AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

Evening Star, Issue 18807, 4 December 1924, Page 9

AUCKLAND TRAGEDY

WIFE MURDER CHARGD. SIMPKIN BEFORE COURT. [Per United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, December 4. .Tames Simpkiu, aged fifty-one, was charged in the Police Court with the murder of bis wife at Remuora on October 5. Doctor Williams gave evidence that he found the bodies of a man and woman lying on the road. Mrs Simpkin was quite dead, and had a wound in the throat. Accused also had a wound in the throat, and was bleeding. His wound was dressed, and ho was sent to hospital. Dr Frcngley slated that before he operated on accused at the hospital the latter said; "God knows why I did it.” Emma Ross, mother of deceased, said her daughter had been married to accused for nine years. There were two children. They never had a home, and mostly lived in rooms. Accused was oftener idle than working. Witness’s daughter worked after her marriage, and was working prior to tho .birth of her first child. On one occasion her daughter complained that Simpkin had beaten her. Later she refused to live with him. Accused made several attempts at reconciliation with his wife, but was unsuccessful. [Tho tragedy occurred in Manawa road, off Victoria, avenue, Rcmucra. The parties had been living with their respective families. Simpkins met his wife by appointment at the street corner to discuss her intention to separate, as she was unhappy. A few minutes Inter a scream was heard, and the woman was found dead with a terrible razor cut in her throat, and the man' lying besido her unconscious from a similar wound. A razor f.vas lying near his outstretched hand. The deceased leaves two boys, two and four years respectively.]