THE WAITARA MURDER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3140, 18 March 1909, Page 5

THE WAITARA MURDER.

TRIAL OF DR. GOODE. By Telegraph—Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH, March 17. The trial of Dr. Edward Jonathan Goode, of Waitara, for the murder of Mrs Mary ElJen Klenner, was commenced to-day, before Mr Justice Chapman. Accused appeared in Court, calm and collected, and closely followed the proceedings. Mr Skerret, K.C., with him Mr A. H. Johnston, appeared for the defence, and Mr T. S. Weiton, Crown Prosecutor, assisted by MrC. H. Weston, prosecuted. A plea of not guilty was entered. Ida Klenner, daughter of the deceased, gave evidence as to hearing shots fired, and finding her mother shot in the sitting room. Myrtle Trim, aged 12, gave evidence that she saw Dr. Goode coming from Klenner's to his own house. Mrs Goode assisted him up the steps. He fell on reaching the surgery door, and said something to Mrs Goode like "My God, leave me alone." Joseph Fitzsimmons gave evidence as to finding Mrs Klenner. She said, "I've been shot by Dr. Goode," and added she was dying and had only a few minutes to live. Alois Klenner, husband of the victim, said that when he knelt down by his wife's side she said, "Oh, Love, I didn't deserve this. I've been a good woman. Now I've got to die; it is very hard to leave my poor children and you." She told him that when she opened the front door, Dr. Goode was on the doorstep. He walked into the sitting room and said, "I want to speak to you." When she went in he closed the door and made a proposition to her a.nd threatened to shoot her if she did not comply. She tried to get out, but he locked the door. She sat down in an easy chair. He stood over her, and fired two shots at her. He then pulled over the chair, she I had been sitting on, and asked, "Are you dead," She did not answer.