MURDER CHARGE

Grey River Argus, 8 September 1939, Page 10

MURDER CHARGE

AGAINST PATIENCE Committed 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 had investigations, on October 20, 1938, at Claverley. He inspected the house occupied by Patience and his 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 met 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 the name of Mr. and - Mrs. Patterson. Witness asked Patienca 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 his wife disappeared on the night of October 4. On that day he started work as usual, and, at that time, he and his wife’ were on the best of terms. He returned at 4.20 p.m., and his wife was at home with dinner ready. Next morning he found his wife had gone, and 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. lam 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. On 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 corroborative evidence accused was committed for trial to the Supreme Court, at Christchurch, on October 17.