MIDNIGHT ARREST

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 69, 15 December 1931, Page 11

MIDNIGHT ARREST

Tragedy at Wanganui WIFE BEFORE COURT Charged With Murder DEATH OF HER HUSBAND Dominion Special Service. t Wanganui, December 14. With a deep wound in his throat, Alfred George Donaldson, aged about 42, carpenter, living at 10 Dublin Street, staggered from the front door of his home at 10.30 o’clock last night ‘ crying weakly for a doctor. For a minute he clung to a front gatepost, ' and then collapsed backward on to the garden and died. Just before midnight his wife, Elizabeth Grace Donaldson, aged 35 years, . W “ s „„w rested and charged with having mur dered him. 'lt was stated that the dead man had been out for the evening and had leturned home shortly before the tragedy. > Neighbours came out on hearing the man’s cries and a doctor and the police were sent for. By the time they arrived the man was dead. ' Police Investigations. Investigations were commenced by Constables. Alexander and J. C. B. Smith, until the arrival of Mcllveney and Detective Walsh. De tective Murray arrived from the noith and was engaged on the case to-day. Immediately after the tragedy Mrs. Donaldson was heard to speak to her mother outside the front door. She then went out to the street, where she spoke to a neighbour, who led her to a seat further up the footpath. When borne minutes’ later Dr. Reid told her that her husband was dead she cried, “Oh, my poor Alf, my poor Alf. Shortly afterward she was arrested and taken to the police station. , Small, Tidy Cottage. The house in which the tragedy occurred was a small wooden building,. nearly 40 years old, with four cramped rooms, scullery, and bathroom. The house was conspicuously clean and tidy. The food, of which there was plenty, and the crockery had all been tidily put away in the cupboards and blns. The kitchen table was laid for three in preparation for next morning’s breakfast, and porridge was in the pot on the stove ready to cook. Bordering the brick-paved path which led to the front'gate were two small squares of carefully-tended flower garden. In to-day’s brilliant morning sunlight, tiny cottage and miniature garden made a picture of working-class comfort, marred only by the crumpled geranium bushes. Mr. Donaldson was an expert carpenter, who had been employed by-several big contract firms in the city during the past 12 years, until recently, when he had worked on the unemployment relief scheme. Before coming to Wanganui he had been at Greymouth, and a photograph of his wedding party at Greymouth was hanging on a wall of the passage of his home. He was a native of Tasmania~and had been to the war, where he saw service with the New Zealand Division. It is understood that he was a widower before marrying Mrs. Donaldson, who also had been married before, to a man named Walker.Neighbours describe Mr. Donaldson as having been a quiet man. He had brown hair and was short and nuggety, and the habit of chewing his cigarette holder, which he carried in his rn'outh nearly all the time. There was one child of Mrs. Donaldson’s first marriage, a boy. of some 10 years of age, who is at present in Palmerston North. On the walls of the little cottage there were several photographs of Airs. Donaldson in the uniform of nurse. At the time of the tragedy Mrs. Donaldson’s mother, Mrs. Amelia Kerr, was living in the house with them. The family came to Wanganui 12 years ago, and after living in flats in the neighbourhood for six years shifted into No. 10 Dublin Street, where they had lived ever since. s' Inquest and Charge. Evidence of identification of Alfred George Donaldson was given by Amelia Kerr this morning at the inquest into his death. The inquiry was adjourned sine die. At the Police Court this morning a charge of murder was preferred against Elizabeth Grace Donaldson and h remand was granted until December 23, on the request of Detective Walsh, who Intimated that a further remand might be necessary.. ■ - As Mrs. Donaldson was led along the passage into the courtroom she was met by her mother, who sobbed “Ob, you poor dear, you poor darling.” Mrs. Donaldson patted her on the shoulder and said, "It’s all right, mother. Don’t worry.”/ In the court accused was allowed to sit in front of the dock. She bowed her head throughout the proceedings.