THE VIEW HILL MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 April 1917, Page 8

THE VIEW HILL MURDER.

k BUTLER before the court. 1 By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night, Charles Butlen, charged with the murder of Henrietta Foster, at View Hill jcsterday, appeared in the Court to-day, looking very dejected. ITe was remanded on the application of tiie chief detective, to appear at the Oxford Court on Friday. , j A VERDICT OF MURDER. v Christclmrch, April !). The im;uest on Henrietta Louisa Foster, the victim of the View Hill murder, was heard to-day bofore Mr Eailey, S.M., coroner, who returned a verdict that the cause of death was syncope, following on the throat of the Cfirl having been cut, and that the evidence pointed to the fact that the act had been committed by Charles Butler. Dr. ga ve evidence that three and a-haff wWks «£<> Butler consulted him about his mental condition, and witness sent him to Christc-urch. The coroner, pointed out that this evidence could only hi? taken at the subsequent proceedings. Miss Foster was engaj»e;l to a resi- ' dent of Lvttelton. Butler Was apparently jealous and stated to some people, including the girl's father, -"I will gpt Ettie vet!" ■ „ Xo new facts of importance were elicited. When Butler relished View IT ill Post Office at mid-day on Sunday he said to a resident, "I've done lor Hcttie Foster." In reply to a question, Butler repelled his remark.' There was Wood on Butler's right hand, shirt, collar and cuiT. Me was very excited. lie told this witness that he had tried to do away with himself, by getting into a well, but there was not water enough' to drown him. 1 Butler told the constable who arrived shortly afterwards, "I'm done; I'm done; I killed Hetty Foster.'; The constable who examined the body sftid that there was no signs of a struggle. The open razor, covered with blood, was found near tin? body. Beside the razor was a piece of paper, on which was written, "You will find my body in a well over the river." The doctor who made the post mortem said that the girl's throat was cut right down to the backbone. There were no other signs of violence about the body. I The girl was in bed when, her parents left to go to church. The evidence showed that she had got up late and had got Butler's breakfast. Presumably they breakfasted together.