MURDER TRIAL

Evening Star, Issue 22003, 12 April 1935, Page 10

MURDER TRIAL

ELDERLY MAN’S DEATH Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON,ApriI 11. (Received April 12, at 1.30 p.m.) In the Bournemouth Policy Court Mrs Alma Victoriaßattenbury (aged thirtyone) and George Percy Stoner (nineteen) were charged with murdering Francis Mawson Rattenhury (sixtyseven), a retired architect, on March 24. Both Rattenhurys were twice married, each having children hy both marriages. _ The prosecution alleged that Alma Rattenhury and Stoner stayed together in London for four days as brother and sister. Two days after their return to Bournemouth Rattenhury was-found battered unconscious at his home. Ho died in hospital. The prosecution said that Alma Rattenhury admitted the attack and then accused her lover, subsequently signing a statement declaring , that her husband “ dared mo to kill him as he wanted to die. He said; ‘ You have not guts to do it.’ Then I hit him.” Stoner in a statement said: "I saw her kiss him good-night; then I crept into the room and hit him while he was asleep.” The prosecution said that Stoner, when arrested after Rattenbury’s death, had a photograph of Alma Rat-, tenbury,' also a love letter she had written from prison while under v an attempted murder charge. The hearing was adjourned.