MURDER CHARGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1939, Page 2

MURDER CHARGE

CASE AGAINST PATIENCE. EVIDENCE OF {NEIGHBOURS. [PEB PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, September (>. The hearing of evidence in the case against Arthur .John Patience, who is charged with the murder of his wife, Harriet. Jane Patience, at Claverley, on or about October 4, 1938, was continued at the Magistrate’s Court, this afternoon, before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M. Mr. A. T. Donnelly appeared for the Crown, with him Mr. A. W. Brown. Patience was represented by Mr. R. A. Young, with him Mr. T. A. Gresson.

Alfred Vellenoweth, a labourer at the Taratuhi camp, said that on October 4, in the evening, he saw Mrs. Patience in her backyard. The next morning before he went to work he went to Patience’s house. He knocked at the door, but got no answer. He knocked several times, but did not try the door. It was usual for Patience and him to see one another on the/ way to work, but he' did not see him on that morning (October 5), until he was at the job on which he was employed. Patience was in ordinaryworking clothes. He remarked to Patience that Patience was rather early that morning. Patience said yes, he was.

He once heard an argument between Patience and his wife. She said: “You’ll never take me out in the car any more, dad.” He said, “Shut up,” or words to that effect. He once asked Patience for a sack, some time before October 4. Patience said yes, he could have one if he liked. He did not get one then. After Mrs. Patience disappeared he went to get a sack, but could not find one. Before Mrs. ’Patience’s disappearance there had been several sacks lying around. Patience had a car which he left outside the house.

Mrs. Daphne Gladys Spencer, of Christchurch, said that for about two years she and her husband and their children lived at the Claverley camp. Their house was near Patience’s — about 100 yards away. They were on friendly terms with the Patiences and exchanged visits. On October 4, the day Mrs. Patience disappeared, she saw her several times. Mrs. Patience was of a very quiet and reserved disposition, and was always the same. She seemed no different from usual that day. She saw her last about 6.45 o’clock that evening. Patience had come home about 5 o’clock. She went over to see Mrs. Patience about 7.15 a.m. the next day, and the door was locked. She saw Patience going to work when she went across. She saw him again when he came home from work that evening. She asked him where “mother” had gone, and he said she had gone to town the evening before. The next time she saw him, on October 6, he said he would not know until Sunday when Mrs. Patience was coming back.

FRIENDLY WITH ACCUSED. / Mrs. Clarice Rita Chainpan, a widiow, of Christchurch, said that her husband was killed in an accident on the public works at Conway, in July, 1938. She had known Patidnce for two years, having first met him at the Claverley camp. She was on friendly terms with Mr. and Mrs. Patience and. exchanged visits. The Conway camp where she and her husband lived then was five or six miles from Claverley. Mrs. Chapman said that she and her husband were not too friendly at times. Just before her husband’s death she was friendly with. the accused. She had relations with him in November, 1937, and the relationship continued till quite recently —two months ago. Patience when he came to. town used to sfay at the

house at which she lived. In October of last year he moved to the Rosy

Morn camp. She had been to that camp occasionally. After her husband’s death she discussed the future -with Patience. She told him he should ask to get a separation from Mrs. Patience if he intended to go on the way they were.) She ■ discussed the matter with Pa-| tience several times. As far as she, knew, Mrs. Patience did not know of the relationhip between Patience and herself. He came on October 7 to the place at which she lived in Christchurch. She asked him where Mrs. Patience was and whether she was at Mrs. George’s. He said she was not there but had left. She asked him what he was going to do about Mrs. Patience’s disappearance. He suggested the police, and she, not knowing what to do. suggested a lawyer. He told her that •on October 4, between 6.30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Mrs. Patience went out, and that, she had taken £4B with her. Mrs. Chapman said she lived at her mother’s house in Christchurch. He

stayed there on Friday, October 7, and that week-end. She received a letter from him that week, but did not remember what was in it. She next saw him on October 20, when he came to her place. She asked him if he had heard where Mrs. Patience had

gone, and kept on asking him to do something about it.

She had made arrangements to take a holiday in. October. She and Patience went to Blenheim. They intended to go to Tophouse. They arrived at Blenheim and booked in at a hotel under the name of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson. At tea time Patience was interrnt-

ed and told he was wanted. They finished their tea. She went up to her room, and he went round to the police station. She herself made a. statement to the police that evening. Twice before she and the accused had booked in as Mr. and Mrs. Patterson, at the. Federal Hotel in Christchurch. Alter they were interviewed by -the po-

lice at Blenheim they did not stay at Barry’s Hotel, where they had been. They left and went to the Criterion

Hotel, where they booked in under their separate names. “MARRIED LIFE UNHAPPY.” Mi’s. Chapman said that her own married life was not happy. The question of her leaving her husband had been discussed between them, but she could not remember if she had discussed, it with Patience. The question of Patience leaving Mrs. Patience had been, discussed. In October she received clothing and teaspoons from Patience.

The accused had asked her to go away with him. At first she said she would, but later she refused. She would have married him, but she would not go away with him. Daisy Mann, of the Federal Hotel, Christchurch, said that on the evening of December 17, 1937, a man and woman booked in under the name of Mr. and Mrs. A. Patterson. She produced in Court the hotel register recording this. She gave them a double room for the night. They stayed there and had breakfast the next morning before they left. On January 21, Mr. and Mrs. A. Patterson were booked in and again given a double room. They left after breakfast the next morning.

