ALLEGED MURDER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23809, 9 November 1940, Page 14

ALLEGED MURDER

WIFE FOUND STABBED

REQUEST BY HUSBAND ASKED SOLDIER TO SHOOT HIM v [FROM OCR OWN correspondent] SYDNEY, Nov.* 7 At an inquest, Paul St. Fin tin Fagan, aii Australian Imperial Force private, told tlio City Coroner, Mr. Oram, that Stephen Gale, aged 2(3, a crane-driver, offered him -Is to shoot him on October Air. Oram was inquiring into the death of Dolores Patricia Gale, aged .'SO, domestic, who was found dead with a French dagger in her chest in her room on the same date. Stephen Gale, her husband, was present in Court charged with having murdered her. During tho hearing Gale broke down several times and wept. Air. Oram found that Gale had murdered his wife and committed him for trial.

Fagan said that while he was on wharf guard duty on October 1.'3 Gale came up and said: "Say, soldier, how would you like to earn four bob!-' I want you to shoot me dead as a trespasser." Gale told Fagan lie had just murdered his wife in a lit of madness, burst into tears, and walked away. A constable said that Gale came into the jDarlingluirst police station and said lie had murdered his wife. Other police witnesses said that Gale had complained of his wife's drinking and moral habits. They produced evidence of many convictions recorded against her in the last six years.