NORGROVE FACES MURDER CHARGE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 298, 8 March 1928, Page 1

NORGROVE FACES MURDER CHARGE

NEW LYNN TRAGEDY

Court Galleries Crowded POLICE SECURE WEEK’S REMAND BEFORE a crowded gallery of spectators, which included several women, Allan George Norgrove, aged 27, of 13 Sussex Street, Grey Lynn, was charged at the Police Court this morning with murdering his sister-in-law, Christina Norgrove, at New Lynn yesterday.

YJK. ALLAN MOODY appeared for the prisoner. Norgrove was the first prisoner called, and he walked listlessly from the prisoners’ room to the dock.

A man of short stature, lightly built, he stood collarless in the dock.

The charge was read, and then Chief-Detective Hammond applied for a week’s remand, which was granted. Norgrove was but a few seconds in court, and he was taken from the court almost immediately afterwards. The inquest on Mrs. Norgrove was opened this morning by the coronei-, Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M. Evidence of identification was given by Edward Buchanan, brother-in-law of the dead woman, and the inquest was then adjourned for a week. Norgrove made a statement to Constable Leslie after he gave himself up at the Ponsonby Police Station yesterday afternoon. He made no further statement when he was charged at the Central Police Station later in the afternoon.

There are no fresh particulars regarding the crime, other than those whicl were published in the later editions of yesterday’s Sun. The accused was taken to the Magistrate’s Court early this morning from the Ponsonby Police Station, where he spent the night. Norgrove was not a returned soldier. Some time ago he strained his back while working and had not done any regular work since that time. FATHER'S APPEAL SCENE OUTSIDE COURT There was a pathetic scene outside the Magistrate’s Court when Norgrogve’s father appeared and asked to be allowed to go with his son. When leaving the court-house after his remand, the accused, walking between two policemen, was forced to face a battery of cameras. He held his arm before his face, and the large crowd waiting to see the

man was inclined to hostility toward the photographers, and crowded around the cameras. Their attempt, however, did not meet with any degree of success. Approaching the police-van a

brotlier-in-law of Norgrove’s rushed forward and embraced him. A broken appeal to see his son or to go with him in the van was made by the father, who was told he could see him at the gaol. MARRIAGE TAKES PLACE THE BRIDE’S WISH Showing evident signs of the stress of the terrible tragedy, Miss Mavis Norgrove was married this morning to Mr. Robert George Firth at the Registry Office. There were about five witnesses of the ceremony, the bride bearing up well under the circumstances. It is stated that as the girl is now an orphan she wished to marry immediately to have the protection and care of her husband over the dreadful period to come.