A WEDDING TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3861, 13 March 1928, Page 61

A WEDDING TRAGEDY.

BRIDE’S MOTHER KILLED. UNCLE SURRENDERS TO POLICE. AUCKLAND, March 7. Tragedy crossed the path of a New Lynn bride to-day, when her widowed mother was done to death and her uncle was taken into custody on a charge of murder within a few hours of th e time set for the wedding ceremony. The news of both happenings was conveyed to the members of the bridal party while they were on their way to the wedding.

lhe . victim of the tragedy was Mrs Ernestina . Mary Norgrove, a short, slightly-built woman.of about 38 years of age ' Wi, s killed with a flatiron in the front bedroom of her compact cottage home at Cardwell street, New Lynn. Her brother-in-law and t'he uncle, of the bride, Alan George Norgrove, a single mar *« aged 27, residing at Grey Lynn, surrendered himself to the Ponsonby police, stating that he had “ done something to his sister-in-law.”'" ’

. t T 'x killin g occurred about noon, when Mrs Norgrove was alone in the house her daughter, Mavis, aged 18, having ’ left some time previously for the residence of Mr Raymond C. Dormer, of New Lynn, with whom she and her husband were to live. She had gone there to make preparations for the wedding. Mrs Norgrove was standing by the dressing tabl e when she was struck, and the appearances suggest that she died without a struggle, for the room bore no signs of disorder. She had received terrible injuries to the head, and was lying in a pool of blood at the foot Of 'rv. le dre ® slng when she was found. .m h ?«. b T ke , n edge of th « table >y>ng beside the body spoke of a blow which had missed Us intended mark. In the house wa a found a blood-stained flatiron. The injuries inflicted, on the woman were such as to cause almost immediate death after b‘ti : S.? r " ,dered

a i mn n< gg<lo r tt,at Mrs had 3r ry [ ea,lsation Hie fate that l’ ng contasn ed in the asXeams ne ’« hbour s that they heard

was J J ntimatmn of the occurrence toto th. P n Nor F<> y e in walking ’X T th J Po,,sonb y Police station at 1 ♦li T an . 4 surrendering himself to Conad a \iseJ LeS 'j h he NeW Lynn police wer « to knock and , w h en oo response was made open / WaS f ° nnd impossible to was h K S e . n - tranCe to the house th front A by br^ akl ”g the fanlight over Mrs Nor door ’ finding tbe b °dy of g /°' e ’ c the Police called in Dr wa S P e r x ’tS t ° C ° nfirmed tbe beli *f that life

The case was then handed over to the the ho Ve I ? Cl ? artlnent ’ Investigations at the house being carried out under the P et ? ctivc Sergeant Kelly, th Chief Detective Hammond in charge Aorgrove is said to have been a frequent visitor to the house, and io have spent a number of week-ends there It is understood that he was very much opposed to Mavis being married. It had been arranged that Miss Norgrove should don her wedding dress at the home of Mr Dormer, who was to bring her into the city to be married. Airs Norgrove was to join the bridal party on the main road, which is only a few yards away from her residence, lhe party was at the rendezvous on time; but instead of finding MFs Norgrove waiting they saw Dr Loeper s car outside the gate.

Inquiry was made by Mr Dormer. The terrible tidings .were conveved by him and Dr Leeper to the bride.’ In a state bordering on collapse Miss Norgrove was taken to the home of friends nearby, where she later recovered sufficiently to make a statement to the police. Unaware of the tragedy, the bridegroom,. Mr Robert George Firth, of Hutchinson avenue, New Lynn, and his attending groomsmen were waiting at the City Registry Office for tbe bride An urgent message brought the sad news, necessitating a hurried postponement of the wedding. Mr Firth hurried to the assistance of his bride-to-bc, while his friends conveyed the news to the guests for. the wedding breakfast and a dapce which was to have been held in the New Lynn Hall this evening. The Norgrove home was a plainly and comfortably furnished cottage standing in its own grounds, and was maintained by- Mrs Norgrove, whose husband died three years ago. Friends say that the home was a happy one. Living with Mrs Norgrove were Miss. Norgrove and her brother David, aged about 12 years. Three other children were admitted to a home at Manurewa some time ag.>. The inquest was opened to-day by Mr W. R. M'Kean, coroner, and was adjourned sine die. Norgrove made a statement to the police in the presence of Mr A. Moody, who has been retained for the defence. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. RELATIVE’S DISPLAY OF AFFECTION. AUCKLAND, March 8. Morbid curiosity drew a crowd to tbe Police Court this morning when Allan George Norgrove, of Sussex street, Grey Lynn, who gave himself up to the police resterday afternoon, stating that he had “ done something . to his sister-in law,” appeared before Mr W. R. M'Kean. S.M. He was charged that he did at New Lynn on March 7 murder Ernestina Norgrov'e. The accused, who was represented by Mr Alan Moody, is shown on the charge sheet to be of New Zealand birth, 27

years of age, and a butcher by occupation. He is a single man. Norgrove was remanded till Thursday, March 15, on the application of Chief Detective Hammond. In anticipation of catching a glimpse of the accused man as he entered the courthouse people began to gather in the vicinity from 9.30 a.m. onwards, and when the police van pulled up alongside the pavement a knot of people pressed round. Chief Detective Hammond ordered that all prisoners in the van be lined up two deep. This was done, and as Norgrove was not handcuffed, the loiterers could not distinguish him from his companions in custody. most of whom were about to face comparatively minor charges. The procession moved off to the rear of the court under the charge of several constables. When the doors of the Police Court were opened the body of the courtroom filled rapidly. Among the crowd were some women. The clerk called the accused’s name first, and as he entered from the prisoner’s room he ran the gauntlet of a battery of hundreds of eyes. There was a surge among the crowd as the more curious strained forward to see Norgrove in the dock. Norgrove, i D a well-worn navy blue suit, stepped into the dock without hesitation. He was apparently quite calm hut his downcast eyes roved from left to right as the charge was read out. The remand was granted immediately, and in a moment Norgrove obeyed the summons of an orderly to leave the dock. He was “on view ” to the public for just over 60sec.

Just as Norgrove was about to enter the police van his brother-in-law, who had been haunting the precincts of the court for half an hour, stepped forward and endeavoured to embrace the accused. He made frantic efforts to kiss Norgrove, but was restrained by the police escort. The door was slammed and the van whisked Norgrove off to Mount Eden.

THE WEDDING CELEBRATED. AUCKLAND, March 8. Showing evident sign s of stress of the terrible tragedy, Miss Mavis Norgrove was married this morning to Robert George Firth at the registry office. There were about five _ witnesses to the ceremony, the bride bearing up well in the circumstances. It is stated that as the girl was now an orphan she wished to be married immediately to have the protection and car e of her husband over the, dreadful period to come.