CHARGE OF MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 303, 18 November 1930, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER

NEW PLYMOUTH TRAGEDY. Per Press Association. NEW PLYMOUTH. Nov. 17. The trial of Alexander Townsend, farm labourer, on a charge of murdering his. wife, Cora Alice Townsend, at Fitzroy, a suburb of New Plymouth, in the early morning of September 16, commenced before the Chief Justice, Sir’Michael Myers, to-day. Members of the household of Mrs Vickers, at whose house Mrs Townsend was staying for the night, after being disturbed several times during the night by the visits of a man, found Mrs Townsend dead in the room with her head almost severed from her body. Townsend was arrested later in the day at Onaero, north of Waitara. Dealing with the facts of the case, Mr C. H. Weston, for the Crown, said that Townsend and Mrs Townsend were married in August, 1916. Accused was 53 years of age and his wife 47. There were two children of the marriage, a girl, Jean, aged 17, and a boy, who died between the age of two and three

Mrs Townsend, said Mr Weston, suffered from a deformity of the hands, having a double club hand, but in spite of this she was a clever needlewoman and earned a certain income from the use of her needle. The evidence would show that it was an unhappy marriage and that the unhappy state was not improved by accused’s personality. He was a man who drank a good deal and could carry his drink well. When in drink he had a bad temper. There was established in his mind a grudge against his wife, and her father and sister. In 1925 a separation order was made between accused and Mrs Townsend. Prior to this, in 1921, there had been talk of a separation, but it was in 1925 that a deed was drawn up at Hamilton. Under this accused had to pay £1 a week for the maintenance of the daughter until she was 18. Mrs Townsend came to New Plymouth to be near her relations at Onaero. The principal witness to-day was Elsie Murray Petchell, a nurse who resided with Mrs Vickers (in whoso house the alleged- murder was committed). After detailing the events which took place during the evening, witness said that after the household had retired she heard two knocks at the back door. She unlocked the door, but nobody was there. Then came a knock at the french window. Witness opened the window and found Townsend standing there. He asked if Mr* Townsend would go out with him. He came inside, and Mrs Townsend told him it was too late to go out; she said she would go at daylight, and asked him to sit down until then. They resumed the argument about the daughter and money. Witness lett the room, and Townsend asked where she wa,« going. The couple followed witness into the passage. Townsend asked where the telephone was, and on being told he seized the receiver and sinashed the cord from the instrument. Witness said she became alarmed at the change in Townsend’s expression. He leaned toward Mrs Townsend, and his face was white and his teeth set. Witness became terrified, and ran for help. When she left the Townsends were standing by the telephone. The court adjourned until to-mor-row. The trial probably will last three days.