MURDER ALLEGED

Evening Star, Issue 20591, 17 September 1930, Page 3

MURDER ALLEGED

WOMAN FOUND WITH THROAT CUT HER HUSBAND ARRESTED [Pint United Press Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, September 16. Humour of an alleged murder raced over New Plymouth early this morning, and confirmation of the story was given by tho police, who had been called to a house in Fitzroy. where a woman was found dead in circumstances which pointed to tho belief that she bad been murdered. Tho woman was Mrs Cora Alice Townsend, aged about forty-three years, and the tragedy occurred about 2.110 in tho morning. Tho first intimation tho police received was a telephone call to Constable King about 3.40 a,m. He immediately communicated with Ids .superior officers, and Inspector Fraser and Detective Meiklejohn, with constables, went to the house, where they found the woman dead. She had been terribly cut about tho throat, but with what instrument it is not possible to say at tho moment. Dr Thomson was summoned, but his services were of no avail. Tho woman’s body was at once removed to thd morgue, and tho police immediately began a search of tho locality and foreshore in quest of the suspected man. Out stations were advised, and the result was a smart piece of work in which Constable Lapouple figured when ho effected the arrest of a man near Urenui. There was no sign of a struggle in the room in which tho crime was committed, and at present tho motive for the crime is not disclosed. This afternoon Alexander Townsend, aged fifty-three, tho husband of the deceased, .was charged in the court at New Plymouth with the murder of his wife. . On the application of the police ho was remanded to September 24. Mrs Townsend had been living apart from her husband, it is understood, and she and her daughter, aged seventeen, were boarding at a house in Strandon; On Tuesday afternoon Mrs Townsend went to town, where she met Mrs Vickers, who arranged that she should visit her place in Sackville_ street to do some sewing that evening. Mrs Townsend visited tho house, and when she was about to depart for her lodgings about 10.30 p.m. it commenced to rain heavily, and she decided to wait. In tho meantime, a man knocked at tho door and asked for Mrs Townsend. After speaking to her for a brief period ho was ordered to leave by tho oecu-' pier of tho house. It is alleged that lio returned to the house periodically. Ho wanted Mrs Townsend to go with him to. a car outside, but she would not do so. During one of his absences Mrs Vickers suggested that she should telephone to the police to remove him from tho property, but Mrs Townsend would not agree because she was afraid of creating a scene. Eventually it was decided to lock the door and that Mrs Townsend should lie on a couch in the sitting room till morning. In the house, besides Mrs Townsend, were Mrs Vickers, her adult sister, and two girls. Some lime after midnight tho household was disturbed by someone trying the back door, later someone was heard to break the French windows between the verandah and the sitting room. Voices were heard, and one of the women got up and looked into tho room. Being frightened by tho appearance of a man, she went to a neighbour’s place to telephone to tho police. While she was away the man camo out to Mrs Vickers and asked her where the telephone was. Upon being told he tore off the receiver, and then returned to the sitting room. Some further argument appeared to take place, after which screams were heard. Investigations showed Mrs Townsend in a sitting posture on the floor. Her throat was badly cut. There was no sign of the man who had been seen previously. Mrs Townsend was formerly Miss Latham, a daughter of Mr F. Latham, a farmer, of Onnero. It is alleged that Townsend arrived at Onaero early yesterday morning. When he appeared at Mr Latham’s place Mrs Townsend’s sister spoke to him. A telephone message was sent to the police, and subsequently Constable Lapouple arrived to make the arrest. Townsend, who is fifty-three years of age, is described as a farm labourer. He was fanning in the Hamilton district till eighteen months ago, when he sold his farm and came to live in New Plymouth.