TAIHAPE MURDER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2739, 29 May 1924, Page 3

TAIHAPE MURDER CASE.

MOGHAN TO PAY WIDOW £2,000,

Wanganui, Last Night.

An echo of what is known as the “Tailiape murder case” was heard at the Supreme Court to-day, when Mrs Rita Gemmell claimed £3,000 damages from Anthony Moghan, who is serving a long sentence for causing the death of plaintiff’s husband.

It will be recalled that Gemmell was found dead on Moghan’s farm after a party had indulged in a big drinking bout at New Year. Moghan was charged with murder and found guilty of manslaughter. Plaintiff, in to-day’s action, said she was married in 1920, when nineteen years of age. Her husband had always supplied her with his earnings .and with the exception of a period of months when he was in gaol, they had lived happily together. There were two children of the marriage but only one was alive.

Cross-examined by Ml’ Wilford, plaintiff admitted having sought separation orders from her husband hut said the separations lasted only a few days. She had had to obtain charitable aid for about four months while Gemmell was in gaol <m different occasions.

His Honour, in summing up said the question was to what extent Gemmell supported his wife, and what, his future prospects were. It was obvious from plaintiff’s evidence, that she had 'either forgotten a lot, or was not telling the truth. Probably her ill-health and the trouble she had passed through were responsible for the contradictory statements she had made. Counsel on either side took extreme views and the truth no doubt lay beween them. The jury had t,o consider the evidence and the reasonable prospects in Q.emmel’s life and to say what they thought was a fair sum to award the widow and child for the loss of the husband and father. It, was admitted that they had sustained some loss, and the jury was to say how much. Having arrived at that conclusion, then the jury was to indicate how the amount uas In be divided, as beween widow and child. The jury returned a verdict awarding £2,000 damages, £750 of which was awarded to the . widow and £1,250 to the child. His Honour ordered that the child’s share be paid to the Public Trustee for administration, on terms to be arranged later.