Omeo for Tasmania, and did not return until December 31. It is stated that this was not a holiday trip, but that she had left her husband on account of ihis infatuation f.or the 20-year-old daughter of a prominent and respected family of the district.

She returned only to get together come of her belongings before leaving her husband for good, it is added. Almost immediately after her homecoming Mrs Griggs, was taken ill, and went to bed. On the following day, Sunday, Mr Griggs preached in the church adjoining the parsonage, where she lay dying.

The congregation was afterwards greatly incensed because he did not make known his wife’s return ;and illness.

The text of his sermon was “The Prodigal’s Return.” ■ Mrs Griggs’ condition became worse, and Dr. Matthew was called in. He gave'an injection of morphia and strychninie. The patient was found dead by her husband at 1 o’clock on the morning of January 3.

Altei' her burial, when rumours became current in the distict, tlhe local police communicated with tiie C. 1.8. headquarters. Detective-Sergeant Mulfdhey was at once sent to Omeo, and the body was exhumed. A postmortem was held by the Government Pathologist, Dr. Molison, who took the contemts of the stomach to Melbourne for analysis, it is believed that traces of. poison were disclosed. Detecth’e-Sergeant Mulfahey made a flying trip to Swift’s Creek, about 20 miles; from Omeo, in a private car. He stopped the night there. The place is about 10 miles on the Melbourne side of the .home of the people whose daughter Griggs is alleged to have been infatuated with. Grtggs had been staying there since the police commenced investigations. HOUR’S QUESTIONING.

The detective was met at the home by a constable from lOmeo. Together they went inside and questioned Griggs for an hour. The parson was then arrested and taken to Omeo. He was there again questioned for about two hours. ,

After lunch, .when - the murder charge was read to Griggs in the Omeo Courthouse, he was pale .and haggard. He was not clerical attire.

- When asked if he nad any objection to the remand to Sale Griggs mutter-: ed “No” a husky voice. . Mr Griggs is a very small,.thin, and sharp-featured man. He is dark, and loooks older than he is. He is, a returned soldier, and wore his badge during the proceedings in the Court. Statements secured by the police from the girl and Griggs are said to contain admissions by bo x lh that they had carried om a.liaison for nearly two years. The girl was only 18 years old at the time their intimacy commenced, and she alleges that Griggs promised to marry her atfer his wife had left ■him.

The police allege, that Griggs purchased poison, and signed the poison bo°k, from a Bairnsdale chemist. Omeo is the centre’of a wild and mountainous - district, peopled by a good percentage of old, hard-riding, hard-living men of the bush day(s.