The Coogee Mystery

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 82, 11 August 1923, Page 3

The Coogee Mystery

WOMAN’S DISAPPEARANCE. HUSBAND ON TRIAL. Press Association —Copyright. Sydney, August 10. Tho hearing of the charge of misprision (wrong-doing) against Alfred Heaydon in connection with the death of his wife, Gertrude Heaydon, was continued, Tho body of the woman has not been found, but the police found parts of a body buried in a garage. The police produced two statements made to them by Heaydon. In the first he declared that when his wife left him he understood she was going to stay with friends. She informed him that she intended to undergo a certain operation and he tried to dissuade her, but tho effort was futile. He alleged that he did not know she was dead, but he wrote to his sistor-in-law stating his wife was dead in order to stop cor respon deuce.

In n later statement Heaydon said he visited his 'wife while she w r as in bed in a home. A nurse subsequently told him his wife was dead. The nurse visited him and sea ed him by saying she and he would bo hanged and urging avoidance of disgrace for his child’s sake. Tho nurse also stated that it was his wife’s absolute \Vish that he should do nothing to cause disgrace for his child’s sake. For these reasons Tie did not report the matter to the police. He did not see his wife after her death and ho did not know wdiat became of her body. Witnesses gave evidence that Heaydon told them hia wife had left him.

As a result of a report by medical officers an inquest is being held on the bones found in connection with the mystery.

This case, which has became known as the Coogee mystery, has created great public attention in Sydney. Mrs. Heaydon originally came from England and the fact that she was missing was first brought to the notice of the police by inquiries from her relatives in England, who became alarmed at the absence of news from her. Foul play was suspected, and all the resources of the police were employed in the search of her body, but only parts of a body have been found. Mary Hughes (or Taylor) stands charge with murdering Mrs. Heaydon, and four others—Ma y Kreigher, Edra d Riley, Frank Taylor and Alfred Heaydon—are charged with compounding the crime.