THE RAMARAMA MURDER

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 13209, 28 September 1915, Page 5

THE RAMARAMA MURDER

Press Association. —By Telegraph. AUCKLAND, Sept. 27. As a result of investigations on Saturday and yesterday the Chief Detective and his colleagues formally charged Mrs Amelia Perry, widow of the man who was shot dead in his bed at Ramarama, with the murder and placed her under arrest. Up to that stag? a somewhat extraordinary feature of the case had been the composed manner in which Mrs Perry had gone about her work. There was little in her demeanour to suggest that a tragedy had so recently taken place beneath her roof. When the blow fell, and Mrs Perry was arrested pitiful scenes were enacted. At 2 p.m. the detectives entered the house and charged the woman, telling her she must accompany them to Auckland under arrest. She accepted the news quietly, and proceeded to attire herself for the iourney. Meanwhile the children were told t'- mother was going away. They f >d to realise the situation at first, and the seven elder boys and girls bade her good-bye calmly enough. Mrs Perry was allowed to bring her baby girl and her two-year-old boy to Auckland with her, and having dressed them she entered the motor car which had been driven up to the back door carrying her infant. At this stage her stoicism gave way and she was weeping as she took her seat. The other children clustered round the car with enquiring looks. The seriousness of what was going on was evidently beginning to dawn upon them, and when the motor car drove off they all walked crestfallen and sad into their shattered home, and gathering round the eldest girl, Mary, 12 years old, they stood there crying bitterly. Arrangements were made for the children to be looked after by relatives, and Constable Watson was also left in charge of them and of the house. The accused woman was brought to Auckland by train yesterday afternoon. and was lodged for the night in the police celK lier two young children being placed in the care of the matron. At the Police Court this morning she was charged with murder and remanded for eight days.