ALLEGED MURDER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 135, 30 January 1932, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

(Press. Assn.-

woman charged HUSBAND'S DEATH FROM * K DEEP" WOUND " 'IN NECK • ■* V. «• EVIDENCE OF NEIGHBOURS

— By Telegrapla— Copyright).

? - WANGANUI, Friday Indicted tyith the murder of A-l-fre'd George Donaldson on December 13, ;at" Wanganui, Elizaheth' Grace Dbnaldson appeared M the Police G6urt to-day."' • • ' 'S.tanley Annablle, a draughtsman and Edwin Richardsori, a photographbr, "gave evidence regarding measurements and photographs of the house W|iere the alleged crime took place. ' Dr. J." W. Anderson said that accompanied by two Other doetors he cbriducted a post mortem examinatiori at the morgue. • Ble found on dbceased a punctured wound, 1 % inehes long, ori the right side of the neck. ' The' driection o'f the wound was downWard' and inward. There Was a small' abrasion' on the right of the forehead. ' Tbe jugular vein was* severed- This caused death." A hfead kriife produced fitted the Wourid exactly.' Dr. Anderson said it would take force to make the wound in deceased's nbck. Drl "J. H. Reid said he was called to the scene "of the'tragedy on December 13 and found Donaldson dead. Witness said it w'o'uld not have taken much" violence to produce the wound in "Donaldson's neck. Witness added tliat he had been Mrs.' Donaldson's medical attendant for five years. He had 'attended her for illness in 1927 which was hrought" ahout by external violence, When she had been struclc ori "the arms and legs. In January, 1931, she had "heen' suffering from severe haeniorrhage, which lasted for some time. She had been ill for several moriths. There were again bruises on her body. All the marks could have heen caused By human agency. "Wash that Knsfe" flector George Brewer said he resided in a'fiat riext door to the scene of the tragedy. About 10 p.m. on the night o'f 'the happ'enirig he heard Mrs. Dbnaldson* sdream* and' that first attracted his atteritipn. He heard Mrs Donaldsori call'out, "Wash that knife" from a Window. Witness saw Donaldson stagger out and" gUrgle, ^'My God, get a doctor." When witness dre'ssed and went but he found Donaldson lying in the garden. Witness wrapped the body in a' blanket and wh'ilh ' he was in* the garden he saw Mrs. Kerr. Mrs. Donaldson's stepmother, wiping something. 1 Jean Florence Brewer said she was in her kitchen about 6.30 p.m. on December '13, 'when Mrs. Dbnaldson asked her if she had seen Donaldson

at "the 'beach. witness replied." "No Mrs.- Donaldson who said her husband had brieri out* since * 11 o'clock in the motnirig" appeared to be annoyed. Aboiit 10 p.m. on the same evening witriess heard Mrs". Donaldson' exclaim. "Mother, wash ' that knife." Witness Went to her Window and saw Donaldsori stagger out and collapse in the front garden. Witness did not knbw decerised very well. Mr'g Don- = aldsbn Was a nice Woman. "Cannot Stand Much of This" Margaret Signal said she knew both Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson fairly well. On pecemBer 13 Witriess "was in her kitchen arid about 10 plm. she heard a little noise and voices. It cariie from a nearby residence.'She heard a ihan's vbice and then a, womari's. " Tkey appeared to be- ar^uteg Witness heard a man's voice say *1 cariot stand much of this," Later a f eiriale voice said "I arn not here for you." "Wriness said tfie' latter Was spbken by Mrs Donaldson. Then witness heard a cry of "Qli, oh;" as if someone yfas fiurt. " She hbard Mrs ponald'son* rushing about as if ih :fistress, and heard her exclaim "Here mother take 'this kriife," Mfs'ponhlclson came to witness' place ana 'said, "Oh, Mrs. Sigriai," I have stabfied Alf," poor Alf; I have murdered Alf. Look at my hands! Oh, Mrs Sigriai, I could no't'put Up With itj" Hit Her On The Head a* *? ""i 2* ■' * * *aLeonard Banks said Mrs Donaldson called out for him to riome quickly. She asked him to ring for a doctor, rematkirig "I have injured my" hrisBarid.!'- He asked "her what had happened and accused replied her husbarid hit her on the head and was coming at her again. Wh'eri she picked up the knife he ducked'on to it and cut himself. Edward John Reid said Mrs Donaldson called on him on Sunday morning and remarked that her husband had not come home that riiorning urifiill the early hours and' said she Would do something drastic and threatened to leave him. ; Constable O. Smith said accused remafke'd' to him, "Oh Mr Smith, this is the result of a family" quarrel." Later she remrked: Oh my poor Alf I do wish that he was here again." Detective Walsh said that accused when" asked if *she f elt able .to give particulars, remarked "Poor Alf, I adore the ground he walked ori. He had berin 'out all day and did riot come home for his meals. "Wliien J. asked him where he had beeri* he Would not tell me. We had a row and he felled'me tb' the floor. I got up, and sat on a chair. Alf picked up •fche breadkriife and threatened to do for me. I took the knife from him 'and made a stab as he -werit out by the jback door. He ducked and the knife ieut hirii ahout the 'shoulder." ' Accused was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at* Wanganui; to "be held on Februa'ry 22 / ■ ■ • - ' ■ ■ • The hearing occupied four hours. An application' for 'bail "was refused.