Arthur Henry Hodson, a porter at Barry’s Hotel, Blenheim, said that about 5 o’clock on Saturday, October 22. a man and woman arrived, and asked for accbmmodation. They asked for and were given a double room. The man was the accused. Albert "Edward Fletcher, who knew Patience at Claverley, said that towards the latter end of the time there seemed to be a difference between Patience and his wife. Mrs. Chapman appeared to be the cause of it. He received for Patience from Mrs. Chapman about 12 letters. They were enclosed in envelopes addressed to him. This was done so that Mrs. Patience would not know. BLOOD SPOTS ON ROAD.

David William McKay, a single man, who used to work at Claverley camp, and had worked with Patience for the last 18 months, told of one day, after Mrs. Patience’s disappearance, when he and Patience were going from the camp to Suicide Point, where work was being done. On the road from the Claverley gate to the Happy Valley gate, which was between a quarter and half a mile towards Suicide Point, he noticed blood spots. He passed a remark to Patience about them, and the accused said, it might have been a dog. There were quite a number of blood spots just before going down to the Happy Valley gate. The next day, when Patience went off work at the end of his shift at 11.30 a.m., he went towards his home. McKay said that at that time he went to the Happy Valley creek to get wa’ter in a billy. He glanced back at Patience, who was going back to the camp, and at the spot where he had passed the remark about blood spots the day before, he saw Patience kick something with his boots. It: was the exact place at which he had, seen the blood spots. Hugh John Clark, who was at the | Claverley camp until October of last l year, said that one morning going to work he saw bloodstains on the road between Claverley camp and Happy Valley. He was with Patience and David McKay when he saw them. They extended a fair way along the road. I Someone said it must have been a dogj or a sheep. William McQueen, a public works labourer at Happy Valley, near Claverley, described events and discussions after the disappearance of Mrs. Patience. He said that on July 20 of

mis year ne went to me oeacn in me afternoon, and there saw a woman’s body, unclothed. It was the body of Mrs. Patience. He could recognise it. During the three years he had been there the sea had not washed away land at Suicide Point until the day before the body was found. At this, stage the Court adjourned until 10 o’clock this morning.

TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

ACCUSED SENT FOR TRIAL:

CHRISTCHURCH, September 7. With the case nearing its close, nearly two-thirds of the police witnesses having given their evidence, the hearing of the murder charge against Arthur John Patience entered its third day. Mrs. Alwyth Gwendoline Mclntosh, of Riccarton, said that, in April, 1938. Patience spent a week-end at her place while his wife stayed with Mrs. George. Soon after he arrived, on a Friday, Patience said he would sell his car, because Mrs. Patience was “chipping” him for not taking her in the car* where he went. He had known Patience since 1936, said Thomas Joseph McGuinness, a labourer, of Conway. Before Mrs. Patience arrived at Claverley, Patience was in the Habit of taking various women out for joy rides in his car. When Mrs. Patience arrived, it did not stop completely. Patience was of fairly even temper. Senior-Sergeant James Bickerdike

said that he made investigations, on October 20, 1938, at Claverley. I-Ie inspected the house occupied by Patience and wife. There were three rooms and no furniture. There was nothing found of a suspicious nature.

On October 22, he went to Blenheim, and interviewed Patience. He first

mot him on the street and told him he had received a complaint that, his wife was missing. He found accused and Mrs. Chapman had booked in under th© name of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson. Witness asked Patience if his wife was with him. Patience replied,

“No, I am staying with Mrs. Chapman.” Witness asked if it. was not rather early for accused to be staying with another woman, soon after the disappearance of his wife. Patience agreed that it was. Patience volunteered to accompany witness to the police station, where he made a statement, which witness produced.

In this statement, Patience said bis wife disappeared on the night of October 4. Ou that day-he started work

as usual, and, at that time, he and his wife were on the best of terms. Ho returned at 4.20 p.m., and his wife was at home with dinner ready. Next morning he found his wife had gone, find her bed had not been slept in. He made no further inquiries, and mentioned it to no other men. He thought she would turn up later. On October 5, he found a note from his wife which read, “I am sick of camp. 1 am sick of you. I don’t want anything from you. Jane Patience.” Patience said he destroyed the note with other papers. He admitted he had not reported the matter to the police, as he expected her to return. On October 20, he visited a Christchurch solicitor, and told him to see if he could find his wife. A few days later he left for Blenheim with Mrs. Chapman, where they stayed at Barry’s Hotel.

MARRIED FOR 20 YEARS. A further statement made by Patience, on April 21, 1939, said that he married about 20 years ago. He was later separated. About two and a-half years ago, he went, on to public works. His wife accompanied him to Claverley camp. Ou two occasions, he stayed with Mrs. Chapman 'at the Federal Hotel, Christchurch, as man and wife. When his wife was not at the hut, he thought she had got sick of camp life and cleared out. He made no effort to find her, but realised he should have informed the police. He said he should have organised a search for her.

Senior-Sergeant Bickerdike said that, on July 21, he went to Rosy Morn camp, and there saw Patience. Witness said the body of a woman had been found on the beach. Patience went to Kaikoura to see the body, and said it was not his wife’s body. On July 24, he called on Patience, and told him an inquest was to be held at Christchurch, and that relatives had identified the body as that of his wife. Accused said he was working and was not going to bother to attend the inquest. On August 3, together with Detective-Sergeant Herron, witness’ arrested Patience. After hearing the warrant read, Patience replied, “I didn’t.” Police records showed that no woman had been missed from the Kaikoura district who had not been traced for the past 30 years.

After the submission of corrobora five evidence, accused was committed for trial to the Supreme Court, al Christchurch, on October 17.