NEW LYNN TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 69, 22 March 1928, Page 9

NEW LYNN TRAGEDY.

TRIAL OF NORgROVE.

HOW HE JBAVE HIMSELF UP.

mar art hearing CONCLUDES.

ACCUSED SENT ON TO SUPREME

COURT.

At 3.45 p.m. yesterday the preliminary trial of Allan George Norgrove (27), who was charged with the murder of his •ister-in-law, Mrs. Ernestina Mary Norgrove, at New Lynn, on March 7, was concluded before Mr. W. R. McKean, S.M., at the Police Court. When the case was resumed yesterday Afternoon the witness W. R. G. Postlewaite was recalled, and said that on the evening he was called to the house he heard accused say "I'll fix her yet." Mr, Moody: Have you not had your memory refreshed during the luncheon adjournment ?—Yes.

The next witness was David Norgrove, 13 years, a son of the deceased, Mrs. Norgrove. He knew accused, who often came out to see witness' mother. He had never seen accused strike his mother, but he had heard him.

Mr. Meredith: What do you mean by that?—l have heard my mother fall on the floor after he had hit her. I was in the bedroom.

On the Saturday prior to the tragedy witness heard "m quarrel between his mother and accused. He heard Norgrove say that hi* mother would not go to the wedding. On the day of the tragedy witness and his sister were haying lunch when accused came in. Norgrove told Mavis to "Get to h— out of it." They both went away. i Robert George Firth, a labourer, who ] was to be married to deceased's daughter i on the day of the tragedy, was next called. Norgrove did not like him and ( had requested Mrs. Norgrove to ask wit-. ness not to come to the house. Mrs. f Norgrove refused to do thij. On one occasion accused followed witnesf out of the house and rushed him. A neighbour< interfered and separated them. Accused was at Mrs. Nor grove's house nearly j every week-end. The first to arrive at the house of Mrs. Norgrove after*fcccused had told the police of the tragedy, Constable Horan, of Avondale, said that on breaking open the front door he found deceased lying on the floor. Her clothes were not disarranged. They were quite neat as though they had been touched after the woman had fallen.

Norgrove Calls at Station.

How accused gave himself up to Coni stable Leslie at Ponsonby police station [at 12.45 p.m. oh March 7, was told by the constable. He said: "Mr. Leslie, I want to give myself up." "What have you'done?" witness asked him.

Accused said, "I've killed a woman at New Lynn." Accused then said that it was Mrs. Norgrove, his sister-in-law. After he had washed his face, Norgrove placed a key on the table and said that it was the back door key to the house Lynn. Norgrove' then made the statement read out by Mr. Meredith previously. He was quite sober and rational, although excited. later, when taken to the Detective Office and told by Chief Detective Hammond that he was to be charged with murder, Norgrove replied: "Yes, I've told Mr. Leslie everything." When Norgrove called at the station he had blood on him.

Mr. Moody: Are you sure he did not say "I've done something to a woman?" —No, he Said "I've killed a woman." Before taking the statement from him, did you warn him that anything he said might be used in evidence against him?—No, I did not. Did you believe him when he said he had killed a woman? —Yes. Committed for Trial. * Several more witnesses gave adence and the Crown case concluded at 3.45 p.m. Aft<er the usual warning had been given, accused had nothing to say and was committed for trial. The coroner, Mr. W. R. McKean, brought in the following verdict: "That the deceased, Mrs. Ernestina Mary Norgrove, died at her home at New Lynn on March 7, and that the cause of death was fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain following injuries inflicted by the accused, Allan George Norgrove.