THE ARAMOHO MURDER

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2663, 24 November 1923, Page 3

THE ARAMOHO MURDER

INQUEST ON MRS OATES,

THE HUSBAND’S STATEMENT. VERDTCT OF WILFUL MURDER. A coronial inquiry was held by Mr Barton, S.M., at Wanganui on Thursday' into the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs Margaret Emily Oates, who was murdered at Aramoho on the night of October 26 last. Evidence was given by- the police, medical men and others. MR. OATES' STATEMENT. William Reuben M. Oates was next called, and sat in a chair while he gave evidence. He described the location of the shop and his private house. They were about half a mile apart. The house was one door from the corner of Field St., opposite which there was an electric light bracket. Witness was married in Palmerston N. in 1915. Mrs Oates was then 24 years of age and witness was 29. They had lived at the house at Aramoho for about two years. He joined Mr Hedges in the business on June 1, 1920 and it had paid all the time. It was his habit to take home the money every night in a brief bag on his bicycle. On the night of the tragedy, Mrs Oates left the shop between 8.0 and 8.30 p.m. She was carrying a basket and was accompanied by a silky terrier. Before going out of the shop she turned and said: “Good-bye; don’t be long coming home.” Witness worked until about 9 p.m. filling up orders. He then made up the cash and put it in the brief bag, together with some papers. He then saw that the premises were locked, put the bag on the bar of the bicycle and rode Inwards home. Going along Somme Parade past the boafshed the 9.30 p.m. ear from town passed him. That would be about 9.40 or 9.45. He noticed a man on the car he knew; and called out “Good night” to him. There were very few on the car. There was a tram stop just past witness’ house and the light showed on the front fence. lie got off the bicycle at the front gate, which was closed, and wheeled the bicycle round the side of the house, lie was whistling at the time. He placed the bioyr.le on the verandah outside the wall of the wash-house and then stepped to open the kitchen door. He heard a slight shuffle but thought it was caused by the terrier. lie had just opened the door when he received a glancing blow on the side of the head which knocked off his hat. He turned round in a half-stunned condition and received another blow over the right eye. It knocked him backwards on to the floor of the kitchen. He tried to regain bis feet when he received another blow on the head. He then smothered with both hands and at the same time kicked at bis assailant.

Superintendent Fouhy: Where was he? —He was in the kitchen. The kitchen was lighted up— Yes, it was lit by a single gas burner. Proceeding, witness said bis assailant continued to rain blows upon him. He could not remember the door closing, but had a faint, recollection of it. He was completely blinded by the blood that flowed from the wounds. He got on his feet dizzy and swaying. He then undid his overcoat. Was the man still in the room? — No the doors were closed.

Continuing, witness said he got a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped- the blood from his eyes. He opened the back door and saw that the bag with the money had gone from the bicycle. He called out to his wife that he was coming and that everything was all right. He opened the door into the hall and saw the runner was out of position. He struck a, match and saw that his wife had been assaulted. He thought she was dead. He ran out of the house through .the back door, jumped over the dividing fence, and knocked at the back door of Mr Pepper’s house, but could get no answer. He then went to the front door. Ho went out Mr Pepper’s front gate and ran to Mr Dobbin’s house and knocked at the front door, and when Mr Dobbin came he said he had been robbed and his girl had been murdered. Mr Dobbin rang for the police and Dr. Hutson. Mr Dobbin put on his boots and they proceeded back to the house. Witness opened the front door and they went in. They saw that Mrs Oates was still breathing. Mi- Dobbin undid the towel and said be would get a doctor. The next to arrive was Mr Hedges, and then the police and Dr. Wilson arrived. Mrs Oates was removed to the hospital and witness received medical attention before being taken to' the hospital. Superintendent Foully: Was it a fact that the 'bed was disturbedV — Yes, but I think Mrs Oates was expecting her mother from Palmerston N. She washed that day and that might have accounted for it. Do you know what became of the dog?—lt was lying alongside Mrs Oates. 1 thought it was dead, but it made a movement across the floor and then dropped. It must have been struck too"? — Yes, there was a wound on its head. Did you form any idea what your assailant was after? —A-fter the second blow 1 surmised he was after the money. Did he speak at all?—No, not a word. The only sound I heard was a hissing sound as the blows came down. j Was the house ransacked in any v/ay?—No, not to my knowledge. Was Mrs Oates’ life insured?— No, it was not insured, Could anybody proiit by her death —No, I don’t think so. Could any person proiit by your

death apart from the money in the bag?—No, the place and everything was made out in Mrs Oates’ name. There was money and jewellery it) the house? —Yes. You think that Mrs Oates was attacked inside the house?—Yes. Did the papers she took home turn uji?—There was a Wellington newspaper on the kitchen table spread out. Did she usually read in the kitchen?—Yes, but sometimes in the dining room. She bad a coat on when she left llie shop?—Yes. When you found her where was her coat and bat? —T have not seen them since. She was not. wearing them?-—No. Did von call out?—Yes. Tn what manner? —T called as loudly as I could, hut T don’t think that, my voice carried far. Did you kick your assailant? — Yes, in my opinion T kicked as high as his chest. Witness added that his assailant came from the wash-house. There were no lights in Ur Pepper’s bouse next, door, bad there been it would have lit up Iho side of witness’s house. After further evidence had been given the coroner found : “The deceased, Margaret. Emily Oates, was murdered by some person unknown between 8.0 p.m. and 10.0 p.m. on the night of Friday, October 26, 1023 at her residence, Romme Parade, Aramoho, the actual death occurring at the Wanganui Hospital shortly after midnight on that night from shock, following fracture of thp skull and laceration of the brain.”