WEDDING-DAY TRAGEDY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 353, 14 May 1928, Page 1

WEDDING-DAY TRAGEDY

Norgrove Faces Capital Charge WOMEN THRONG SUPREME COURT CROWDS, mostly women, thronged the Supreme Court this morning when the trial of Allan George Norgrove, who is charged with the murder of his sister-in-law, Ernistina Mary Norgrove, at New Lynn on March 7, opened before Mr. Justice MacGregor and a jury.

REMARKABLE interest was displayed by the public. Long before 10 o’clock people began to arrive, and when the .case began the gallery was well packed, and the rear of the Court room could have held few more.

body as that of Ernestina Mary Norgrove. Prior to her death she was always in good health. Her husband, brother of the accused, died about three years ago. DAUGHTER’S STORY Mavis Martha Firth, daughter of deceased, said she was married on March 8 last. She was to have been married on the previous day. Prior to the marriage she had been living with her mother at Cardwell Street, New Lynn. On the day of the wedding she rose early. Her mother went across to do some washing for Mrs. Pirritt, who lived opposite. Witness returned to the home and was having an early lunch with her brother David, when the accused came in. He asked where her mother was, and she told him. ‘‘He also asked me where I was going to live after the wedding, and I told him at Mrs. Dormer's place.” Norgrove (from the dock): I never did ask that.

Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Allan Moody, with Mr. M. Reed, represented Norgrove. The jury empanelled was as follows: F. W. Yates (foreman), A. B. Courtney, A. C. Cowley, J. Taylor, R. Credley, T. H. Coleman, A. W. J. Abbott, C. Jenkins, A. J. Clews, T. Carr and A. R. McLaren. Norgrove, who wore a neat navy blue suit and a soft collar and bow tie, had greatly improved in appear mce since the Lower Court hearing. He pleaded not guilty in a low firm voice. Eleven jurors were challenged, the Crown mostly exercising the privilege. PROSECUTION OUTLINED Mr. V. R. Meredith outlined the evidence which would be called for the prosecution. The accused, he said, was a brother-in-law of the deceased woman. She was a widow, her husband having died three years ago, and had five children. Her daughter Mavis, aged 18. and David, aged 12, lived with her at her home in Cardwell Street, Now Lynn, the other three children living in a receiving home. It would be stated in evidence, .said Mr. Meredith, that Norgrove was i n the habit of visiting Mrs. Norgrovt.’s home at week-ends and occasionally during the week. On these occasions Norgrove would sleep in his sister-in-law’s room and it was clear that there had been illicit relations between two. It was also apparent, he sr'id, that Norgrove attempted to control the children, and that he had on occasions assaulted Mrs. Norgrove. “That he had not been able to control Mrs. Norgrove as he had liked was undoubtedly the cause of the consequent crime,” said the prosecutor. Accused had also strongly objected to the man. George Firth, who was going to marry Mavis Norgrove, and on one occasion had fought with him. He had also raised an objection to a suggestion that Mavis and Firth should live with Mrs. Norgrove after marriage, and had said to Mrs. Norgrove: ‘Til run you through first.” There were other quarrels which indicated that accused had often used violence upon her. Ths daughter Mavis was to have been married on the afternoon of ths day on which the crime was committed, said Mr. Meredith. In the morning Mrs. Norgrove was away washing for a neighbour and Mavis and David were having an early lunch when Norgrove came in. He inquired if there was to be a wedding celebration and, on being informed that there was, said that her mother jas not to go. The girl and her brother then left. SOUND OF BLOWS Later Mrs. Norgrove returned dressed for the wedding. Norgrove was in the#house and a neighbour heard certain sounds. Mrs. Norgrove was heard to cry out: “I will, I will.” The jound of furniture being moved was then heard and then several dull thuds. Then there was silence. •norgrove was seen to leave the house jnd was next seen at the police station where he gave a statement to the police v w “ich he admitted striking Mrs. norgrove with a flat iron, nr. uT re was blood on his hands and n his clothing, and he asked to be able t° wash his hands. used by Norgrove, which d B ?.''bite, the neighbour, heard, unouhtedly referred to his objection to 22* Norgrove going to the wedding, V lB Crown prosecutor, and this jection was undoubtedly the cause 01 the quarrel. rnn flat iron was ke Pf in the batliNorgrove undoubtedly got j*- view to perpetrating the dirh l6 ’ flat iron, said Mr. Merelh w . as found near the body when d broke into the house. The rantr J voman s clothing had been arged and the body composed as as possible.

Witness said that she told Norgrove that there was going to be a “turnout.” When she told him that her mother was going. Norgrove said she would not go. Witness told him that her mother would have to go to the Registry Office with her, and Norgrove said he would accompany her and bring her straight home. He told witness that she need not wait for her mother, as he would tell her everything, and then he told her to “get to out of it.” Norgrove (from the dock): That is a lie. Witness then went out and did not return again to the house. She did not see her mother alive again. Norgrove was a regular visitor to the house, said witness. He used to stay nearly every week-end and sometimes during the week. When he slept in the house he was in the back bedroom with her mother. As a general rule witness slept with her mother in the front room. This nad gone on for some time. Prior to living in Cardwell Street they had lived in Ward Street, and the same thing had occurred there. FIGHT ON LAWN It was while living in Cardwell Street that witness became engaged to Mr. Firth. Norgrove did not object so much to the marriage; it was the idea of living in the same house. Norgrove had warned Firth never to come near the house. There had been a quarrel, and they had had a fight on the front lawn. When the marriage was first spoken of the proposal was that they should live with Mrs. Norgrove. It was then that the accused objected. He told witness and her mother that she could not, and would not, live in the house. Her mother had said it would be best not to live in the house, as it would only cause trouble. On February 26 Norgrove came to spend the week-end. There was a row over an in memoriam notice her mother had published for her husband. It was following this that the question of her future residence was again discussed. Norgrove said: “You will have to go over my dead body.” He was carrying on, and swearing, at this time, she said. On the following Wednesday night she heard Norgrove say to her mother: “They’re not coming in here, and that is all about it.” Witness had heard other quarrels. On one occasion, while having

