CHARGE OF MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22546, 13 April 1935, Page 13

CHARGE OF MURDER

WOMAN AND YOUTH STATEMENTS BY ACCUSED LONDON, April 11. In the Bournemouth Police Court Mr» Alma Victoria Kattenbury, aged 31, and George Percy Stoner, aged 19, wer« charged with murdering Francis Mawson Rattenbury, aged 67, a retired architect, on March 24. Both Rattenburys were twice married, each having children by both marriages. The prosecution alleged that Alma Rattenbury and Stoner stayed together in London for four days as brother and sister. Two days after their return to Bournemouth Rattenbury was found battered unconscious at his home. Ho died in hospital. The prosecution said that Alma Rattenbury admitted an attack and then accused her lover, subsequently signing a statement declaring that her husband " dared me to kill him as he wanted to die. He said: 'You have not the guts to do it.' Then I hit him." Stoner in a statement said: "I saw her kiss him good-night; then I crept into the room and hit him while he was asleep." The prosecution said that Stoner, when arrested after Rattenbury's death, had a photograph of Alma Rattenbury. also a love letter she had written from prison while under an attempted murder charge. The hearing was adjourned.