THE RAMARAMA MURDER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 564, 30 November 1915, Page 2

THE RAMARAMA MURDER.

TRIAL OF MRS PERRY.

Press Association. AUCKLAND, November 29. The trial commenced to-day of Amelia Perry, who is charged with the murder of her husband, John Thomas Perry, at Bamarama, on September 25. ;Mr Prendergast defended, and Mr Singer watched proceedings on behalf of Gordon McDowell, a witness for the Crown. The ease for the prosecution was outlined at length by the Crown Prosecutor, the Hon. J. A. Tole. He "said that deceased and his wife had had a dairy farm at Bamarama. There was no evidence,to show domestic unhappiness un« til about two years ago, when accused became acquainted with McDowell. Ac-cused-visited frequently,, and, counsel said, was unfaithful to her. husband. The question had been raised as to whether the second youngest child was that of her husband or of McDowell, and this occasioned trouble-in the household. Early in the present year Perry wrfs suddenly taken ill in consequence of something he had eaten, and had to be . treated at the hospital. While ill he made a will, and was with' difficulty, dissuaded from omitting from its provisions his wife and the child whose paternity was in dispute. Accused was given a life interest!'in. his estate, which was to pass to •.the > children after his death. She afterwards told MeI)owell about this. '■. ..,';

Coming to circumstances more directly connected with the murder, the Crown Prosecutor stated that 10 or 12 days before it occurred, accused went- to a neighbour and borrowed a do.uble.-bar-relled gun,: which her, husband had had on loan at various times. On September &4, deceased and. two of the children went to town, returning in the evening. Deceased, was the last to retire to-bed,'but before doing so, he locked the front door. ; The-back door was also fastened, and all windows in the house were closed, but the blind of Mr and Mrs Perry's bedroom window was not pulled down. Apparently everything was quiet for about three hours. Then accused stated she was awakened, by a gunshot in the room, but saw nothing to explain it. The boy Tom, was also awakened, and, looking through a erack in,the wall, saw his mother bending over his, father. He called out to her, and she replied: "He looks as if he's been shot. ,J He also noticed that the bottom of the window was bpen. Accused and .the boy then went to the house of a neighbour, who afterwards came to the farm, and.found that the top of deceased's head had -been blown off, and his brains scattered over the wall and ceiling. Accused remarked at the time that her husband had been shot through the window. Dr Brookfield. and the police officers who; had examined the house, would be call-: ed, and their testimony would-be to the effect that'the-gun could not have been fired through the window, but that the muzzle must : have been held close todeceased 's head. This view would also be borne out by'Dr Milsom, who had made a post-mortem examination, and: Colonel Hazard, an expert in- firearms. Colonel Hazard would also testify that: the shot gun found at the rear of the house must have been fired frbhi 12 to 18 hours: before he inspected namely, about the time the deceased was shot, i

The hearing of evidence for the Crown then on lines of Mr Tole's opening. Tom Perry, aged 14 son of deceased, told his story, and was closely; cross-examined by his Honour as to ac-' cused's movements after the: discovery of the murder. At one stage 'witness* broke down, and sobbed loudly.; ■ ■ A great, deal of evidence was taken, and the Court adjourned.