TRAGIC STORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 2

TRAGIC STORY

YOUNG WIFE'S DEATH

HUSBAND TO STAND TRIAL

Evidence of a friendship which had sprung up between an. American and Patricia Florence Haworth, aged 28, a few weeks before the death of the woman under tragic circumstances was given yesterday when the hearing of a charge of murder against Thomas Philip Haworth, aged 32, at his home,' 2S, Luke Roaci, Otahuhu, on March 16, was'' concluded before Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M. The accused was committed for trial.

The police case was conducted by the. Crown Prosecutor, Mr. V. R. Meredith, and Mr. Terry appeared for the accused.'

Bernard Dennison Osgood, jun., U.S. Army corporal, gave evidence that he met Mr. and Sirs. Haworth on February 27. Witness referred to subsequent visits to the Haworth home and said Mrs. Haworth and lie had become quite attached to each other. On Saturday afternoon, March 11, Haworth and witness went to the Star Hotel and had some, drinks. They returned to I-laworth's house for tea, and that night witness told accused he was married, but he was getting a divorce, and Mrs. Haworth was also getting one. The accused said he would give her a divorce but not before witness got his.

The discussion about these plans, continued witness, lasted until about 5.30 a.m. on Sunday. There was some beer there, and they had some drinks. Witness did not drink after the discussion started. _ He lay on the couch and slept until 8.30 a.m. As far as he knew, witness said. Mr. and Mrs. Haworth went .to bed after the discussion. Later, when witness was outside, he saw Mrs. Haworth, who did not want him to leave. But witness left, telling Mrs. Haworth to go back for a while till things cooled down. Mrs. Haworth fainted twice at the gate. Visits at Haworth Home

Under cross-examination by Mr. Terry, Osgood admitted going to visit Mrs. Haworth 011 the Monday and Wednesday afternoons after their first meeting. On the Thursday night witness and Mrs. Haworth left to go to the pictures, accused staying home to mind his son. He and Mrs. Haworth returned home at 11.30 p.m. They did not attend the pictures as one of them had seen the main film. They just walked around. Witness would neither deny nor admit that he had told Haworth he was very grateful for having his home to go to at Otahuhu. Witness said Mrs. Haworth started the discussion on the Saturday night about their mutual feelings when she made a direct and very definite statement on the matter.

Mr. Terry: I think you followed by saying you were in love with her? —Yes, i said we had made our plans. Did not Haworth ask his wife what the future of their boy was to be?— Yes. I think Mrs. Haworth said he could have the boy as long as he treated him right. What were your plans?— Well, I planned to come back afterwards. Haworth said that as soon as I got my divorce he would give his wife hers. v Shock to Haworth You have said Haworth was silent. I suggest he was dazed by the announcement? —He probably was. Witness added that when Haworth asked his wife what aboiit her mother -and father, Mrs. Haworth said she did not like hurting them but that she was going 011 with it. She said, "I'm going to marry 'Ossie' and nothing matters except "'Ossie.' "

Did Haworth ever say that under no circumstances would he give her a divorce?— No.

Witness said the reason he was getting a divorce from his wife was because she did not look after their child.

There were thirteen wounds on Mrs. Haworth's head, wounds that could have been caused by the hammer on exhibit, stated Dr. Walter Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital. A dramatic scene at the police station after Detective - SergeantAplin had tolcl. accused that he was to be charged and that his wife was dead was described by Detective J. B.'McLean. "Accused leaned back in a chair, closed his eyes, and said, 'Thank Gcd!' " said witness.

Earlier Detective McLean had stated that when he made an inquiry from Haworth at the hotel as to what had gone wrong, Haworth replied "A Yank." What Accused Said Giving an account of statements which he alleged accused had made to him, Detective-Sergeant Aplin i said that Haworth had declared that "that Yank was the cause of it," and had added: "He stayed at my place. I got to know him about a fortnight ago one Sunday morning at a friend's place. She (meaning his wife) was there. He asked her if she minded if he came down on the Monday. When I got heme from •work he was there. He stayed till 8.30. He came and stayed at our place last Friday. He stayed- until Sunday. After he went she told me that he had taken her. You know what that means. You know this week she has been out every night —Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. She would not' tell me where she had been. It has been playing 011 my mind ever since he stayed at 'my place. I went to work this morning. I have a hazy recollection of getting the hammer, of going home and seeing her and hitting her." Accused was then committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court.