ALLEGED MURDER

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 67, 16 October 1930, Page 5

ALLEGED MURDER

TOWNSEND BEFORE COURT. MUCH PUBLIC INTEREST DISPLAYED. INQUEST IS PROCEEDING SIMULTANEOUSLY. NEW PILMOUTH, This Day, Public imterosti in the trial of Alexander Townsend, farm labourer charged with the mimlet of his wife,. Corai Alice Townsend, at New Plymouth, on the morning of Septem, her 16th, was shown hy the very large crowd which thronged the public portictn of the court this morning, when the preliminary hearing before the Magistrate, Mr, E. W, Tate, Commenced.

Inspector Fraser conducted the prosecution for the police, and prisoner was represented hy Mr. L.M, Moss.

It was agreed to take the inquest simultaneously with the trial. Mute witnesses of the tragedy were the blood-stained clothes of deceased, which were referred to hy Dr. G. H. Thomson, in the course of his evidence describing the position of the body as bo found it when called to the scene bf tbe, tragedy at 3.32 in the morning, and the' nature and exttlnt. oil 1 the wounds inflicted.

Bernard C, McCabe, draughtsman in the Lands and Survey Office gave evidence tvs to the plan of the house. H. H, Giles, a private hotelkeeper jgave evidence that accused lived there for six months. Ho paid his hoard and left on September 15. He had been well thought of land no dispute led to his leaving. AT DECEASED’S LODGINGS.

Emily Pearce, Ronald Street, said Mrs. Townsend and her daughter Jean, were staying at her place ou the evening of September 15th., Mj*s. Towimslend find liter daughter loft about 6.30. Alxout 7.30 accused called iat thei house. In reply to a question from accused witness said Jean had gone out with her mother. Accused said: “You know you told me lies before”. Witness replied: “You get off our property” Witness locked the door in his face but an hour later he knocked again and asked what time his wife and daughter Would he back, witness saying she did not kn~w. Accused knocked again at 10 o’clock. Soon after Jean came home and witness heard (accused say: “Where is your mother?’ Jean replied: “She’s gone to Mrs. Wickers”. Ho said: “Well* I want you to come with me t'o get her. I want to have it out with you both”. Jean refused to go and name inside. Jean Townkand, giving evidence, said that while at Hamilton she had seen her father come home the worse for liquor .Once ho threatened to blow her mother’® brains out. Previous to September 15th her mother and father had not spoken to each other since leaving Hamilton.

TAX! MAN’S STORY.

John Nelson Bell, taxi-driver, said ho drove accused tu Stmndou on, September 15th. On the way they stopped at Giles’ place and accused came out with art an urn. bilella (and parcel about eighteen inches long. dropped accused at Strandou and came bade for him about 8.30 and drove him ho Ouaiera. tAceused ‘whs absent fop about ten minutes, and then was driven back to Fitzroy, after a wait in Nobs Lame. At 10 o’clock witness drove accused to Sackville /Street. Accused, alter imquory, found Vickers’ place. Accu'sed thou dismissed witness, saying lie womld pay him in tne morning. Witness smelt liquor on accused i.u the car.

AT ONAERO. Olearies Latham, fawner, staying with the Pluses at Uiiaero, said accused arrived at 0.15 a.m. on the night ot September loth, and asked where his wife was. Witness did not know and accused left. On the following morning witness saw accused again. Hu was talking to Mrs. PI use, who was crying. Witness heard her ask where Cora was and accused replied; “Where you ought to be”.