REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT INQUEST MYSTERY BEHIND FREDA CLARK'S FATE

NZ Truth, Issue 1197, 8 November 1928, Page 1

REFUSED TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AT INQUEST

MYSTERY BEHIND FREDA CLARK'S FATE

Auckland Coroner Issues Stern Warning To Witnesses Who Attempt To Defeat Justice

DETECTIVE'S PROTEST-- " NOBODY WILL SPEAK '?

(From "N.Z. Truth's"' Speci al Auckland Representative.) . ' . DEATH SWOOPED DOWN and claimed her as she lay m the nursing home. The tragic and mysterious endof Freda Helen Clarlc, aged 29, a single woman, formerly of Te Aroha, has been followed by what the police consider amounts to a conspiracy of silence. There was a sensational turn given to the formal inquest proceedings, and, as a result of Chief-detective Hammond's complaints, the whole case has been invested with what can only be called a very sinister aspect. r ,' . "I consider it a shameful thing and I strongly object to it/ the chief-detective complained bitterly to Coroner F. K. Hunt, S.M. "A woman is c»ead and nobody seems to know who it is or why she is dead. Everyone seems to be bound and gagged. They will not talk."

A, VBIIi of mystery ; enshrouds the death, pf Freda Clark, who was

until recently a clerk m the employ of the Te Aroha Borough Council. There was a dramatic moment when the dead woman's sister refused pointblank to, answer certain questions and it was not /until 'she had been reprimanded by the coroner that she consented to give the information required. What is this mystery of Freda's . tragic and sud.den end? ' md why the conspiracy of silence as alleged/by i -tfie/- l ohj'df % -'aet!B.ctiye?,;-'.;/ '■■.:. '■■ These s ai^qu'ei^«n : s^hat^wiH have to be explained when Coroner Hunt goes into , the whole matter on the resumption of the inquest. ' •■'"•■■:■

Freda; Glarki at the time of her death, was a patient. in the nursing home of Nurse Georgina E. Colnett, which is situated '■in Williamson Avenue, Grey Lynn/ It was on Thursday of last week that the young woman became desperately ill. . : ' - • ■. -. Before Dr. W. HHr. r Horton could be

.mined reply. "I must refuse to answer." • .

The Coroner: "But you will have to answer it; you have no right to tell. me that you refuse to answer questions like that!"' .'. , i,;^ Chicf 1 - detective Hammond suggested that the woman m the box seemed to j be afraid of incriminating herself. •. . j .Coroner Hunt: "She must say' w.here | her sister lived; that cannot VpossiWy j incriminate her." • j::' ' ' j And then he looked straight' at the : witness and issued his edict. "Atis-vyer j the question,!',: he ordered. ; <f :} : .i:'\\ Still Mrs. Dunnefeard hesitated, andat last her counsel prompted her.' ."Answer the question, Mrs.-'Dunne-feard," urged Lawyer ferodie. ',' At long last came the required information. "She lived with Mrs. Reader

m Jackson Street, Te Aroha," said the witness coldly. ' ' . . "And when did you last, see her alive ?". asked the chief- detective, i .!''pn -Monday, October 29," was: the :reply.--- : ■ " '■• : - : ' ■.•:'•.'•.:;.' • ', ■ ["Where was she?" came the next •question. •' V . , Once more' Mrs. Dunnefeard retired into ljei' shell: of silence. "I^refuse^o; answer that question," she -said. '&■':" ' ■ . ' .-■■■ The| -chief;-; detective looked rather th]B coroner was losing ihis^pa^ie:^,-- ■•■■.. ■'• .;■ W^ A^; *.v«y a u-^arftTiot y - possibly refuse to answer it," he snapped.. does not incriminate you m any way.'V .Lawyer Brodie put his oar m with a mild : expostulation. .

"I think, sir, this is being carried a bit too. far. She . . ." he began, but he got no further.

"I am inquiring iinto this— and I am the best judge of the matter," boomed the coroner.

He turned towards the witness-box and demanded peremptorily:,. "Where was your sister last Monday?" v The witness "then broke her refusal to answer. "She was at 88, Williamson Avenue," she .replied. ,

"And whose house is that?" Once more Lawyer. Brodie got to his feet m protest. > .'. But the coroner made' it clear how. the position stood. "I am' \ the best judge of this matter, Mr. Brodie. I shall look after her and . see that she does not incriminate herself," he informed counsel. . "Weil; your worship will kindly note my objection." 1 "Most certainly, I shall," was the coroner's assurance. \

It was then that the witness informed the court that the house m question was Mrs. Colnett's. < ; "