AUCKLAND MURDER.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12916, 13 October 1914, Page 8

AUCKLAND MURDER.

CASE OF FRANCES MARSHALL.

Press Association. —*lv Telegraph AUCKLAND, Oct. 12.

An inquest on the body of the married woman Frances Marshall, who was found brutally murdered in a lane off Nelson street two weeks ago, was resumed to-day. Frank Marshall, husband of the deceased, stated that he was •<■. fish curer, rnd he was absent from home two or three nights weekly. His wife was a steady woman and drank very little. They had been married twenty years and lived happily. Asked to account for some marks on his wife's face, Marshall admitted they had little tiffs. He once hit her with the back of his hand. There was a little jawing, and once he hit her on the nose. He denied knowledge that her nose was broken.

He was asked:"ls it a -fact that you were aware that this woman had been living a questionable life for some time?" Marshall replied: "I distinctly say I did not." AN OPEN VERDICT. AUCKLAND, Oct. 12. The inquest concerning the death of Frances Marshall who was found murdered in a passage off Upper Nelson street on September 29 concluded to-day. No further light was thrown en the mystery, the evidence taken breaking practically no new ground.

Deceased's husband gave lengthy evidence in the course of which he said their married life had been happy.

A boy stated that he saw a man and woman toget>-«r near the scene of the crime shortly after 10 o'clock at night. The woman was wearing a hat sJmilar to that of deceased. A woman deposed that sie saw Mrs Marshall in the street at 10.20 o'clock on September 28.

The jury returned a verdict that death was due to shock and hemorrhage caused by a wound inflicted by a person unknown.