ALLEGED MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 204, 28 August 1926, Page 10

ALLEGED MURDER.

CHARGE AGAINST MRS: NEVILL HEARING OF EVIDENCE. ANOTHER REMAND. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, thie day. Detective Murray was the first witness called in the hearing of the charge of the murder of Elsie Davis which was preferred against Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Nevill (or Wylie), in the Magistrate's Court yesterday, before Mr. E. Page, S.M.

The witness gave evidence of the taking of the deceased's depositions at the hospital before Mr. W. G. liiddell, S.M. Mrs. Davis was obviously very ill. Mr. Stevenson cross-examined the deceased and had full opportunity to do so. ■ In her statement deceased said she visited accused's house at 150, Queen's Drive, Lyall Bay on July 11, and had an operation performed on her by accused. This operation was the cause of her illness. She had paid accused £20 for the operation.

Kenneth Macßean Stewart stated he bad known deceased about eight or nine years. He went to her house at Hataitai on July 10 and later drove her to Lyall Bay. "When we got to Queen's Drive," said witness, "she asked mc to stpp and she turned back toward No. 150. She was away scarcely more than five minutes."

Dr. Sidney Rivers Cattell said he was called to Mrs. Davis at a very late hour on July 13 or July 14. He examined her and found that she was about to have a miscarriage and had a temperature of over 102. He ordered her immediate removel' to the hospital.

Dr. John Fenwick Forsyth, house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said deceased was admitted to the institution at 3 a.m. on July 14 suffering from a septic miscarriage. He prescribed suitable treatment and did not see her again.

Dr. Richard Bowden Martin, ; - another house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital, said deceased progressed satisfactorily until July 19, when she was transferred to a private hospital. She was readmitted to the public, hospital on the morning of July 20 and died the following morning.

Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Hospital, gave evidence that he conducted a post-mortem examination of deceased on July 21. Death in hie opinion was due to peritonitis, following a septic miscarriage. There were no marks or wounds. of any instrument having been'used on the deceased. ' To Mr. Macassey: If an instrument were skilfully, used there would be' no marks. On the other hand the unskilful use of an... instrument would leave marks. ... ' ! .

Detective Sinclair gave evidence that at 6 pan. on July 20 jin company with Detective Murray he went to the house of the accused at 150, Queen's Drive. Lyall Bay; Murray asked her' if she was Mrs. Nevill and accused said "yes." Accused denied that she knew Mrs. Davis and although ■ witness described th&-appearance v ,of Mrs. Davis accused said that she did not ;kno'w her. She also said she had been living in the house for two, years. Witnesf then said he had a warrant for., the; arrest of a Mrs. NeviH, 150, Queen's Drive, and took her into custody. In the house they found a quantity of cotton wool and a bank book showing that large sums of money had teen deposited from time to time.

Mr. Stevenson raised formal objection to the evidence regarding the bank deposits. ; - •

Continuing, witness said accused had £141 in her possession when arrested. Later he escorted accused to the hospital; where deceased's depositions were taken. Witness had known accused for some time as Mrs. Wylie arid for that reason he examined her at some length Bβ to her correct name.

The further hearing of the case was adjourned until Friday. Accused wae liberated on bail, self £300 and two sureties of £150 each.