THE MAYFIELD TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3111, 29 October 1913, Page 34

THE MAYFIELD TRAGEDY

INQUEST ON MRS LILLEY

VERDICT OF WILFUL MURDER.

ASHBURTON, October 21. An inquest touching the death of Rosanna Lilley was held at the watchouse to-day before Mr V. G. Day, S.M., Coroner. A doctor had stated that the prisoner was still too weak to go to the courthouse. Superintendent Kiely, of Christchurch, conducted the case foh the police. Detectives Fahey and Gibson also being in at tendance. Biddle sat opposite the coroner. He looked considerably better than when he w-as arrested on Sunday, but was still very shaky. When asked by the coroner, at the end of each witness s statement if he had any questions to ask, he replied firmly in the negative. He followed all the evidence interestedly, interjecting several times. Evidence was given by the bereaved husband (John Allen Lilley), Charles E. R. Rendle (medical practitioner), Leonard Lilley (eldest son, aged eight), Robert Montgomery (a neighbour), and by Constable Turner. No fresh facts were disclosed. Dr Rendle minutely described the injuries on the head, which, as originalfy telegraphed, were of a shocking nature. Dr Rendle further said that he had examined the lower part of the body for signs of alleged- assault, but could not say whether there had or had not been an assault. Death had been due to fracture of the skull, the wounds being such as could have been inflicted by the hammer produced. When asked if he wished to give evidence, accused replied: “No; I am not in a fit state to give evidence.” The coroner said that the evidence was very straightforward, and, after summing up, he found that the cause of the death of Rosanna Lilley was a fractured skull, wilfully caused by Alfred Mortran Biddle. Biddle was then further remanded to appear at the Ashburton Police Court on Tuesday. On being interrogated by an Ashburton Guardian reporter on Sunday, Leonard Lilley gave an intelligent account of his mother’s disappearance and how the desolate little family got on. When asked if he could answer a few questions, the little chap, who had not then been told that his mother was dead, replied cheerfully that he could. He stated that his mother had gone out on Wednesday night after tea. 'iney had all been in bed when Biddle had come to the house and said that Mrs Montgomery was ill, and that she wanted his mother to go to her assistance. His mother put on a dressing gown and went away with Biddle- lie had not seen Biddle, who stood outside. Ho and the other children then fell oft to sleep. They were not used to being left alone, that being the first occasion on which their mother had left them to themselves. They did not feel frightened, but his brothers and sisters wanted their mother. Ho and his brother Harold, who is four years of age, slept together in one room, And his sister Doris (three years) and the baby (not quite two years) slept in another room. Continuing, Leonard said that he had got out about 7 o’clock on Thursday morning—he did not know' what the exact time was, but the sun was up. His mother had told him when she was going out that she would not be long, but she had not returned by breakfast time. He then prepared the breakfast. Asked what they had for breakfast, the little boy stated that they hod porridge, which he had made. He proudly remarked that he often made the porridge. He also made tea, but they had to drink it black, because all the milk had gone sour and ho could not milk the cow. On Thursday he looked about the fence to see if he could find his mother; the rest of the children played about. Hie little baby brother had not given any trouble. in answer to a question as to what lie fed the baby on, ho said that his little brother could eat "‘porridge and soft things.” For dinner on Thursday ho boiled some potatoes, as there did not happen to be any bread left in the house. He had not up till that time greatly wondered at ids mother’s absense, but he thought she would have been back. Ho swept up the house, and, using his own. words, “put the kiddies to bed” on Thursday night. They did not want any tea, os they had not long had their dinner; he made some tea, which they drank black, having no milk and no bread. At first ho thought his mother had been kept, but on Friday morning he thought ‘‘she might be dead somewhere.” Ho had not worried until then, but on Friday evening he began to worry more at his mother's absence, and the younger ones wanted to know where their mammy was. He made more porridge for them on Friday; there was no meat in the house. Ho began to think that his mother could not be at Montgomery’s at all. He had stayed at home because his mother always told him to stay there. They had potatoes for dinner on Friday, and late in the afternoon he mixed up some flour and made some scones, which he fried. He had not gone outside the fence. On Friday he and the others had dinner outside in the open : the children had nil 'kept well, but wanted their mother. On Friday night, Leonard said, he went over to Mr Montgomery’s. It was not then dark, but the dusk was falling. He had seen Mr Montgomery, who had just returned from his work. He asked Mr., Montgomery if his mother was there, and she said “ No.” Mr Montgomery then came with him, and afterwards went for his father; it was dark when they came back. He had gone to bed after Mr Montgomery had gone for his father. They all -went to sleep, and ho left the light burning. Daddy woke him up late at night, and wanted to know what his mummy had said when she went away. His father did not tell him that hia mother had “ gone.”

On Saturday at midday Mr Lilley, with his four children, left his former home and took up his residence with neighbours at Mayfield, who have generously undertaken to care for the bereaved ones until Mr Lilley has recovered from the shock and settled upon a definite plan.