CHARGE OF MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21250, 2 August 1932, Page 12

CHARGE OF MURDER

TRIPLE DROWNING TRAGEDY WOMAN AND TWO CHILDREN HUSBAND SENT FOR TRIAL Remarkable evidence was given at tho inquest regarding the triple drowning tragedy at the Sunshine swimming pool, Victoria, on Juno 11. The tragedy was discovered by a boy who went to tho pool early on tho morning of Sunday, Juno 12, to inspect his fishing lines, and found the bodies of two children flouting in the pool. The children were identified, next day, as Harold George Russoll,. agod three, and Eric Russell, aged 18 months. The body of their mother, Ivy Jessio Letitia Kussell, aged 27, of Maidstone, was found in tho pool two days later by the police, after prolonged dragging operations. The police also recovered from tho pool a perambulator in which the children wore taken from their home on the previous Saturday by their mother. Detectives inquiring into tho tragedy questioned tho husband and father, Harold James Russell, aged 26, mechanic, and arrested him on a charge of bigamy. Later, he was charged with tho murder of his wife and their two children. Tho coroner found that Mrs. Russell and her two children were drowned in the pool by her husband. Russell, who declined to give evidence, was committed for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and children. Bail was refused. Girl Swoons in Court Alma Davoy, aged 18, who admitted that sho went through a form of marriage with Russell on May 19, swooned as she was leaving the Court, and had to be helped outside. Moro than 30 witnesses gavo evidence. Detectivo Sickerdiclc said that Russell had mado several statements to the police. When witness accused Russell of having lured his wife to the pool, Russell denied that he had drowned his wife and children. He said that his wife on June 11 had threatened to drown herself and the children. She wheeled tho children down tho road toward tho pool. He followed, and urged her not to be foolish, but to return homo. She agreed, and ho turned round to walk away. Witness said that Russell then ran down the hill, pushing the perambulator, and disappeared. He ran back, and saw his wife in tha water. He rushed down and tried to pull her out, but could not reach her. Ho then undressed and dived into tho pool. Ho could not find the children. He then sat on the bank and cried. Witness said that he had asked Russell why lie had not raised a hue and cry, and Russell had replied that ho was frightened that ho would get the blame. Constable Boulton said that on June 13, when Russell was asked to accompany tho police to a room ho was renting in Footscray, Russell said: "I may as well tell tho truth. There is a girl there I married about three weeks ago." On June 15, whilo they were in the offico of the Sunshino police station, Russell said: "Do you think I will get my neck stretched for this?" Witness replied: "For what?" Russell said: "For pushing them in." Witness said: "Then you really did push them in?" Russell replied: "No, but .1 know I will get the blame for it." Alma Davey's Evidence Mrs. Lyndo Comley said that when returning to her home at Sunshino on Juno 11, about 10 p.m., she heard cries from the direction of the swimming pool. Alma Davev said that she first met Russell about a year ago. He said that he was single, but had been engaged to a girl who had died. After their marriage they arranged to take rooms at Footscray. When Russell returned to her aunt's home at Maidstone on June 11 she noticed that his sleeve was wet. He said that he had fallen when crossing a paddock. Later they went to a house in another street. On the night of Juno 13 Russell, talking in his sleep, said: "She's dumped them. She's dumped them." When she awakened him he said that ho did not know what he had been talking about. On the next Tuesday Russell said: "I suppose you will think I am a bit of a rotter, Alma. Those children who were drowned were mine." That night he told her about his wife. She told him that he would have to be a man and go through w-'th it. Russell's parents gave evidence that Mrs. Russell had often said that she was tired of life and that sho was going to "dump" herself.