MURDER CHARGE

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 December 1924, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE

REMUERA TRAGEDY. W r OMAN’S THROAT CUT. HUSBAND IN THE DOCK. (by TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND 1 , Dec. 4. James Simpkin appeared at the Police Court this morning before Mr J W Boynton, S.M., and Mr J. H. Frayj J .l 4 '., charged with murdering his wife Emma Simpkin, in Manawa Road, Remuera, on Sunday, October 5. Mr V R. Meredith prosecuted, and the a<> cused was represented by Mr. S Buttle. Simpkin seemed none the worse following his period in Auckland hospital, and -was quite composed as he sat in the dock just in front of a policeman. During an adjournment while the court was awaiting the arrival of a witness the accused chatted with his escort. Dr. E. Williams said that on Sunday evemng, October 5, he accompanied Sergeant Rock to Manawa Rbad at about six o’clock. A little way down the slope from Victoria Avenue witness found a man and a woman lying on the road. Mrs. Simpkin was Tute dead and. had a large wound in ner throat.; The accused also had a wound in his throat, and was bleeding Later his wound was dressed and" he was sent to the hospital. Accused!s wife could not have been dead long, as her body was quite warm. Felix Vincent Kelly, a surveyor, residing at Victoria Avenue, deposed that he was called out of his house and saw- two bodies on the road, that of accused and his wife (the deceased)., Witness shifted both the accused anil deceased, whom lie considered both dead. The bodies were not more than two or three feet apart. Witness saw . a razor, which was lying between the two bodies.

Dr. Gerald E. J. Frengley, resident doctor at the Auckland Hospital, said the accused had a gash in his neck, extending do.wn the jugular vein on the right side. He was still quite conscious, but he tvas bleeding profusely and was in a serious condition. Witness saw the accused before the operation. He said to witness: “God knows why I djd it.” Accused was admitted to hospital on September 10 for a major operation, and was discharged on SepteniT her 20, While there on the first occasion accused’s manner was quite normal. As far as witness knew-, accused was quite all right when he left hospital previously. An elderly -woman, Emma Ross, said that she was the mother of the deceased, accused’s wife. Deceased hadi been married to accused for nine years, i Inhere were two children since the mar-' riage. Mr. and Mrs. Simpkin had lived j in several placps. They had never had j home of their own, and had mostly j lived in rooms. They lived for a time! in a whare at Thames. Accused wasj on two farms following his marriage, j but had not worked regularly. In fact, he was more often not working than working. Witness’ daughter worked following her marriage, arid was working prior to the birth of her first child, when they resided at Milford. About five years ago witness went over to see accused and the deceased; One day deceased was crying, and told witness in the presence of the accused that he had beaten her. Simpkin did not deny it,' and never said a word. Witness told accused he was a brute and ought to be ashamed of himself. Simpkin made no reply. He was not working at that time, but deceased was. Witness detailed further unhappy incidents in the life of accused and his wife. Once witness, w-ho is 70 years of age, collapsed under the strain and the court was adjourned for a time.

William Ross, the father of the dead woman, isaid he knew of the strained relations between Simpkin and his wife. On the day before the tragedy witness told the accused that his wife was promg to leave him. On the evening of the tragedy witness saw his daughter walk up the road and meet the accused. They moved off together. Witness was turning away when he heard the accused shout. His daughter then screamed. He found both lying on the ground with their throats cut.

After the hearing of further evidence the accused was committed for trial.