MURDER CHARGE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 24, 29 January 1932, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

WIFE ON TRIAL

WANGANUI TRAGEDY

"I HAVE MURDERED

ALF."

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WANGANUI, This Day. Charged with the murder of.Alfred George Donaldson at Wanganui on 13th December, Elizabeth Grace Donaldson appeared in the Police Court today. Stanly Annabell, a draughtsman, gave cvidenco regarding the measurements of the house in which the alleged crime took place. Edwin Richardson, a photographer, said that on 14th December, accompanied by Detcctive v Walsh, he took photographs of the residence. Dr. J. W; Anderson said that, accompanied, by two other doctors, lie coiidiicted a post mortem examination, of the deceased at the morgue. He found a punctured wound IJih long on the right side of the neck. The direction of the wound was downward and inward._ There was a small abrasion on the right of the forehead. The right external jugular vein was severed, and this caused death. A bread knife which was produced fitted the wound exactly. Dr. Anderson said it would take force to make the wound in the deceased's heck. . Dr. J. H. Reid said he was called to the scene of the tragedy on 13th December, and found Donaldson dead. It would not have taken much violence to produce the wound in Donaldson's neck. The witness said ho had been Mrs. Donaldson's medical attendant for five years. He had attended her for an illness in 1927 which was brought about by external violence; she had been struck on the arms and legs. In January, 1931, she suffered from a severe haemorrhage which lasted for some time. She had been ill for several months. There were again bruises on the abdomen and also severe bruisos on the buttocks. All the marks could have been caused by human agency. "WASH THAT KNIFE." , Hector .George Brewer said that he resided in a flat next door to the scene of the tragedy. At about 10 p.m. on the night of jthe tragedy he heard Mrs. Donaldsonv scream, and that ■ first attracted his attention. He'heard Mrs. Donaldson call out "wash that knife." i rom a window witness saw Donaldson stagger out and gurgle, "My God, get a doctor." AVhcn witness dressed and went out he found Donaldson lying in the garden. Witness -went to try and pick him up, and blood poured out of his .neck. Witness wrapped the body in a blanket, and while he was in the garden he saw Mrs! Kerr, Mrs. Donaldson's stepmother, wiping something iv the passage. , Jean Florence Brewer said she was in her kitchen at about 6.30 p.m. on the 13th December when Mrs. Donaldson asked her if she had seen Donaldson at the beach. Witness .replied no." Mrs. ,Donaldson said her husband had been out since 11 o'clock in the morning; she ap B eared to be annoyed. At about 10 o'clock on the same evening witness heard Mrs. DonW°V^? im' "Mother > wash that knife." Witness went to her kitchen window and saw Donaldson staler out and collapse in the front garden. She did not know the deceased very •:oman MrS- D°naldSOn ™ *°™ A QUARREL. M^t 8!^^81^ 1 said " Bhe knew both On'iSi. i? M" ? otialaao* fairly well. on i3th December witness ,was in her some*rt a« ab°U- t 10 p-m- When Bhe heard some little noise and voices, from a nearby residence. She heard a man's voice and then a woman's. They appeared to be arguing. Witness heard much of this.' Later a female voice said: "I am not well here for you." Witness said that this was spoked by >g about as if in distress, and heard fee " Tr' n" 6',, mtrthcr' take th'« knifo. Mrs. Donaldson came to witness 's place and said, <fOh, Mr S . £i" nal, I have stabbed AM. Eoor AM I have murdered Alf Look at ffly hands with?!" g Al Co|lld not put «p SOMETHING DRASTIC. Leonard Banks said.' that Mrs. Donwas coming at her ■ fc gain t when KS&liffi- Uc^edonto Edward John Beid saia that Mrs. Donaldson called on-him oft the Sunday morning and remarked that her husband had not come home that mornW«, Mns eaf^ JlOurs- She said she would do something drastic and threatened to leave him. ' Constable C. Smith said that the accused remarked; to him: "Oh, Mr. bmith this is the result of a family quarrel." Later she exclaimed- "Oh my poor Alf. , I do wish that he was here again." Detective Wafch said that the accused, when asked if she felt able to give particulars, <remarked, "Poor Alf I adore the ground he walked on. He had been out aIL day and dia not come home for his 'meals. When I asked where he had leen he would not tell me.' Wo had a. row and he felled me to *,he wall. I got up and sat on a chair. Alf picked up a breadknife and threatened to Ao for me. I took the knife from him and made a stab as he went out of tfciy back door. He ducked and the knife cut him about the shoulder." -