ALLEGED WIFE MURDER

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 23

ALLEGED WIFE MURDER

TERRIBLE CUTS ABOUT THROAT.

THE HUSBAND ARRESTED

NEW PLYMOUTH, September 16.

Rumour of an alleged murder raced over New Plymouth early this morning, and confirmation of the story was given by the police, who had been called to a house in Fitzroy, where a woman was found dead in circumstances which pointed to the belief that she had been murdered.

The woman was Mrs Cora Alice Townsend, aged about 43 years, and the tragedy occurred about 2.30 in the morning.

The first intimation the police received was a telephone call to Constable King about 2.40 a.m. He immediately communicated with his superior officers, and Inspector Fraser and Deteetice Meiklejohn, with constables, went" to the house, where they found the woman dead. She had been .terribly cut about the throat, but with what instrument it is not possible to say at the moment. Dr Thomson was summoned, but his services were of no avail.

The woman’s body was at once removed to the morgue, and the police immediately began a search of the locality and foreshore in quest of the suspected man. Outstations were advised, and the result was. a smart piece of work in which Constable Lapouple figured when he effected the arrest of a man near Urenui.

It is understood that Mrs Townsend was not at her usual lodgings when the affair took place. There was no sign of a struggle in the room in which the

crime was committed, and at present the motive for the crime is not disclosed. This afternoon, Alexander Townsend, aged 47, the husband of the deceased, was charged in the court at New Plymouth with the murder of his wife.

On the application of the police he’ was remanded to September 24.

Mrs Townsend had been living apart from her husband, it is understood, and she and her daughter, aged 17, were boarding at a house in Strandon. On Tuesday afternoon Mrs Townsend went to town, where she met Mrs Vickers, who arranged that she should visit her place in Sackville street to do some sewing that evening. Mrs Townsend visited the house, and when she was about to depart for her lodgings about 10.30 p.m. it commenced to rain heavily, and she decided to wait.

In the meantime a man knocked at the door and asked for Mrs Townsend. After speaking to her for a brief period he was ordered to leave by the occupier of the house. It is alleged that he returned to the house periodically. He wanted Mrs Townsend to go with him to a car outside, but she would not do so. During one of his absences Mrs Vickers suggested that she should telephone to the police to remove him from the property, but Mrs Townsend would not agree because she was afraid of creating a scene. Eventually it was decided to lock the door and that Mrf Townsend should lie on a couch in th( sitting room till morning. In the house, besides Mrs Townsend, were Mrs Vickers, her adult sister, and two girls. Some time after midnight the household was disturbed by someone trying the back door, and later someone was heard to break the French windows between the veranda and the sitting room. Voices were heard, and one of the women got up and looked into the room. Being frightened by the appearance of a man, she went to a neighbour’s place to telephone to the police. While she was away the man came out to Mrs Vickers and asked her where the telephone was. Upon being told he tore off the receiver, and then returned to the sitting room. Some further argument appeared to take place, aftex - which screams were heard.

Investigations showed Mrs Townsend in a sitting posture on the floor. Her throat was badly cut. There was no sign of the man who had been seen previously. Mrs Townsend was formerly Miss Latham, a daughter of Mr F. a farmer, of Onaero. It is alleged that Townsend arrived at Onaero early yesterday morning, when he appeared at Mr Latham’s place. Mrs Townsend’s sister spoke to him. A telephone message was sent to the police, and subsequently Constable Lapouple arrived to make the arrest.

Townsend, who is 53 years of age, is described as a farm labourer. He was farming in the Hamilton district till IS months ago, when he sold his farm and came to live in New Plymouth.