CLEMENTS CASE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 216, 25 June 1947, Page 5

CLEMENTS CASE

THREE INQUESTS OPENED CORONER WARNS JURY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright.). (Rec. 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, June 24. Addressing the jury at the opening of the inquest into the death of Dr. Robert George Clements, aged 67, on May 30,-the day fixed for his fourth wife’s funeral, the Coroner disclosed that anonymous information which the police received just before Clements died led them to institute investigations into the circumstances of both deaths and to order the suspension of Mrs Clements’s funeral. The Coroner said that the circumstances of Clements’ past life, which the press later so widely reported, had no -way influenced him in making this order. The Coroner simultaneously inquired into the deaths of Clements’ fourth wife, Amy Victoria Clements, aged 47, and of Dr. James Montague Houston, aged 39, who performed the autopsy on her and who was found dead in his laboratory at Southport on June 2. The Coroner warned the jury that they were not inquiring whether Clements destroyed the lives of his three previous wives or whether he practised illegal operations. Ordered to Hospital “Clements must enter this case as a decent law abiding citizen,” he added. Dr. John Holmes testified that, because of the symptoms the fourth wife displayed during and after December, 1946, lie told Dr. Clements he thought his wife should go to Southport Infirmary, near the Clements’ home, for further examination. Clements, however, said his wife had a great disinclination to go to hospital and he feared he would not be able to persuade her. Dr. Holmes added that when he called at the flat on two or three subsequent occasions, he was unable to gain admittance. Dr. Holmes added that Clements telephoned him on May 26 that his wife was unconscious and he was sending her to a nursing home. Dr. Holmes said he went to the nursing home and there Clements told him his wife had collapsed during a walk after the evening meal. Dr. Holmes said he was present later when Houston began an autopsy, but he left it before it was finished. Houston next day told him Mrs Clements had myeloid leukaemia and that another doctor agreed in his opinion. Dr. Holmes told the Coroner he was then satisfied as to the cause of death and he certified accordingly.

Replying to the Coroner Dr. Holmes said Houston carried out a postmortem on an ordinary hospital bed, which was not an ideal place for it. Someone told him later that Houston had taken certain organs away through Southport Street in a bucket.

Dr. Holmes added that he never suspected poison and had asked for a post-mortem to confirm an earlier diagnosis he had made.