AGAINST PATIENCE

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1939, Page 5

AGAINST PATIENCE

Statements by Late Wife’s Friends EVIDENCE OF ANALYSTS. I Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, September 6. Nine of the 43 police witnesses had given evidence when the hearing of the charge of murder against Arthur John Patience was continued in the Magistrate's Court, to-day. The public gallery was again well filled with spectators. E. Percival, Professor of Biology, at Canterbury College, described the habits of the sea louse commonly found on the coasts of New Zealand. He said that, as they moved in ver_> large numbers, they were capable of dealing with a large amount of material. Professor Percival said that he saw no reason why they should not deal with a human body and strip it to a skeleton. F. T. J. Grigg, Government analyst at Christchurch, said that he had examined the contents of the stomach of the woman found at Taratuhi Beach and he had found no trace of poison. Elizabeth Amelia McKay, married,

residing at Taratuhi Camp, said that she first met Patience about twelve years ago. Up till the time that Mrs Patience disappeared, Patience and his wife had visited them quite frequently. Witness and her husband went to Claverley in August, 1936. Patience some time after, and was . joined by his wife later. Mrs Patience had been in the camp for more than a year when she disapepared. "I saw Mrs Patience every day, sometimes twice a day,” added witness, who said that her (Mrs McKay’s) hut was on the beach side of the camp. Mrs McKay said she was very friendly with Mrs Patience. “I think I was the only one she would discuss her private affairs with.” On October 3, Mrs Patience came to her house in the morning, and again in the afternoon, said Mrs McI Kay. Mrs Patience was not too gooci in spirits, but her health was quite ait right. Next day. Mrs Patience again visited witness, and she appeared to be rather worried. She had not seen Mrs Patience alive since that day. When Mrs Patience did not call on October 5, she was worried, and, ear.;, on October 6, she called at the hut, occupied by Mr and Mrs Patience The back door was locked, which wa> rather unusual. A letter arrived for Mrs Patience, and witness re-ad-dressed it to Mrs George, Riccarton, and posted it. On the Tuesday alter his wife disappeared, Patience called for mail. She told him about the letter for Mrs Patience, and what she had done, explaining that this was the only way she had of letting Mrs Patience’s people know that Mrs Patience was not in the camp. “Patience was annoyed and said mv husband should not have allowed me to do it. I told him that I would do the same thing again, in similar circumstances.” The next Friday, sue met Patience, and asked him if it were true he was selling the furniture. He said, “Yes,” and, when witness asked him not to sell and to give Mrs Patience a chance to come back, he said that what he could not sell he would burn, Later, he called her back and asked her t 0 "keep two pictures for him. Patience told her that he ha- not informed tne police of his wife’s disappearance, but that he was going into Kaikoura, next day. and he might see the constable there. On July 21 of this year, she identified the body of a woman as the body of Mrs Patience. Alice May Vellenworth of laratuhi, said she formerly lived at Claverley Camp. On the morning of October 5, she did not see either Far’wnlce or his wjife. Witness went round to see if she could rouse Mrs Patience, as she wanted to use 1 washhouse. She knocked, and when there was no answer, tried to open the door, which was locked. Later m the morning, she returned, and. a she thought Mrs Patience might b. ill she looked in the windows. Thetwas no one i n the rooms. T * e doul g bed had not been made. After Mr. Patience disappeared, she saw Patience nbout the camn. but did not speak to him. On October 16, witness and her husband went to Patience’s but, a= ihev heard he was selling out, thtj bought certain articles. During the sale g she asked Patience where dis wife was, and he said she was down town, on holiday. Patience lit a tire in the front of his house at dusk ( just a day or two before the sale. She did not know what he was burning.