.. Ther e was nothing in the acaccused or in his condi- _ a to suggest that he was not ponsible for his actions, said Mr « Meredith. of * u ! d suggest that it was the act Bettm2 10 u^ nt ~ tempered m an who, not crupi ” ls own way, carried out a death a ® saalt which ended in the aeath °f the woman.” drauS^ ald Huso Walter Riddell, menif «? man ’ Public Works Departthat the first witness. He said of thi* arc h 8 last he made a plan Well st^ h °* US x and locality in CardU street. New Lynn. DOCTORS’ EVIDENCE S t£ l J? e * aCt that Dr ■ B * C * A ‘ MoV 16 first medica l man to see Present H S S rove ‘ was not able to be the evi(j ence was read from r ' lt was stated that he ilrs. Vnri te.ephone message to visit ied a s borne. He accompan*ntrance ?o abl s’ and> after forcing an grove lvinoP? the body of Mrs. Nordead ana k a P°° l of blood. She was Was , d pr °bably been where she extensive for twc hours. There were face. *pi wounds on the head and right u Dn i ® kul! was fractured, the 18 the Jaw was broken, as well also a wounrt the . nose - There was back of three inches long at the due to lanf t ear. Death had been Ww? ot the braindence. V * Alurray grave similar eviration f .T> f£ ade a P° st mortem examMrs. Norp-w . body the day following the 8 deat h. The injuries to blows hart ndlca ted that four distinct ? on ßistent W ith e Ki struck - These were lr ° n - Thp»- C blows made from a flat of the bodv T? er , e J lO marks on the rest Vas due ?’ and deat h, in his oplnoin, *kull and i? multiple fracture of the . Edward K ation of the brain, leased. brother-in-law of h© had identified the

tea, they heard a banging on the stcos, and Norgrove came in. He asked her mother when she was going back to town. She made some reply, and Norgrove punched her in the face, and knocked her down. He picked her up, and knocked her down again. Witness ran into her bedroom, and went across to a neighbour. Mr. Postlewaight. He came back and spoke to Norgrove. Shortly before Christmas Norgrove told witness to get out of the house, and she had to leave. She returned iater, and stayed there until the wedding. There were three irons in the house —two gas irons, and one flat iron. These were kept on a shelf in the bathroom. They were there on the day of March 7. To Mr. Moody: I left home in December because Norgrove ordered me out. Mr. Moody: Are you sure it was not your mother? —No. Is this your letter?—Yes. It is a letter to your grandmother? —Yes. Counsel read the letter, which was dated December 15, in which she said she had cried herself to sleep every night. BROTHER’S TESTIMONY David Norgrove, aged 12 years, supported his sister’s testimony. He gave evidence of the rows in the house between Norgrove and his mother. Francis William George Postlewaight, labourer, said he had known Mrs. Norgrove and her husband. Witness had seen the accused at the house almost every week-end. With reference to some trouble one night, he was sent for and saw Mavis leading out of a window. As he approached the house he heard sounds as if someone was getting a hiding. When lie looked through a window he saw Mrs. Norgrove getting off the floor and Norgrove trying to smash the door leading to Mavis’s room. Witness went to the side of the house and met the accused.

who was chasing David. He was saying ‘T will kill you, you !” Witness remonstrated with Norgrove, who told him to “go to ” At this stage the witness appeared unwell and had to sit down. He seemed ready to faint. When he continued, he stated that he asked Norgrove what the trouble was. Norgrove replied that he would “fix her yet.” He then turned to Mrs. Norgrove, who had appeared, and said. “You are my woman, aren’t you?” She had answered in the affirmative. To Mr. Moody: I tried to reason with Norgrove. Do you say you saw him trying to bash in the door?—I did. You are not in the habit of fainting, are you?—No. It was only because you were not quite sure when to say Norgrove had said “I will fix her,” that you hesitated and decided to feel faint. Is that not so? —Yes. To Mr. Meredith: I said that in my first statement. Robert George Firth, a labourer by occupation and husband of the deceased’s daughter, said that he was to have been married on the day of Mrs. Norgrove’s death. They married the following day. Norgrove and witness had once exchanged a few blows on the front lawn as a result of Norgrove objecting to his calling at the house. He said that either witness or he would have to leave the house. Outside the house witness told Norgrove that he would fight three like him and Norgrove then rushed at him. To Mr. Moody: Neither Norgrove nor Mrs. Norgrove had objected to him personally about coming to the house. BLOOD-STAINED FROCK Francis May Pirret, residing at 2 Cardwell Street, New Lynn, said that Mrs. Norgrove was doing the washing at her house on the morning of the tragedy. She was cheerful and in good spirits. A blood-stained dress was identified by witness as a cinna-mon-coloured wedding frock that Mrs. Norgrove had ironed at her house the night before the wedding. Miss Olive White, who lived next door to Mrs. Norgrove’s house, told how she had been sitting at a window overlooking Norgrove’s house on the day of th e tragedy. She saw Mrs. Nargrove, dressed in a cinnamon-col-oured frock and carrying her hat in her hand, enter the house.