CHARGE OF MURDER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29744, 10 February 1962, Page 13

CHARGE OF MURDER

Woman Dies Of Head Injuries ( N.Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, February 9. A woman named Gladys Marjory Elaine Elliott, aged 31, married, of Maungatautari, the mother of three children, died in the Waikato Hospital at 1.30 a.m. today of multiple head injuries. Her husband has been charged with her murder.

She was found yesterday afternoon in the front garden of a relative's house in Frankton. An axe and an adze were found alongside the body. Dr. J. Pollard, who had an appointment at the house where the woman was staying temporarily, called immediately after the woman received her injuries and he accompanied her by ambulance to the Waikato Hospital. The husband of the woman, Herbert James Elliott, aged 32, a farmer, of Maungatautahi, was arrested last night and was charged with attempted murder. Elliott appeared before Mr L. M. Inglis, S.M., in the Hamilton Magistrate's Court today, and the charge of attempted murder was amended to one of murder.

Elliott was represented by Mr N. I. Smith, who said that Elliott had been examined by a psychiatrist, who had recommended that he be detained in a mental institution for observation.

The Magistrate remanded Elliott to February 23, and ordered that he be detained at the Tokanui Hospital in the meantime.

An inquest into the death of Mrs Elliott was opened before the Coroner (Mr A. G. Ward) today and after evidence of identification had been given, was adjourned.