CONDUCTED SERVICES WHILE WIFE WAS DYING

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 291, 29 February 1928, Page 1

CONDUCTED SERVICES WHILE WIFE WAS DYING

CHURCH PROBATIONER CHARGED WITH MURDER ADMITS MISCONDUCT

By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. MELBOURNE, Tuesday. The inquest concerning the death of Mrs. Ethel Griggs, wife of Ronald Gr ggs, a Methodist Church probationer, was resumed to-day at Omeo, 250 miles from Melbourne. The husband is at present in custody on a charge of murdering his wife.

The evidence showed that the relawns between Griggs and his wife were strained, owing to his relations with inether young w oman. The wife went *way for three months for a holiday, ■hi the evening she returned she beanie sick after eating a meal, which flail been prepared by her husband, *ho also supplied her with other food, md gave her medicine which a doctor fl&d prescribed. Mrs. Griggs gradually grew worse, nd died next day. The doctor gave k certificate of death from heart failire * but owing to rumours the body vas exhumed and found to contain a fltal amount; of poison, of which Griggs nd a quantity in his possession when ie wjis arrested. Briggs admitted the strained rela•ins with his wife over the other roman. and that he had been guilty ‘ misconduct with her, and also that ® [J a< I promised to marry her when had secured a separation. Griggs towed having given his wife poison. the Sunday of the fatal seiz--••Gnggs conducted the services the two local churches.

A statement made to the police by *Ki man ’ aged 20, who caused the ouphi between the couple, was read court. la this she admitted that had frequently been misconduct 'jwetn her and Griggs at the parsonelsfc"'bere. ledical evidence showed that more . j * fata- dose of poison was found % J* 031 -mortem examination of .7.Griggs’s body.. Apparently she had mere than one dose, the last T . n °t lon.g before her death. doctor who attended the devidf* 1 in ber fatal illness stated in J he had formed the opinuiat deceased’s vomiting was due trip from Tasmania. . f ? r *“at belief he gave a certificate eart°ft?n£ ec t That death was due to !oq rai li-’-ro following upon exhauswas Informed that his dead he asked for some , and said her death had shaken 4114 W> a good deal.—A. and N.Z.