WOMAN FOR TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 202, 27 August 1931, Page 23

WOMAN FOR TRIAL.

HjJSBAND-MURDER ALLEGED.

jjAIT SHOT THROUGH HEART

JggAPPY MARRIAGE DESCRIBED

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

WESTPORT, Wednesday.

Bena Maud Upham was to-day com'fted for t rial on a 6of murdev " husband, Frederick Uphara, aged Svears, who was found fatally shot in shop in Lower Palmerston on August 7. t bullet fired from a .44 repeating ri| penetrated Upham's heart He had Sir, livin- at the shop for about two Ss 1 It one time the husband and Sad been separated, but later they together again. Recently their E children were placed in the care S State, and since then Mrs. Uphara Sheen living with friends She was Tarried when she was only 16 years of Sf A rifle was found by the police raider an outhouse at the back of the Jean Elizabeth Watson said she kept ft small shop near the place where the Uphams lived. On the afternoon of August 6 Mrs. Upham came into the shop and -purchased sweets. She appeared very worried over the children y&g taken away from her. Accused told witness her husband was the cause of all the trouble and was very cruel toiher. After she had been talking a long "time, accused said if it was the lasf thing she did she would "get him" (her husband). William Shorley Collins said he spoke to iXJpham on. August 6. Upham was carrying something in a bag, and he was under the influence of liquor. "Nearly Distracted."

Annie Ellen Fox said that for three weeks before the tragedy the accused Lad been sleeping at her house. Separation from her children nearly drove the accused to distraction. Accused said her husband was very cruel. She had a bruise on her arm and cheek. Accused blamed her husband for the loss of the children, saying he would not keep them or-provide a home for them.

Witness said that when she returned to her home on August 7 she found the accused crying, and asked what was the matter. Accused replied, "Nothing," and to further inquiries said, "I don't want to tell you and bring anything on toiyou."

"Witness replied, "I will help you, no matter what you have done," and accused said,' "You can't help me, because he :is dead." Witness said, "My God, what have you done? Did you push him in the river and drown him?" She replied, "No, I shot him." Accused was very-i worried and depressed because her children were taken away from her. . U Accused's Previous Condition.

Dr. Dickel described a visiit to the • premises where Upham. was found dead. A post-mortem examination revealed a bullet wound through the heart, death ■ being instantaneous. When he had visited a maternity hospital to see.the accused she had been in a very depressed state, suffering from puerperal mania. Women suffering from this complaint often had delusions, accompanied by suicidal or homicidal tendencies. They would turn against their husband or child. They would have their lucid intervals and then mania would recur. Evidence of a somewhat similar character was given by Dr. Foote, medical superintendent of the Buller District Hospital and the Kawatiri Maternity Hospital.

Police officers gavfe details connected with the tragedy, the' arrest of the accused, the recovery of the gun, and also of the quarrels of the deceased and the accused. The deceased had been sentenced to one month's imprisonment for assault on his wife. "Home in Dreadful State."

Detective-Sergeant Holmes said the home was in a dreadful state. It was a ramshackle, leaking building, with no _ treplace. There was an old gas stove, it was not fit for pigs to live in. The matron of the Kawatiri Maternity S Hospital, whose evidence for the defence was taken, as she is shortly leaving Westport, described the condition of the accused in the hospital. She suffered from delusions, imagining that she had s blood-poisoning. Deceased was sent for to be told of.her condition, but when he arrived he was in a state of partial drunkenness. Accused was underclothed and underfed.

Accused reserved her defence and was SEP ?\J or trial the Su P reme Oourt at Westport next month.