Husband Charged With Wife Murder At Claverley

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1939, Page 4

Husband Charged With Wife Murder At Claverley

[Per Press Association. Copyright.'] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. nnHE HEARING WAS CONTINUED IN THE MAGISTRATE’S COURT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON OF THE CHARGE AGAINST ARTHUR JOHN PATIENCE, THAT, ON OR ABOUT OCTOBER 4, AT CLAVERLEY, HE MURDERED HIS WIFE, HARRIETT JANE PATIENCE. Witnesses to be called by the police total 43.

Reported Missing,

The 17-year-old son of Mrs Patience and accused, Arthur Stevens Patience, said that until October 4, 1938, his father and mother lived, together at the Claverley Camp. He last saw his mother towards the end of September, 1938, when he visited Claverley. He saw his father on • the Friday after his mother was reported to be missing. Patience had told him he did not know where his mother was, and was going to see if she was with her niece, Mrs George. Patience said. Mrs Patience had left a note, taken a little bag, and gone away. He had said that about £49, which he had kept above a window, was missing, and he thought Mrs Patience had taken, it. He seemed upset over his wife’s disappearance. Note From Accused. Irene Maud George, married woman, said Mrs Patience was her aunt. For a start, Patience and his wife got on well, but from June or July, 1935, things were “not so good” between them, the cause of the trouble being another woman. Oh October 15 her husband gave her a note, which accused left. The text of the note was: “Dear Irene; Did Girly come down here last Tuesday? She left a note saying she was sick of the camp life, so I don’t know where she went to. Please let me know if she has been here. I brought some cf her clothes down. Write a letter and let me know.” Later, said witness, Patience said he was going to report his wife’s disappearance to the police, but someone told him his wife was only giving him a fright. Pathologist’s Evidence. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, gave evidence of a port-mortem examination. He said that death appeared to have occurred some months before his examination, which began on July 22. The appearance of the body was consistent with its having been buried in clay for some months, then been in the sea for some time, and then on the beach.

There was a bruise, and the ribs bore signs of violence during life. Three in front and six , at the back were broken. The damage to the front ribs would be caused by heavy crushing. These injuries would not be fatal, but they had most probably occurred before death, certainly not long after. It was very unlikely that they could have been caused by rocks on the beach.

Mr Donnelley, for the Crown: Would it have been possible to place a knee on the woman’s chest, one hand over her throat, and ’ the other ‘over ’ her mouth? —Yes.

Could such combination produce death?—Yes.

In a short space of time? —Yes

Signs of Sacking,

Dr. Pearson said that the body showed signs of having been wrapped in something. There were signs of seme. sacking. The imprints wore clearest on the arms and thighs. There was no indication of sudden death from internal causes.

The indications were against suicidal death. Drowning could not be exr eluded as a possibility, but, taking everything into consideration, it could not have been suicidal drowning.

The court adjourned until to-day,