WOMAN'S DEATH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 235, 5 October 1939, Page 18

WOMAN'S DEATH.

SEQUEL IN COURT. CHEMIST FOR TRIAL REMOVAL OF BODY ALLEGED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WLLLINGTOX, Wednesday.

Seven witnesses were called for the Crown when the hearing of charges against Godfrey Coldwoll, a Hastings chemist, arising from the death of Muriel Esther Reichelt, were resumed before Mr. J. Miller, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court to-day.

The charges were:—(l) That on or about Jnno 17 at Hastings ho did unlawfully supply to Muriel .Esther Keichelt a certain poisonous thing knowing the same was to he unlawfully used with intent to procure a miscarriage; (2) that on or about July 19 at Hastings ho did improperly interfere with the dead li„„,an body of Muriel Esther Reirheli;. .Accused pleaded not guilty to both charges and was committed to" tho Supreme Court for trial, hail of £300 m ins own recognisance and two sureties of £100 each being renewed. Girl's Visits Described.

Two statements made by accused to the' police were produced by DetectivefSergeant lievell. I n tlie' first accused ■described visits paid by deceased to him. but denied knowledge of where she might have been on the night of her death. _ In the second statement, made following a subsequent interview with the police, accused admitted that deceased c-i + \ ls V tcd , Ilis S,IO P that night, and -aid tliat when lie made the first statement lie was not concerned with what might happen to him, but was afraid the publicity might have a detrimental affect on his father and his wife. Accused told deceased it was foolish of her to be fooling about, and that she would hye to have the baby. He made inquiries about 'homes where she could have the lxiby, but he knew of none, hhe had then said she thought she. was pmg to faint, and had started to collect her bag and other things. She then collapsed back into the. chair, but he was not greatly concerned as she had half-fainted in the shop 011 a previous occasion. "Lost My Head." He had given her smelling salts, but these and other efforts to briirn- her round failed, and he then realised she had died. The statement continued:—"l lost niv head completely then, and I cannot remember much of what I did thereafter. There was no pulse or si'ii o>' any breathing or heart beat. I wondered what to do, but could not think what to do as I was'very agita ted, and could not think clearly. My one concern was to avoid any scandal attached to the filiop, as it would have a very detrimental affect on niv father.

Eventually I took my car around to the alley-way at the back of the shop and put the deceased into it. I started to drive her home to her mother, hut when I got near Gray's Road I simply could not face her mother, so I put her on the roadside in Avenue Road. That would be about 9.30 p.m." Evidence was given which showed that the body was found on the roadside at Go clock next morning. Afto>other evidence the accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to this Supreme Court for trial.