WANGANUI MURDER

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11684, 23 November 1923, Page 5

WANGANUI MURDER

INQUEST ON VICTIM MR OATES EXPLAINS HOW HE WAS ATTACKED. THE MEDICAL TESTIMONY. rtr Press Association. WANGANUI. November 22. An inquest concerning the death of Mrs Margaret Emily Oates at Aramoho on October 26th was held this morning before Mr J. Barton, S.M., coroner. Superintendent Fouhy represented the police. Constable Warnhouse stated that he had known deceased and her husband for three and a half years, and always found them to be a happy couple. Dr. R. E. Allen, house surgeon, Wanganui Hospital, stated he attended Mr Oates when he was admitted to the hospital. He had a wound over tho right eye. ono and a half inches long. The eye was completely shut; another wound on the forehead, an abrasion on the right elbow, and was suffering from slight concussion. The injuries oould have been oaused when he had his arm up sheltering his head. Witness was or the opinion that the wounds were not self-inflicted. He had had a good mauling, and could not himself use sufficient force to cause such severs wounds. A slight discolouration on the shoulder-blade might have been caused by a fall. Statements made by Oates were consistent with the observations of witness. Mrs Oates was admitted at 10.20 p.m. on October 26th. Her age was about 32. Under Dr. Anderson witness made a post-mortem examination. There was a wound on the head three inches by one and a half inches, another wound near the right ear, and a third wound near the back of the head. The .wounds appeared to have been inflicted by a blunt instrument. She died at 12.40, without having regained consciousness. Dr. Wilson said he was summoned to Mr Oates's house on the night of October 26th. Mrs Oates was lying on the floor totally unconscious. There wap a largo hole on the top of the skull, which was fractured in several places. There were no stains of blood on the. hands. The husband was in a hysterical condition ‘ and dazed. Witness could not imagine the wounds on Mr Oates being self-inflicted. STRUCK WITH A WOODEN INSTRUMENT.

Dr Hudson, continuing, said he thought a wooden instrument was used; if an iron bbr had been used with the same force the injuries would have been fatal. He knew both Mr Oates and his wife; they were a companionable pair. Mr Oates was gentlemanly, certainly not of a savage disposition. Waiter William Hedges, of the firm of Oates and Co., said he went into partnership with Mr Oates over three years ago. The latter managed the business, and. at night took charge of the cash. , It was his custom to take the cash home, bringing it .back next day for banking. He had known Oates for fourteen years, and they were good friends all the time. Oates and his wife were very fond of each other. He was satisfied that everything in connection with the business was above-board. Albert Trongiva, driver for Oates and Co., "said Mr Oates and his wife were on friendly terms. He saw Mre Oates at the shop on the night of the murder before 7 o’clock. William Reuben M. Oates said he lived about half a mile from the shop. The house stood back ahout fifteen yards from the road, and there were several shrubs on each side of a winding path. The house was in his wife’s name. On the night of the murder his wife brought his tea to the 6hop about 6 o’clock, and they both had tea in the office. SBe left about 8.15, carrying a basket, and remarking as she was leaving: ‘‘Good-bye; don’t be long coming home.” He worked till about 9 o’clock, ptTtting up orders, and then collected the cash, put it in a briefhag, together with the paper and some grocers’ journals. BAG WITH MONEY STOLEN. Continuing, Mr Oates said he locked Xthe shop and rode his bicycle home ut 9.45. He alighted from his bicycle at his gate, which was closed. He placed the bicycle with the bag on the handlebar outside the wall of the washhouse, and went to open the kitchen door with his left hand. Just as he opened it he received ,a blow which glanced over his shoulder, knocking his Hat off. He then received a blow on the right arm, knocking him down on the kitchen floor, followed by another blow on the top of the head. Ho then smothered with both his hands, at the same time kicking at his assailant, who followed him into the kitchen and continned to rein blows on him. He had a faint recollection of hearing a door being shut. He was blinded by blood, and wiped his eyes with his handkerchief. He opened the kitchen door and saw that the hag with the money had gone. Then he called his wife, hut, looking into the hall and stinking a match he saw she had been assaulted. He ran to the neighbours, jumn ing the dividing fence. His neighbour, Dobbins, asked him inside. Witness rang up his partner, and he and Dobbins then returned to his house. Dobbins remarked that witness’s wife was still breathing. . Mrs Oates was expecting her mother, and this would account for the bedding being disturbed- The teirier dog was in the same room as his wife. The house was not So far as he knew, ins wife’s life was not insured. He had made his will entirely in his wife’s favour. Money and jewellery in the house were not touched. \\ itness said he called out during the time ho was in the kitchen, under assault, and kicked his assailant. “MY WIFE HAS BEEN MURDERED.”

Constable R. Sims said he accompanied Mr Hedges to Mr Oates’s place in a motor-car. When they got there he saw Mr Oates, who said, “My God, It’s cruel; my wife has been murdered) and ho has got away.” Mr Oates was bleeding, and witness took possession of the loaded double-barrelled gun which Oates had. Witness then inspected the inside of the house. It was evident that Mrs Oates had been dragged over a “runner” into one of the rooms. Witness at once searched the house and grounds, but without finding anybody. He took the gun with him, and was well prepared. There was no evidence that the house had been ransacked, as he saw money and valuables in the house. He saw blood with long hair in it in the pantry. “KNOCKED OUT AND ROBBED.”

Sydney H. Dobbin, stock agent, said ! he lived next door to Mr Oates’s j House. On the night of October 26th he arrived home about 9 p.m. Mr Oates came to the house about 9.45 p.m., and said, “Oh, Mr Oobbin, I’ve been knocked out and robbed, and I am sure my poor girl has been murdered.” Mr Oates was very 6haky, and had blood all ovir his face. Wit-

ness immediately rang up for the police and Dr Hutson and Dr Wilson. Witness accompanied Mr Oates back to the latter’s house, and on going inside he saw blood in the kitchen and a chair knocked over. They found Mrs Oates stretched out on the floor. She was breathing, and her right hand was moving. A towel was folded about her mouth and nose. It was tucked in, hut not fastened. Witness and Mr Oates had a look round the house. The latter got a loaded shotgun, and witness earned a stick. SEARiCH.*BY POLICE.

Detective-Sergeant D. Cameron said he proceeded to Mr Oates’s house with other members of the police force immediately be was advised of the tragedy. 'He examined tKe house, and found it as described by Constable Sims. A coat that Mrs Oates wore !that night was found hanging in the i front bedroom, and her hat was ‘found in a drawer of a duchess chest. He 'found a mark on the side and hack !of the hat that Mr Oates had been ! wearing. On the following morning other police officers reached Wanganui, and a careful search was commenced, , and during the previous night various inquiries were made. Tho distance 1 from the shop to the house was 45i : chains. The light at the corner of ! Field street was approximately 70 :yards from Mr Oates’s house, and i equalled 700 candle-power. It gave a radius of about 100 feet of clear light. %'ince the murder, Chief-Detectives Cummings and Kemp, witness, Detec-tive-Sergeant - Quirke, Detectives Walsh, McLennan, and Gourlay, a finger-print expert, and a number of constables had been actively engaged on the case, and inquiries were still being mad£. VERDICT OF MURDER.

Tho coroner found “That the deceased, Margaret Emily Oates, was murdered by some person unknown, actual death following on a fracture of the skull and laceration of the brain.”