THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 450, 6 February 1909, Page 3

THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

Trial of Dr. Goode.

New Plymouth, February 4.

In the Magistrate’s Court this morning the hearing of evidence was resumed in the charge of murder preferred against Dr. E. J. Goode in connection with the death of Mrs Klennerin December last.

Dr. Claridge’s evidence deposed that when he went to Waitara Police Station to dress Dr. Goode’s injuries, accused was sitting in the police office and said : —“ Dr. Claridge, don’t you come near me.” Witness replied that he had come to attend to his injuries. Then Dr. Goode said, “ You come near me and I’ll knock your brains out.” He was handcuffed at the time, and was wearing a white shirt and a pair of trousers. The whole of the front of the shirt was bloodstained. A lot of bad language was used by prisoner. Witness told him not to make a fool of himself, and after a lot of argument as to whether witness should dress the wounds or not, Dr. Goode was told that if he did not behave himself he would be handled. Dr. Goode said: “You can’t handle me.” Witness replied I’m not going to try, but there are plenty here who can.” That seemed to quieten him for a time. Dr. Goode raved considerably, and was especially bitter towards Constable Price. He said : “ Price, I ought to have shot you when I had the chance.” After a lot of trouble, witness managed to dress the wounds in his head, and when he came to one under his chin he said: You can’t do anything for that: its the jugular.” Witness replied: “ Don’t be a fool.” Accused answered: “ Yes, it is; I know its the jugular.” Mr Weston: Was he bleeding, Dr. Claridge ? —No. Witness, continuing, said he did not consider that Dr. Goode was drunk at the police station. He was excited and exceedingly angry because of the indignity placed upon him in being arrested and handcuffed. In witness’s opinion accused knew what he was talking about. Alois Klenner, a butcher, residing in Grey Street, Waitara, husband of deceased, said that, at about 2 o’clock he left his shop for Tikorangi. When returning trom Tikorangi he was met by Mr Fitzsimmons, one of his employees, and in consequence of what he heard, hastened home and went into the front room. His wife told him that she thought she was dying. She said : ‘‘Oh, Lou, I didn’t deserve this. I’ve been a good woman, and now I’ve got to die. It’s very hard to leave my poor little children and you.” Asked by the witness, ‘ ‘ Who did it ?” she said, “ Goode ; I was sitting in the chair and he came up and stood over me and took out his revolver and fired two shots at me. I sank back in the chair. He took the chair by the back and pulled it over sideways on the ground, and said, ‘Are you dead?’ I didn’t answer for fear that he would fire again.” That was all the conversation that passed on that point. Constable Price, of Waitara, gave evidence that, before he knew the facts of the case, he went to Dr Goode’s surgery, and the latter threatened to shoot him. At that time accused was bleeding freely. Constable MTvor, of New Plymouth, gave a brief account of the arrest. He advanced on Goode, who held a revolver in his hand, grappled and threw accused on a sofa. Assistance came and he was handcuffed.

Sidney John Tisdall, gunsmith, deposed that the bullets found in Dr Goode’s pocket were similar to those extracted from the body of Mrs Klenner and from accused’s neck. They were such as would be fired by the old pattern bulldog revolver found in Dr Goode’s surgery. The rifling of the discharged projectiles corresponded with the rifling of the bore of the revolver. The ammunition was old. Had it been good Mrs Klenner would have been killed immediately. Seven witnesses have yet to' be examined. The nature of the defence is not disclosed.

New Plymouth, February 5. The Magisterial enquiry into the Waitara tragedy concluded this morning. Dr Goode was comjnitted for trial on the charge of the murder of Mrs Klenner.