THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY

Grey River Argus, 17 April 1920, Page 5

THE PALMERSTON TRAGEDY

DEELEY CHARGED WITH

MURDER.

The news of the arrest of Harry Deeley on a charge of having murder, ea Mrs Mary Ethelinc Webby during the niglit of March 17 caused a good deal of excitement in Palmerston North. In the expectation that his ease would be the first business dealt with by the Magistrate the Court was crowded, and just before the proceedings commenced a man was brought in under police escort with ' a illirce weeks' growth of beard, and many of thoso present had no hesitation in identifying him as Deeley. It turned out, however, that the unfortunate man was only an ordinary case re. manded for having broken the terms of his prohibition order. The crowd stayed until all the cases had been dealt with and the Court had adjourned, and then dispersed. Dcclcy was brought up at a special sitting later in the day, and the only persons present were the newspaper reporters. Deeley was brought into Court without handcuffs, and appeared quite un. concerned while the charge was being read over. He was not asked to plead, and was remanded to appear at Palmerston North a week later. He was taken to Wellington Gaol during the afternoon.

When arrested the prisoner had about three weeks' growth of beard, but fihis was shaved off in the cells this morning for purposes of identification. When last seen just before the tragedy lie was dressed iff a blue serge suit but when arrested he had on a grey suit. His condition shows that he has not been by any means starved during the time that he has been in hiding. He looked well enough as he Btood in the dock, but apparently did not seem to realise the seriousness of bis position. SUICIDE OF ACCUSED. i ••• .WELLINGTON, April 16. Harry Deeley, awaiting trial for the Palmerston North murder, hanged himself in the Terrace Gaol this morning. MORE REVELATIONS COMING. PAL MERSTON NORTH EXPECTANT HISTORY OF THE TRAGEDIES SO FAR. (.Special to "Argus"). PALMERSTON NORTH, April 16. Three sensations have occurred in Palmerston North lately, but they all relate to one incident, which will probably soon fade frox.i public memory, as did the sensations of a motor-car on the West Coast a few years ago. To-day a Wellington tclgram stated: T 'Harry Deeley who was awaiting trial at Palmerston North for the murder of Mary Ethelinc Webby, hanged himself in the Terraec gaol this morning." The facts subsequent to this event are interesting. The death of Decly provides another, and may be tlho closing chapter, in the tragedy at Terrace End whereby Mary Ethcline Webby, a married woman, who resided with her husband in Manson street met her death. Mrs Webby was found with her throat cut in a grassy lane running between Ruanhine street and Fitzroy street on the morning of March lSih. Tho previous day it was known she had been in Dcely's company, and the finding of a razor and a bottle of ale, together with the previous fact, led Jo a warrant being issued for Dcely's arrest. Deeley 's whereabouts remained a mystery, and the Government, in the meantime, offered a reward of £200 for information leading to his arrest. A sensation was caused on Sunday last When it became known that Deeley had been taken in charge in the Kaikoura district. At the time of his apprehension, he was lying concealed in a hay loft under several feet of hay on a property off Flyers Line. He was brought to Palmerston North, and lodged in the cells, after the usx|l search procedure by tflic police. On Monday he appeared before Mr J. R. Stout, S.M., when he was charged: — -"That on or about the 17th day c '» March, at Palmerston North, he did kill Mary Etheline Webby." Accused was not represented by counsel, and after proceedings lasting less than five minutes, he was remanded at t*he request of the police to appear on Tuesday next to answer the charge. Deeley was taken back to the cells and later by the Napjier express rcn/oved t.% Wellington,, to be lodged in the Terrace gaol until his presence was required again in connection with the charge. Ever since the event Dame Rumour hn,s been wildly assertive, but until the inquest of Deeley is -over," and the polioe lay their cards on the table, the people will remain with a silence the limit of which is only confined by the revclrit'ons which are expected.