BOY ON MURDER CHARGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 7

BOY ON MURDER CHARGE

QUARREL WITH AUNT POKER BLOW ALLEGED (From Our Qwn Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Nov. 21. A violent quarrel between a boy and the sister of the woman who had adopted him was described at Willesden, when George Bennett, aged 17. toolmaker’s improver of Lynton road, Kilburn, N., was committed for trial on a charge of murdering Mrs Harriett Ida Fry, aged 54, of the same address, whom he knew as “ aunt.”

Mr E, Clayton, prosecutine. sain that Bennett was alleged t have killed Mrs Fry by hitting her on the head with a poker. He was the adopted son of Mrs Fry’s sister, who was now living in Canada, and had lived with the Frys for two years. Bennett ha J been out of work, and on November 7 there had beer an argument about him going to the labour exchange During the morning neighbours heard screams and moans coming from the house in Lynton road and informed the police.

Police Constable McKenzie was admitted by Bennett, who said, “ I have had a row with my aunt and believe she is dead, I think she is upstairs” * We Were Both Mad ”

Bennett was alleged to have made a statement at the police station in which he said. “ She told me she was not going to speak to me again if I did not vo down to the labour exchange. I lost my temper ard ' got the noker from the ;itchen an hit her. “We h:.d an argument and were noth mad, I think she screamed out, and I do ” -l think I know what I was doing. I hit her on the head more than once.”

George Thomas Fry, husband ot the dead woman, said that Bennett was of excellent character. He and Mrs Fry were on very affectionat terms. Bennett had been peculiar mentally on many occasions.