IDENTITY OF “PYJAMA GIRL”

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 7

IDENTITY OF “PYJAMA GIRL”

Police Claim Challenged

EVIDENCE AT INQUEST MELBOURNE, March 24. Evidence at the inquest into the death of the young woman known as the “Pyjama Girl,” whose body was found partly burnt in a culvert near Albany, on September 1, 1934, has so far been concerned with the question of identification. The inquest opened yesterday before the city, coroner, Mr. Tingate, and will continue next week. The police claim that the body is that of Linda Agostini,' nee Platt, formerly of England, and that she was murdered at premises in Swanston Street, Carlton, Melbourne, on or about August 26, 1934. Their claim was supported today by several witnesses, who said that, though they had doubts at first, they were now certain the dead woman was Linda Agostini. Antonio Agostini, who has. been charged with the murder of his wife, was present in custody. Challenging the police claim on the identity of the dead girl, Mr. Barry, K.C., who appeared for Mrs. Jeannette Constance Routledge, of Bomederry, New South Wales, said yesterday that several persons had sworn affidavits that the dead woman was Anna Philomena Morgan, daughter of Mrs. Routledge. Mr. Barry added that the affidavits positively identified the corpse, for various anatomical reasons, as that of Anna Morgan. Mr. Barry claimed that this evidence was supported by exhaustive scientific investigations by Dr. Beubow, of Sydney, and would demonstrate beyond all doubt that the body was that of Anna Morgan. Mr. Barry asked that a npmber of witnesses supporting his ■ case should be called from New South Wales. The coroner said he would reserve his decision on this question till the necessity arose. Witnesses called on behalf of the police today stated, that the deceased was Linda Agostini. The Prinpical witness was William Joseph O’Brien, dentist, of Sydney, who had attended Mrs. Agostini’s teeth on several occasions. He said that a mould made of the Pyjama Girl’s teeth corresponded with the dental work which he had carried out in 1930 and 1932 on a woman introduced to him by Antonio Agostini as his wife. He identified Agostini as a man who had first come to his surgery on September 15, 1930. ' Mr. O’Brien, during his evidence, said that Mrs. Agostini had blue eyes and light brown hair. Mrs. Doreen Dunn, of Bondi, New South Wales, said that in 1921 a. girl named Linda Platt obtained a position as usherette where witness was employed and stayed at a flat occupied bywitness. Subsequently she told .witness that she had married Agostini. On March 4 this year witness identified the Pyjama Girl’s body as that of Linda Platt. To Mr. Barry, witness said that deceased’s eyes were brown. Sergeant Victor King, of Redfern, Sydney, said that about 192 S "Linda Platt had visited his home in Sydney. About two years later witness met Linda Agostini and asked, her how she and her husband were getting along. She said: “Not the best,” and that he had threatened to shoot her. .... , Sergeant King said he had viewed the body of the dead woman in Sydney and he was satisfied beyond doubt that it was that of Mrs. Agostini.