THE WANGANUI MURDER

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4462, 7 June 1930, Page 3

THE WANGANUI MURDER

MANLY APPEARS BEFORE THE COURT. Wanganui, .June (i. Herbert Frederick Manly was charged in the Magistrate’s Court to-day, before Mr. J. TT. Salmon, S.M., with the murder of Gladys Barrington Cromarty on Friday, May 9th. The Court was crowded. Mr. IST. R. Bain conducted the case on behalf of the Crown, and Mr. B. :G. Haggitt appeared for the accused.

Hr. G. J. Adams said that, in response to a message from the police, he visited No. 6 liidgway St., on the afternoon of May 9th. He found a young woman lying dead on the kitchen floor. She was halfclad and lying in a pool of blood. Her left band was gripping her throat, which bad an incised wound. There was a trail of blood widely scattered from the position of the. body in the kitchen, along the passage and upstairs, and along the landing, to deceased’s bedroom. The bed in the room had been disturbed. There were stains of blood on the sheets and pillow. Witness and the police searched for a. weapon, but were unsuccessful. About 7 o’clock '•it the Friday evening, witness examined the accused, who was in a. depressed slate, but was sober. Manly said ilia I lie’bad been suffering from nerves. Dr. Adams, continuing: The wound in the neelk was produced by a weapon other than a razor on account of being ragged. The chef’s knife was then produced and the doctor said it was sharp enough to cause such a wound with force. Tt could not have been self-inflicted.

Dr. A. D. Nelson, Medical Superintendent at the hospital, who in company with Dr. Adams, made a post mortem examination, corroborated the previous witness’s evidence.

Elizabeth Cromarty, mother of deceased, said she arrived in New Zealand oil the 23rd of July, 1929, accompanied by three other childicn, and two months ago witness rented No. (i liidgway Street. On •January Bth, 1930, her daughter was engaged at Mr. Currie’s residence at Kai Iwi, where she met Manly, and later became engaged to him. After being engaged for some time Manly left Currie’s and came to Wanganui and later went to Wellington in search of a chef’s position. On his way through Manly stayed at witness’s house. Witness said she did not object to the engagement. Tier daughter later left Currie’s and went to Wellington amt obtained a position at the New Zealander Hotel. Manly left where he was working and went to the New Zealander Hotel as chef. Her daughter came back to Wanganui mi April 30th. The latter had a nervous breakdown. She did not have an engagement ring with her while in Wellington. Witness’s youngest son Stanley, received a wire from Manly and obtained a position at the New Zealander Hotel and on the Tuesday prior to the tragedy Manly and witness’s son returned to Wanganui unexpectedly. They intended to return to Wellington on May 10th. Witness did not. notice anything unusual about Manly. Her daughter Gladys and Manly appeared to be quite friendly. On the night before lbe murder Manly took Gladys to the pictures. Witness heard Manly say it would be tor the last time and witness heard the reply, “For the last time, why?” Manly replied, “It. will he for the last time, girl.” On the morning - of the tragedy witness went into Manlv’s room. He was lying awake. About 9 o’clock Mrs. Cromarty saw Manly looking at his suitcases. He was handling knives. Manly and witness’s son Stanley returned to the house for lunch which was about 1.15. Gladys also had lunch there. After lunch Gladys went: upstairs for a rest but before she went she asked Manly to go to the butcher’s, which he did. Manly returned to the bouse a little after three. He said be bad forgotten to go to the butcher’s but would go back again. He left the house again and returned with the purchase. Manly talked with witness in the kitchen for some minutes and then went upstairs to Orr's room, which was above the kitchen. Seven minutes later, after Manly had gone upstairs, witness heard steps coming from the room she occupied with Gladys. Witness heard a lighter step and then a heavier one and then heard footsteps coming downstairs. The kitchen door flew open and Gladys was holding up her hands and fell on the floor. She was partly clad. At the same time witness heard the front door ’elidk. Witness screamed out while her daughter Dora ran to the front door.

.Questioned by ATr. Haggitt wit - ness said Manly appeared fond of her daughter Gladys. If there had been any conversation upstairs between Gladys and Manly she would have heard it. Witness identified a letter from Manly addressed to herself and her mother. The letter was put in without being- read, counsel for accused intimating that it would be better not to read it at this stage. Vera Campbell, a single woman, -.residing in Wfellingon, said she was a cook by occupation. :She knew deceased fairly well, and saw her frequently when she was employed at the New Zealander Hotel. She knew Manly also. On April 29 she saw Gladys and Manly waiting at the Aard service depot for Stanley Cromarty. They were quarrelling. Gladys was wearing an engagement ring on her right hand. -

“IF I DON’T HAVE GLADYS—.” Manly told witness that she had broiken off the engagement, and Manly said: “If I don’t have Gladys nobody else will.” Witness replied: “It’s silly talking like that.” Manly

said: “You might think so, but T don't.”

Detective Walsh said lie was summoned to I lie bouse by telephone. At (5.20 witness returned to the stalicii. On entering the watchhouse he saw accused sitting there. ITe at once commenced an examination uf his clothing, in company with the senior-sergeant and other constables. He could find no trace of blood about Manly’s coat. He found a small bloodstain on Manly s shirteuffs.

Witness then asked Manly to step on to tho table under llie light. On being requested to do tin’s lie said: “T am not denying it." Tie then stepped on to the table, and witness examined bis trousers. On the back of the left leg witness found what appeared to be fresh bloodstains. Witness asked Manly if he had any explanation to make regarding these stains, at (he same time cautioning him. lie did not reply to the question, but said: “I iln not know why I did it. All T know is I did if.” Before Dr. Adams arrived Manly said : “T went to her room. She was sleepy. I spoke to her. 1 lmd the knife with me then." Witness asked him where the knife was, and he replied that he left it in the room. Dr. Adams arrived a little later, and had an interview with Manly, said witness. He answered the doctor's questions clearly and intelligently. He spoke in a low voice. Witness was satisfied from his own observation that Manly was quite sober. Tn Manly’s property there was a letter stamped and addressed to the oITA-er in charge of police, Wanganui.

Mr. Haggitt objected to this, and the objection was noted. The letter was a stamped one, but bad not lieen llirough the Post Office. II was opened by Senior- - .sergeant Arc--I,can in the presence of accused. He said he had written it, and the signature was Iris. Accused said lie had written (lie letter that afternoon at the railway station. It was dated May 8, the day previous. Taller, accused asked to see ATr. Lloyd, solicitor, who called at the station.

Witness saw Manly later, and fold him there was no trace of the knife. Manly said he must have dropped the knife when running away. TTe tripped over a culvert near the railway station, and must have dropped the knife. There n further search was made by witness and Senior-Sergeant McLean at 20 minutes to three on Saturday morning, the knife was discovered by Senior-Sergeant Mr-Lean in a cattle stop near the Sash and Door Co.’s premises. It was wet with dew, but clean. On the Saturday morning about 9 o’clock witness showed I lie'knife to Manly and told him where it was found. Accused made no reply. When Alanly gave himself up on May 9, said witness, he had in his possession a pawn ticket, which showed that on April 30 he had pledged a five-slow. l diamond ring for £3 with a Wellington pawnbroker. The ring was redeemed by the police on May 12, and was the engagement ring exhibited in court. The hearing was then adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-day.