Wife Charged With Murder

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6624, 10 August 1931, Page 7

Wife Charged With Murder

DOMESTIC TRAGEDY AT WESTPORT. Per Press Association. WESTPORT, Aug. 8. A domestic tragedy -was revealed late yesterday afternoon when the police broke into an unoccupied shop in lower Palmerston Street and found the dead body of Frederick Upham. The discovery was made at 4.30 p.m. and Upham had then been dead for several hours. Search was made for his wife, Lena Upham, and she was found on the railway line and apprehended on a charge of murder. Apparently the murdered man had been sitting on a box when the shot was fired. Death must have been instantaneous as the bullet, fired from a 44 repeater, penertated his heart. Upham had been living at the shop for about two years. At one time husband and wife had been separated, but later thoy lived together again. Recently their three children were placed in the care of the State. Since then Mrs Upham has been living \mh friends. The rifle was recovered by the police under an outhouse at the back of Abe shop. The prisoner is twenty-one years of age and was married when sixteen. Their married life was beset with domestic trouble. Prisoner on several occasions had complained of cruelty by her husband, Deceased was 32 years of age and of athletie build. Mrs Upham Charged With Murder ! WESTPORT, Last Night. An inquest touching the death of Frederick Upham was held in the Courthouse at 5 p.m. to-day, before Mr. E. E. Cox, Coroner. Detective Holmes appeared for the police. Edward Upham, coal dealer, gave evidence of identification, stating that he had viewed the body and it was that of his nephew who was 32 years of age. Lena Maud Upham, who was in Court, was the wife of deceased. Detective Holmes asked for an adjournment sine die, Messrs Molony and Black, who watched the proceedings on behalf of Mrs. Upham, consenting. An adjournment was granted sine die. Lena Maud Upham was then charged before Messrs. E. E. Cox and C. D. Betts, Justices, with the murder of Frederick Upham, of Westport, on the 7th inst. Detective Holmes applied for a remand to the 26th inst. Messrs Molony and Black raised no objection and the remand was granted.