MURDER CHARGE

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 68, 13 December 1933, Page 10

MURDER CHARGE

Christchurch Hearing

MERRIMAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL Admissions of Witness By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, December 12. Before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., this morning Reginald John Merriman, aged 32, motor-driver, faced a‘ charge of murdering his"'wife, Elizabeth Jane Merriman, and his three children on or about November 14 at Kerr's Road, Wainoni. Witnesses described how they had found Merriman’s three children dead in the kitchen as the result of having been gassed, and his wife dead in the bedroom. Dr. Sheffield gave evidence that when he was taken to the house he saw in the kitchen three children and a man lying on a mattress. The man was still breathing, but unconscious, ahd later he was taken to hospital. Witness made a superficial examination of the woman in one of the bedrooms. Her body was cold, much colder than that of the two girls. The boy’s left shoulder was slightly warm. There was' a rubber tube connected to the gas stove above the bed with a piece of string. The gas had been turned off when witness arrived, but the whole house reeked of gas. He. saw no external marks of violence on Mrs. Merriman’s body, but, did not examine her closely. Had Heard Quarrels. George Burton, a neighbour, said he felt disturbed on the morning of the tragedy because previously on occasions he had heard the Merrimans quarrelling. He and another neighbour hammered at the door, but no one answered. By looking through the blind they saw Mrs. Merriman in bed. It was 9.20 a.m. when he first went to the house, and after further inquiries he rang the police. The police did hot arrive for two hours after that. When he got into the house there was no smell of gas except in the kitchen. At 12.45 p.m. a policeman from New Brighton arrived, looked at his watch, and said, “A quarter to one. Am I the only one here?” Later a number of police arrived. Frederick Arthur Baker, supervisor for the P. and T. Department, said that for two' weeks prior to the tragedy Merriman appeared, to be very worried, and his personal appearance fell away. Emma Elizabeth Watson, married, of Opawa, said that Merriman came to her house on November 13. She asked, “What are you doing here?” Merriman replied, “Looking for board, Auntie. I’ve got the kick out to-day, and I’ve got to find lodgings.” He added that things had become so bad that he did not know whether they could live on together at home. They had been rowing, and he was worried about the children. Meetings With Mrs. Merriman. Henry Edwin Crowhen, single, motor mechanic, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, said he knew accused and his wife intimately. On November 12 he called at Merriman's house and Merriman said he had something to' say to witness. His wife said: "Say it in front of me.” Merriman then said he had nothing to say. To Mr. Thomas witness said he had enjoyed the hospitality of Merriman and his wife. Mr. Thomas: Did you return the trust that Merriman placed in you? Witness, after hesitation: No. Did you begin a course of meetings with Mrs. Merriman unknown to her husband?—“Yes.” Did you sometimes have Intercourse with her?—“Yes.” Did Mrs. Merriman say in July, 1932, that she would seek a divorce? —“Yes.” When Mrs. Merriman went to Cambridge Terrace did you visit her?— “Yes.” Did she not go back to her husband to save you your job in case you were named as co-respondent? Witness: She might have put it that way. “Is it not true that some week’s oefore the tragedy Mrs. Merriman spoke of suicide?” x Witness: Reg told me so. “Do you feel perfectly innocent of any responsibility for this murder?— “I am indirectly responsible.” Maries of Violence. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist, said an examination of the bodies of the children showed no external marks of violence. On the body of Mrs. Merriman was a large recent bruise on the left temple. There was a minor abrasion on the forehead and a cluster of abrasions on the right side of the neck. In the post-mortem examination he had found a fracture of a bone at the base of the tongue which was certainly caused by violence. The mother died first and the children afterward, between the hours of 10 o’clock on the night of November 14 and 3 o’clock on November 15. The cause of death was poisoning with coal gas. Detective Duhcan McKenzie gave, evidence of statements while in hospital. He said that Crowhen had visited the house several times uninvited. The result was quarrels with his wife. Repeatedly he told her that unless .Crowhen stopped the there would be an end to it in some way. On several occasions she said she wanted a divorce, and, on some occasions, separation. Once she packed her effects and left home and the children. Eventually she returned and later went with the children to the Chatham Islands, saying Crowhen had given her £l5 for the fare.. On her return relations were friendly,, but Crowhen came again. She suggested lie’ (Merriman) should leave home, allowing her £2 weekly. There were other rows. Merriman was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.