THE SEADOWN MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20930, 21 January 1930, Page 10

THE SEADOWN MURDER

DEATH OF MRS OLDFIELD. HUSBAND’S ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. EVIDENCE IN LOWER COURT. 'ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (Peb United Peess Ass,ociation.) * . TIMARU, January 20. , there was enacted at Hed--8 Corner, Seadown, one of the most ghastly crimes committed in New Zealand in recent years. Christina Oldfield, a young married woman, was callously murdered while She slept, her head being deft with an aie. Her husband, Jack Oldfield, • well-known, farmer, was arrested on a charge of. murder andremanded. i ClippingChk. by f Same Subject ( T* mes No tn 1“ Star" No Remarks W' :\ 1 Index (Main) No. I „ (Others) Nos. “ TOe“ accused found,, some tor himself. A moment later, tKepccused called out, • Good-bye, Eldred. (Witness looked up and saw his brother looking down the barrel. of the gun. He was trying to pull - the trigger.’ Witness rushed at accused, at the same time calling for the ploughman, Arthur Duncan. He fought and succeeded in taking possession of the gun. Then the accused said, “You had better ’tetme finish it, for IVe killed Chrissy.” ■ .When Duncan arrived, the accused, was Strapped to a fence. There was one cartridge in the gnn. ..To the inspector, the witness said that his brother had Borrowed the gun on a previous occasion in order to shoot a . horse. However, .he had not shot the animal. In reply to further questions, the witness said that the gun was fitted - with, a safety catch. At this stage the inspector produced a pad : containing- a numerical' inscription, butfthe witness could not say if the writhing was that of his brother. Proceeding, witness said that he went P -Hedley’s: Corner after waht accused had said, and there found the body of.the . deceased. ' She was lying on a bed in the front room in a pool of blood. He did not examine the wound, as the head wad covered in blood'. She still appeared to lie breathing. .The accused had been worryfinancial position, and had’ asked witness for a loan/ He kaid the banka .and firms, had turned biin . down. The accused should have been comfort-: • ®“« °at'was short of ready cash. ~ To Mr Rolleston,; The accused’s married, bo .far .as witness knew, was >dbiJ , fectly happy. The accused was a bain worker. ■ , "Jr To Inspector J Bird: The otten spoken “about the expense Vi ’ llv- , !)r ScannelL of-Temnjfa!, saidfthat on Trent Jo tWUldfields'’ siyjCik Ifc»ble'bed. ; T&ere ™ MmMJUh head - Tfcis wound, wjicE inches in ■ length, inMus opinion was caused by two blows. • The cause, of death was a’ fracture- of the skull With laceration: of the .. brain-as a’result of being struck by a . sharp instrument. . , _ Evidence, ‘was. also given by Arthur Dunran, who said that at 6.30 a.m. on January 13 he saw a motor car in the 1 and saw Eldred and Jack Oldfield > struggling fcr a oun.jpjih was in the asked accused Chrissy. Witness asked ■he had quarrelled, with' his he replied, “No we haven't.” : Accused appeared to be rational at : the .Vrme« ■ > ~ «™ Jo M.- Waite ’' f , ann er, Seadown, Mid that on\his arrival at Eldred Oldfields, place ;fie saw the accuaik tied up I“? BMng to sCe what Accused then said, “I killed her all *i? pe u£ lc^ ed T doesn ,’t faint at the ?> ' j o ’ *ne blood.; I realise now what ive done. She was a good girl to me. Her poor old; mother will be cut uo,” nSkr appeared to be quite rational.! Constable A. SoUthworth gave evideneas to arresting Oldfield, who said.; “ D realise now what I’ve .done. I was word ™ d “ISf.AW 8 - \ toought I'd spoilt th| ~ e - I can t say anything.! room the bedroom k| found a writing pad and 'an account book +£» n< ; lUed pgures which indicate? ' jpat tne accused, had been working out the financial position, of the farm. Kea ??ey said f that /accused - commenced to write out a statement, but «T er ¥,l faad wmtten a little he said: f a * a r .I. was worrying about the future, I think it is as well to write t nothing at all., I think I will leave it for_the time being. I’ll teqr this D ?'i tav , e bfi en mad at the ftf^^;w pVed .i t - he gl , rl * went to a lot w le % bouse ready for Tlf«‘W° W: i “ fina V? ial difficulties, w t K^ T L ia i he w , or M. Things were not too bright. I could not sleep.” tbS e «t C 4 -r Llnd . say (Studholme) said that at the Temnka police station the accused said, "Oh God, why did I .do ft? I frn f for th T ? oor Hirl’s mother. + fc lnsa ,?e. I deserve all that is coming to me" A - S. Bird said that at Temuka toe accused asked if he could see a solicitor at Timaru. -He added; “Trinf and Rolleston made my will about a week ■ g°» X lfc ll 1,0 ood . now - m have to make another, but it doesn’t matter ' 88 tom is the finish of me.” acc^ ed , reserved his defence and ifmaTToV tbS. the S “ Preme C ° Urt