MURDER CHARGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10632, 3 July 1920, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE

OLD WOMAN AT COURT REMARKABLE STATEMENTS AT POLICE COURT TRIAL. PE a PEEPS ASSOCIATION*. DUNEDIN, July 2. ■ The circumstances concerning the death of Olive May Pile, aged twenty, who was found dead in’ a house in couth, Dunedin occupied by Helen Glegg, were inquired into at the Police Court to-day, when the woman Glegg was charged with the murder of the girl in question. Tho evidence included that of Thomas Burdett, surfaceman, employed by tho Railway Department, residing at Oamaru, who said ho met the deceased seven or,eight months ago, and wont out with her several times. About four or five weeks ago deceased and her father saw witness, and a few days after witness came to Dunedin and met deceased next day, and proceeded to accused’s house. He returned to Oamaru., but later went to Dunedin, and visited house, and founclt that the girl had been dead about an hour. Accused told witness to get away as quickly as possible, and not to say anything about it. The hearing is proceeding. TWO TELEGRAMS.

John Wm. Ha.ll, Assistant Superintendent of the Dunedin Telegraph Office, produced a telegram handed in at 12.47 p.m. on May 21st, addressed to Burdett, and with an endorsement on the back giving the address of accused. Another telegram was handed in ,at 3.15 p.m. on ,June 4th, and was addressed to B. McLeod, Hartley Arms Hotel, Clyde, stating “Send party next week,” and signed “Glogg.” The endorsements on the two telegrams were, in his opinion; in the same handwriting. WHAT THE DOCTORS DISCOVERED. Dr Lindon said that, on June 12th, ho received a telephone message to go to Mrs Glcgg’s house. He received n second urgent message, and he arrived at the house shortly after 9 o’clock at night, and found a young woman in bed, dead. Sho was partially laid out, with a handkerchief round -tho jaw. The body was quite warm, and an examination of . the body did not show any .marks of violence. Ho learned from the accused that the girl had been in the house about a fortnight, and had not been very well for a few days; that sho had had rheumatic fever two years ago, and that sho suddenly became ill that night and had died. Accused said she thought the girl must have died from heart failure. Sho showed him a book to indicate that the girl had not been very ill, as she had been reading In tho afternoon. Accused told him, if he had arrived earlier, ho could have seen that the girl was dying from Heart failure. Being unable to give a certificate as to the cause of death, he reported the matter at once to tho police. ' Dr Drennan, Government pathologist, who made a post-mortem examination of tho body, gave evidence that the cause of death was septic infection. He could find no trace ’of any recent injury which would account for the septic condition. AN IMPORTANT WITNESS.

Chief-Detective Bishop then called William Keith McLeod, labourer,' Clyde, whoso evidence, ho explained, applied to this and another charge against accused, who would later bo chargpd with, that on June 9th, she did, with intent to procure a certain result, unlawfully ueo an instrument. Tho magistrate formally cautioned the witnesf* that ho need not ■ answer any question that might incriminate him.

Witness said he had been keeping company with Miss Hose Williams, and in April last ho wrote to Mrs Glegg, On June 4th he received a telegram in answer, and four days later Miss Williams left for Dunedin to go to accused’s house. Witness later received a telegram from Miss Williams to say that she was in hospital. POLICE VISIT ACCUSED’g’’"HOUS.Ii.

Sergeant Thomson said that at about XI a.m. oh Juno 13th ho visited tho house of accused with Defective Hall, and in the front room found tho dead body of May Pile lying on a bed. There were no external marks of violence. After describing tho finding of. the instruments by Detective Hall, the sergeant said that when they went to enter the room where Bose Williams was, accused said there was no ono in the room. Detective Hall said he was going in, and when, he did he found Rose Williams in the room. Counsel for accused intimated that ho would reserve accused’s defence. Accused was therefore committed to the Supreme Court for trial on both charges.