WIFE MURDER ALLEGED

Taranaki Daily News, 17 October 1930, Page 5

WIFE MURDER ALLEGED

TOWNSEND IN THE LOWER COURT

THE SPECTATORS TOLD TO LEAVE

EVIDENCE FROM 13 WITNESSES

Charged with the murder of his wife, Cora Alice Townsend, aged 47, at Fitzroy early on the morning of September 16, Alexander Townsend, farm labourer, was brought before Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday for. the preliminary hearing of the evidence. Thirteen of 22 witnesses testified; the remainder will be heard to-day.

So intense was the public interest that a crowd had collected outside the court some time before 10 a.m., the hour the proceedings were scheduled to commence. From then on the place was thronged with men and a large number of women until 4 p.m. At that hour the magistrate cleared the court, having decided to exercise his discretion under the Justices of the Peace Act, 1927. '

COURT QUICKLY EMPTIED STRAIN ON WOMEN WITNESSES. Z “77“ ’ MAGISTRATE EXERCISES TOWER. An exodus that was dramatic in its suddenness followed Mr. Tate’s announcement. .Eleven witnesses, including four women who obviously spoke under stress, had been heard when, at 4 p.m., Mr. Tate conferred with Inspector Fraser,, who conducted the police prosecution. Mrs. C. I. Vickers, in whose house the tragedy occurred, had just been sworn.. .. . a , Upon the magistrate asking for the' Statute Mr. L. M. Moss, counsel' for Townsend, handed him ,a copy of the Justices of the Peace Act, 1927. “I want you people to understand this,” said -the magistrate, addressing the crowd in the back oi the court. Quoting from that part of the Act relating to the preliminary hearing of evidence on indictable charges, Mr. Tate then read section 143: “The room or building in which justices take such examination and statement as aforesaid shall not be deemed an open court for that purpose; and if it appear to them that the ends of justice will be best answered by so doing they may in their discretion order that no person shall have access to be or remain in such room or building without their consent or permission.”- ‘ “That is to say,” commented Mr. Tate, “that this' being the preliminary hearing of’evidence on an. indictable. charge is not necessarily an open court, and you have actually no right to be here at all.” Many of the witnesses, he continued, were women and must necessarily be

giving their trying evidence under con's siderable stress and strain. Under the circumstances he could not imagine any reason why most of the persons looking on should be there. This was a preliminary hearing, and not like a Supreme Court trial. Therefore he would direct that they should all go, except those who were concerned in the case and any women friends who might be there for the comfort and support ‘of those women who were giving evidence. There immediately commenced a rapid < dispersal of the spectators, assisted by the constables present, and very soon all but two lines of seats were empty.’ EXPERIENCES OF,WITNESSES. The inquest on Mrs. Townsend was held jointly with the Police Court pro- ■ ■ ceedings. . . ■ ' The first witness was Bernard Charles McCabe, chief draughtsman in the Lands and Survey Department, New Plymouth, who produced a plan of the scene of tlie tragedy, the sitting-room of Mrs. C. I. Vickers, Sackville Street, Fitzroy. Dr. George H. Thomson, who was called by telephone by Constable King at 3,15 a.m. on September 16, gave evidence. He said he arrived at the house at 3.22 a.m. Mrs. Townsend was lying on the floor of the front room on the right of the front door. She was fully clothed, wearing a cloak, but had no hat. She was face down bn her right side, her legs and arms drawn up under hqr, and her feet touching the wall by the door leading to the kitchen. There was a large pool of blood about IS* inches in diameter nearly in the centre of the carpet and a larger pool immediately under her and extending to the wall at her feet. Death had supervened. The body was warm and no rigor mortis had set in. The clothes were not disarranged. There was a small cut in the cloak (produced) just over 'the shoulder blades. Posteriorally there was a large incised wound commencing just below the left ear and running around the back of the neck at the margin of the scalp, finishing one inch below the angle of the right lower jaw. The wound was 8| inches in length and its deeper layers showed many cuts running into each other at angles. All the dorsal muscles and ligaments were severed and the verterbrae separated. The ’ spinal cord was completely, severed. lAnteriorally, there were two wounds—the first a small one, transversely, immediately above the voice box and 1J inches in length. This penetrated only to the muscle. There was a higher wound starting 1| inches below the angle of the lower jaw. The wound passed across the voice box and ended immedf- .' ately under the left ear, severing superficial muscles and cutting the left jugular vein. The wound was 5 J iriches long. On the centre of the forehead, at the edge of the scalp, was a small bruise about two inches in length. Death was directly due to a mechaneial injury to the spinal cord. The body showed the woman to be a case of a double congenital club hand, X-ray photographs of which were produced. An X-ray of the upper part of the body showed the'damage to the spine and demonstrated the wounds. RESULTS OF POST MORTEM. He and Dr C. A. Taylor conducted a post mortem. It was disclosed that the body was well nourished. The woman was apparently about 45 years of age. The doctor described the deformities of

