“SORDID TRAGEDY”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26621, 18 November 1947, Page 6

“SORDID TRAGEDY”

Rusden Murder Case Outlined

SUPREME COURT TRIAL P.A. . AUCKLAND, Nov*.. 17. The Supreme Court trial began to-day of Pansy Louise Frances Haskell, aged 49, married, who is charged with the murder of Mrs Gladys Ruth Rusden, aged 47, at Mrs Rusden’s home at One Tree Hill on June 5. The accused pleaded not guilty. The Crown stood aside four jurymen and the defence phallenged its maximum of six. Mr Justice Callan is presiding. Mr V. R. Meredith, the Crown Prosecutor, with Mr G. D. Speight, is conducting the case for the Crown, and Mr M. Robinson, with Mr N. J. Shieff, is appearing for the accused. Forty-four witnesses are expected to be called for the Crown, and the case will probably last more than a week.

When the trial began his Honor ordered all witnesses to leave the court and to femain until called. This was at the request of Mr Robinson. When Mr Meredith began to outline the case to the jury the men's and, women’s public galleries were filled. Mr Meredith said the jurors would see from photographs and hear from evidence that, whoever attacked Mrs Rusden, intended to kill, and anyone who assisted or knew what was going on or instigated someone to do it was equally guilty of the crime of murder. Mrs Rusden had been married to Richard Rusden for 23 years, Mr Meredith stated. The central figures who would give evidence or be discussed in this “somewhat sordid tragedy ” were Mrs Rusden, her husband, and the accused and a man named Rix. The evidence would indicate a state of immorality and wickedness that

one would regret to find in a city like Auckland.

Mr Meredith continued that Mrs Haskell, or Mrs Frost as she was formerly known, divorced her first husband and- married Reginald Frost a month later arid divorced him in Octo-' ber, 1945. They lived at Howick, but after the divorce she went to “ Liberty House,” in Queen street, Auckland. This she later sold, and then went to- live in Newton road, which was her address at the time of the murder. About five weeks after the murder she married a man named Haskell, who appeared to have nothing to do with the case.

Mr Meredith said that illicit relations between Mrs Rusaen’s husband and Mrs Haskell apparently started at Howick, and when he was with Mrs Haskell at “ Liberty House ” he used to tell his wife he was on duty in an army camp. The murdered woman first heard of this misconduct through an anonymous letter. The accused had admitted that she sent the letter. Apparently she wanted Mrs Rusden to know so that she would. divorce .him She had openly told people of her infatflation for Rusden. Rusden’s Home Visited

Mr Meredith continued that Mrs Haskell had gone to the Rusden home and asked Mrs Rusden to divorce her husband. Mrs Haskell said she would have Rusden “at any cost.” The accused had been to the Rusden home on two occasions, which would give her a knowledge of the place. A man named Rix would say he had been approached by accused to get rid of Mrs Rusden. Mr Meredith added that Rix would say the accused had offered him £2OO.

Mr Meredith said the accused told Rix'she was madly in love with Rusden and that Mrs-Rusden had caused her a lot of trouble. She suggested to Rix several different ways of doing the job—such as that he should go out to the Rusdens’ house and when Mrs Rusden came to the door he could knock her on the head.

Mr Meredith dealt at length with the assadlt corrimitted on Mrs Rusden in March, 1946, in a borrowed car. Rix and the accused drove out after midnight from “Liberty House” to Horotutu road. The accused told Rix that Rusden would be in camp that night. Both accused and Rix changed into military clothing which the accused had brought, the accused putting on a pair of men’s trousers and wrapping a scarf around her head.

After the accused got out of the car Rix drdve up to the- house, went in and told Mrs Rusden he ?ame from the military camp, that her husband had ben.'hurt and that she was urgently needed. After getting dressed, she left in the car with Rix. The accused told Rix' to knock Mrs Rusdeh ;down at the door' with a crank handle and. that if her father came he was to be hit over the head too ahd dragged inside and have his head put in the gas oven; Rix, however, did not do this, but got Mrs Rusden to. go with him in the car. When Rix got out of the car to crank it he saw the accused come on the scene and get into the back seat. He saw her raise her hand in the air as if to strike Mrs Rusden, who was sitting in front. Rix dashed to the side door, opened it and made a dive at Mrs Rusden to protect her. She screamed and fell out on to the road. The accused then told Rix to drive off quickly, Mrs Haskell getting out in Green Lane road.

On going back to “Liberty House,” went on Mr Meredith, Rix was joined by accused, who had a row with him and accused him of “mixing things up.” Next time Rix went to “ Liberty House,” the accused offered him £SOO. She made mention to him of doing the job on several occasions. Rix Sent to Gaol

.While the accused was still trying to get. Rix to help her, he was continuing to get . money our of her. A little after that Rix became involved in trouble with’the police and went to gaol for four months. After he came out Mrs Haskell said the police were making inquiries, about the previous assault, and’that (Rix would have to kill Mrs Rusden to keep her mouth shut.. , fii; .

Dealing with Mrs Rusden’s death. Mr Meredith • ' said the view of a pathologist was that death occurred some time before mid-day. There was no evidence of cries being heard and no signs of a struggle. The inference was that Mrs Rusden was engaged in her duties in the kitchenette, and that she was stealthily and silently approached from the front of the house, struck blows on the back of the head, and that more blows were administered on the front of the head while •she was lying on the floor. Mr Meredith’s assistant counsel, Mr H. B. Speight, read statements made by the accused as revealed in the Police Court, before the court adjourned.