WANGANUI MURDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 139, 12 May 1930, Page 7

WANGANUI MURDER.

FUNERAL OF VICTIM. ROUTE LINED WITH PEOPLE. Per Press Association. WANGANUI, M.ay 11 The route to tire Aramobo cemetery was lined with peoplo this afternoon, when the funeral cortege of the late Miss Gladys Cromarty, victim of Friday’s tragedy, passed through the city. At the graveside about 500 people were in attendance, and sympathy for the bereaved family was very evident. Rev. W. S. King, of the Presbyterian Church, conducted the burial service. WEAPON FOUND. The search for the weapon with which the deed was committed ended at 3 a.m. on Saturday, when a chef’s black-handled knife on which were stains, believed to bo those of human blood, was discovered in a cattlo : stop in the yard of the Wanganui Sash and Door Company, facing Yaupo Quay. The knife blade tapers from one and a half inches .at its greatest width to a sharp point, and is particularly keen. The whole blado is lix inches long. Manlev has a complete set of culinary instruments, and the knife is telieved to be one of the set. .Mr J. Lowe, head groomsman employed at “Koatunui,” Mr G. M. Currie’s stud farm, at Maxwell, whero accused was employed, said that during the two or three months accused was in company with deceased, lie was engaged on the farm. They were extremely popular. When Manley informed him that he was going to Wellington to work, Mr Lowe made every endeavour to get him to stay on at the farm.

MANLEY CHARGED. REMAND UNTIL MAY 17. WANGANUI, May 10. Accused of the murder of Gladys Cromarty, who died at her mother's feet, from wounds inflicted by a large knife, Herbert Frederick Manley appeared in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday afternoon. The courthouse was crowdedMr B. C. 'Hoggitt appeared for accused. Detective Walsh asked for a remand until May 17, which was granted. Accused’s monetary effects we-c ’Hed on the charge sheet at £7 i7s 6d. Manley is a slight man, about (.ft Sin in height, and 38 years of age. He looked worn out when he appeared in court. He proviosly said that he had hardly slept for three weeks. He had intended returning to Wellington on Saturday with young Stanley Cromarty, who had accompanied him from Wellington to Wanganui last Tuesday. Mnalev was staying at Mrs Cromarty’s house, and his room was on the top* storey, near that of Miss Cromarty. His engagement to the victim was broken off about two weeks ago. An inquest was opened at the Wanganui Public Hospital this morning, before Mr' J. H. Salmon, S.M., Coroner when the dead woman was formally ’identified. The inquiry was adjourned sine die. A post-mortem examination revealed that the left jugular vein was severed, and there was also a second small cut on the neck.

WIFE IN ENGLAND. TRAGIC PREMONITION. LONDON, May 11. The wife of Herbert Frederick Manley, who is reported to have lieen arrested on a murder charge Wanganui, is living at Kenley, Surrey. She says that she first heard of the news from a reporter. She was not surprised, as she had a premonition on Friday that something terrible was going to happen. Mrs Manley added that hers had been an unhappy war-time marriage. She had obtained a separation in 1925, when she and her two little hoys had been dependent upon poor law guardians for eight months She last heard from her husband from ltio do Janeiro, in 1928, when he wrote suggesting a fresh start ’ogether. He added: “If you do not agree I shall go through marriage with a pretty fair-haired girl. She is only 23, but has been divorced, and is now imploring me to take her away.” Mrs Manley said that she could not reply to such a leher. Sire would not have done so even if it had not contained a threat.