SEADOWN TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 84, 20 January 1930, Page 6

SEADOWN TRAGEDY

WIFE MURDER CHARGE.

ACCUSED'S BROTHER'S EVIDENCE

THE ATTEMPTED SUICIDE

(Per Press Association.) TIMARU, This Day

A week ago there was enacted at Hedley's Corner, Seadown, one of the most ghastly crimes committed in New Zealand in* recent years. Christina Oldfield, a .l>ung married woman, was callously murdered while she slept, her head being cleft with ,an axe. Her imsband, Jack Oldfield, a well-known farmer, was arrested on a charge # ox murder, and remanded. The police proceeded with the case this afternoon in the Timaru Magistrate's Court. The Oldfields had been married only a month when this tragic happening took place. Accused is a member of a well-known Se;»down family, and his farm of 115 acres comprises some -or the best in South Canterbury. He was wounded in the head and in the leg on Gallipoii Peninsula. •• Prior to her marriage the deceased woman, who was then Miss Chrissy Sutherland, practised as a masseuse in Timaru and Christchurch. Following tiie tragedy, it is alleged, accused made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide, this being frustrated by his brother, Eldred Charles Oldfield, who obtained possession of the shotgun after a struggle. Tn evidence to-day Eldred Charles Oldfield, a farmer, of Seadown (brother of accused), said he lived half a mile from his brother's farm at Hedley's Corner. So far as he knew, only accused and his wife slept in the house on the night of January 12. The following morning accused came to witness's farm. He had a shotgun in his hand. The weapon (produced) belonged to his late father-'s estate. Accused asked for cartridges, with which lie proposed to shoot himself. Witness said he did not know if he had any, but accused found some for himself. A moment later accused called out, ''Good-bye, Eldred." Witness looked up and saw his brother looking down the barrel of the gun. He was trying to pull the trigger. Witness rushed accused, same time calling for his ploughman, Arthur Duncan. He fought and succeeded in taking possession of the gun. Then accused said: "You had better let me finish it, for I've killed Chrissy," When Duncan arrived, accused was strapped to the fence. There was cue cartridge in the gun. - To the Inspector, witness said that his brother had borrowed the gun on a previous occasion in order to shoot a horse. However, .he iiad not shot the animal. „

In reply to further questions, witness said the gun was fitted with a safety catch. At this stage the Inspector produced a pad containing a numerical inscription, but witness could not say if the writing was that of his brother. • Proceeding, witness said he went to Hedlev's Corner after what accused had said, and there found the body of the deceased woman. She was lying on a bed in the front room in a pool of blood. He did. not examine the wound as deceased's' head was covered with blood. She still appeared to be breathing. Accused had been worrying about his financial '.position and had asked witness for a loan. He said that the banks and firms had "turned him down." Accused should "have been comfortably well off, but was short of ready cash. "So far as witness was aware accused and his late wife were on good terms.

To Mr F. J. Rolleston (for accused): Accused's married life, so far as witness knew, was perfectly happy. Accused was a hard worker.

To Inspector Bird: Accused ha/1 often; spoken about the expense of living. Dr. Scannell, of Temuka, said that on January 13 he went to the Oldfield's homestead and saw deceased lying on her right side in a double bed. There was a gaping wound on her bead. The wound was . about three inches in length. The . cause of death was a fracture of the skull with laceration of the brain, as a result of being struck by a sharp instrument.