WOMAN'S DEATH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 281, 27 November 1941, Page 8

WOMAN'S DEATH

BROTHER CHARGED

MURDER ALLEGED

PALMERSTON N. TRAGEDY

(P.A.) PALMERSTON N., this day.

Arising from the tragedy in Park Road on Tuesday night, when a married woman was killed, Ronald Herbert Mellar, aged 24, a surfaceman, married, of Palmerston North, a brother of the dead woman, was charged before Justices of the Peace this morning with murdering Mrs. Ida Gvven Speight.

Detective-Sgt. Meiklejohn asked thut accused be remanded to appear at Wellington on December 4. He said a number of inquiries had yet to be made by the police. It was anticipated that on December 4 a further week's remand would be sought and that at the end of that time the case would be proceeded with.

Representing accused, Mr. L. G. H. Sinclair agreed to the remand, which was granted.

Shortly after nine o'clock on Tuesday evening last screams were heard coming from a house in Park Road. Palmerston North. A neighbour called the police anrl when a constable arrived he saw a man ride quickly away from the house on a bicycle. Inside- the house Mrs. Speight, aged 35, was found unconscious, with severe wounds on the head, and she died within an hour. At the time of the tragedy Mrs. Speight's husband, a traveller, was out of town, and her son was at the pictures.