THE HENDERSON TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 54

THE HENDERSON TRAGEDY.

CHARGE OF MURDER. AUCKLAND, August 5. Considerable interest was taken iu the case which commenced in the Police Court to day when Alice Sarah Williamson, a married woman, aged 57 years, was charged with the wilful murder of Ellen Ahlgren, at Henderson, on July 17. The police were represented by Chief Detective McMahon, and Mr J. R. Lundon defended the accused woman. Mr F. V. Frazer was the presiding magistrate. The chief detective .said that on July 17 a ship's cook i anted Lambert William Vandelaer, better known as “Billy Brown,” went over to Henderson to see Mrs Ahlgren. After drinking, they went together to see the accused woman. The accused received 2s from Mrs Ahlgren, and in a subsequent quarrel over this money the accused threw a bucket of water over Mrs Ahlgren. The deceased then returned home. Later on Vandelaer went to Mrs Ahlgren’s house with the idea of patching up the quarrel. On the way there he found Mrs Ahlgren lying near a small creek, very badly binned. Help was summoned, and it was found that Mrs Ahlgren had managed to get back to her house. She was removed to the hospital, whore, in her dying depositions, she accused Mrs Williamson of setting fire to her clothes. Evidence additional to that submitted at the inquest, the chief detective continued, would be given. This evidence would show that the accused had been heard to threaten to burn and scald the deceased woman. Evidence, ho said, would also be called to testify to the fact that fragments of burnt clothing had been found just outside the accused's house, and also at intervals between the two houses. After evidence similar to that at the inquest had been given by John Ahlgren, the deceased woman’s husband, Lambert William Vandelaer was called. Ho admitted he was very much under the influence of liquor at the time of the tragedy, and had nothing further to add to what He said at the inquest. Dr C. Rossi ter and Dr Alexr. Grant also repeated their medical evidence concerning the deceased’s injuries, and John Wanshorne, a porter at the Henderson Railway Station, told how he had rendered first-aid to Mrs Ahlgren.

Maude Edith Ada Churton, a married woman, living at Henderson, said that at 4 o’clock on the afternoon in question she went to the deceased’s house and found Iter there suffering from terrible burns. Witness then left the house and returned to her home. Passing the back of the accused’s house on her way home, she found three pieces of burnt clothing, one just outside Mrs Ahlgren’s house and two pieces just outside the accused's house. Witness further stated that she spoke to the accused and told her of Mrs Ahlgren’s condition. The accused replied : “It serves her damned well right,” and added that she (the accused) had thrown a bucket of water over the deceased. The accused was not sober. She said that she had had a terrible row with Mrs Ahlgren. Witness also stated that a day or two before the tragedy the accused, referring to deceased. had said: “if she ever dares to come near my house again I will burn and scald her.” In answer to Mr London, witness admitted that she had said nothing about her discovery of the burnt clothing until Thursday last. She had not picked up or kept the pieces but had pointed out to a detective where she had seen the pieces. They had disappeared by this time. Witness said she nad never had a quarrel with the accused, and that the accused had had no quarrels with anyone except Mrs Ahlgren. The proceedings were then adjourned. August 6, At the Police Court Alice Sarah Williauiron. charged with the murder of I'.llen Ahlgren at Henderson, reserved her defence, and was committed for trial.