THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9397, 18 March 1909, Page 5

THE WAITARA TRAGEDY.

TRIAL OF DR. GOODE

mress Association. New Plymouth, March 17. Yesterday before Mr Justice Chapman, Dr. Edward Jonathan Goode was charged with having murdered Mary Ellen Klenner, on December 14 th. ; . Accused appeared in Court calm and collected, and closely followed the proceedings. He was by Mr Skerrett, with whom Mr A - H. Johnstone appeared. Mr Weston, Crown Prosecutor, assisted hy Mr C. H. Weston, prosecuted, Mr? Gocda was also present in Court. A plea o< not guilty was entered. . Mr Weston explained the definition of murder, and said that manslaughter was out of the question. The case must be either murder or nothing. Ida Klenner, the nine year old daughter* of deceased, deposed that she arrived homo from school about 3 o’clock. She heard someone talking in the sitting room, whose voice she recognised as Dr. Goode’s and shortly afterwards heard three shots. Myrtle Trim, aged 12 years, stated that she saw Dr. Gooae returning to his house. Ho was helped on to the verandah by Mrs Goode and sfcafffirereri into the surgery. He sain to Mis Goods: “My God, leave me alone,” or “My God, get out of it. He spoke very gruffly unci hard, and seemed to be rso,ted. J. W. Fitzsimona gave evidence as to finding Mrs Klenner ’a body Mrs Clare deposed that Mrs Goode had been to her house in the afternoon and that she returned with her to Goode’s house. Hearing groans in Mrs Klsnuer’s liouss sue went in and found Mrs Klenner lying on the floor. Mrs Klenner told witness Dr. Goode had shot her because he wanted herself, and she said “No.” He fired two shots at To Mr Skerrett: Mrs Klenner said to witness that she was certain Dr. Goode was mad or he would not have done it. She told witness daring, the afternoon that she had not the slightest fear of Dr Goode when he asked to speak to her. Witness bad known the accused for eight years and knew that he had boats of drinking. Drs. Fookes of New Plymouth and Dr. Olaridge of Waitara, gave evidence as to Mrs Klenner’s wounds. Dr. Olaridge recounted his experiences when examining Dr. Goode at the police station. He was very abusive. « „ ~ ~ Cross-examined, Dr. Olaridge said that, accused railed bitterly against the police for having arrested him. He repeatedly asked why he had been arrested. In the course of all this railing and abuse he did not once refer to the tragedy that had just happened ; did not saem to exercise any power of control over his language, although he would not say that accused could not control his language. , To His Honour; The reason he had stripned accused was to ascertain If he had attempted to shoot himself through the heart. To Mr Skerrett: There was nothing in accused’s conduct to lead witness to suppose he was feigning or pretending. He showed no symptoms of acute alcoholism. There was mental excitement. He was angry. In hia anger there was no reierenoe to the possibility of a charge of murder. Had never examined the accused as to his mental condition. Was not in a position to give an answer to the question as to accused’s mental condition, for he had only spoken to_Dr. Goode about twice previously. Re-examined: Dr, Goode must have known something of the nature of the wound on his chin, or he would not have referred to the jugular being out. Alois Klenner, butcher, Waitara, husband of the victim of the tragedy stated that when he was by his wife’s aide she said: “Oh, Lou, I didn’t deserve this; I’ve been a good woman and now I’ve got to die; it’s very hard to leave my poor children and you.” She told him that when she opened the front door Dr. Goode was on the doorstep. He the passage into the sitting-room, and said; “I want to speak to you.” When she went in he closed the door and made a proposition to her to give herself to him, and threatened to shoot her if she did not comply.with hia request. She tried to get outside and he went and turned the key in the door. She sat down in an easy chair, and he stood over her and fired two shots at her. He then pulled over the chair she had been sitting on. He bent over her and asked, “Are yon dead?” She did not answer lest he should shoot again. She spoke no more on that subject. Witness‘had no firearms in his house others a Government rifle, and his late wife had had none. The families did not exchange visits. Constable Price, of Waitara; gave evidence as to the arrest of Dr. Goode. Witness said that accused knew what had happened, and did not appreciate his position. Accused’s conduct was strange. He bad to he humoured and coaxed before he would enter the cell. He was informed that he would be taken home in a cab, and coaxing was required there. Remembered accused asking at New Plymouth station to be allowed to see a Magistrate at once so that he could go naok home with his solicitor. Had known accused about three years, and knew he was addicted to ocoasioualjjheavy drinking boats. Accused was a man of peculiar temperament, and the peculiarity was more marked when he had been drinking, and since the arrival of Dr. Olaridge in Waitara.