the arms and hands. No other bruises dr abrasions were discovered other than those previously found. Except for some congestion of the meningeal veins there was do abormality oi the brain. There was no sign of sinous disease. The right lung showed signs of old pleuritic fibrosis. The right kidney showed a dilated pelvis, but was functioning normally. To the inspector: The woman’s forearms were shorter than those of a normal person. ■ William Stanley Oakley, photographer, said that on September 27 Detective Meiklejohn submitted to-him the three X-ray films already produced and from these he took four prints each. Herbert Henry Giles, manager of the Grand Vue Private Hotel, Gill Street, said Townsend had stayed at his place since before February. He had always paid regularly and been a good boarder otherwise. On September 11 he paid his board up to Monday, September 15. On Sunday morning (September 14) To wh - send spoke to him and his wife in the kitchen. He asked them how long he had been there. They replied seven or eight months. He said he did not have one thing to complain about. He showed no sign of liquor. t About midday on the Monday witness heard Townsend say toMrs. Giles: “I have-packed up. lam leaving Grand Vue. If anyone comes to' my room put my luggage out.” He may have had a few di.nks, but not many. That even-' ing Townsend entered the kitchen about 7.15 and asked for Mrs. Giles. Witness said she was in the hospital. “Hoo-ray, Mr. Giles,” said Townsend. That was the last he saw of him. He talked and walked normally. Witness was l not close enough to notice whether Townsend was affected by liquor. During his six months at the house Townsend always seemed to have plenty of money. He worked during that period roughly six weeks. “Was he well thought of by the boarders there ?” asked 'Mr. Moss. “He was thought a lot of,” replied Giles. > “When normal he was a man of a kindly disposition?” • '

“Yes.” “When did you last see him that night!” “About 7.15 on the Monday* night.” “How long were you together?” “Oh, he just came into the kitchen for a few seconds to say good-bye.” “Did it not seem strange to you that he was leaving suddenly ?” “It Was strange—yes." “And the strangeness of it occurred to you at the time?” “Yes.” ' “And to your wife.” “Yes.” “There had been no dispute in the house that would cause him to leave?” < “No dispute at all.” TOWNSEND CALLS AT PEARCE’S Emily Pearce, living with her mother and sister in Ronald Street, Strandon, said entrance to the house could be obtained from Nobs’ Line as well. Jean Townsend, daughter of Townsend, boarded with' her mother during 1929 while attending the High School. In 1939 she went to relatives at Onaero. She returned to Ronald Street about 10 days before September 15. Mrs. Townsend arrived about four days later, she thought on a Saturday. Both stayed till the night of September 15. Mrs. Townsend left their place that night about 6.30 with Jean. Mrs. Townsend was then in the best of health. ■ Townsend had called at the house several times in the last 12 moths to see his daughter. He called again about 7.15 p.m. on September 15. i

“Is Jean here?” he asked. Witness said she had gone out with her mother.

“Are you sure she is not here?” he said.

“Quite sure,” replied witness. “You know you told me lies before,” said Townsend.

“You get off our property,” said witness. He just stood there, so she closed the door and locked it. He stood well back from the door, so she could not say whether he smelt of liquor. About an hour later Townsend again knocked on the door. Witness answered it. ,

“Is Jean or her mother home yet?” he asked.

“No,” was the reply. “What time will they be home?” She asked her mother, who did not know. Her mother said she did not suppose they would stay out all night. He agreed. “Are you sure you’re not telling mo lies?” continued Townsend. Witness closed the door in his face.

. At 10 p.m. he returned to the house but she did not answer his knock on the door. Just afterwards Jean came home.

She heard Jean say, ‘What do yon want, dad ?” He said: ‘Where is your mother?” “She has gone to see Mrs. Vickers,” replied his daughter. “Well I want you to come with me to get her,” he said. “I want to have it out with you both." “If you want to have it out,” she replied, “bring mother here and we will have it out here.”

“Are you coming, or are you not?’’ he asked.

“No,” said Jean, as she opened the door and walked inside.

Mrs. Townsend, continued witness, had said 1 she would not return to the house that night if it rained. “And' did it rain that night?” asked Mr. Moss. “Yes, about 9.30 p.m.,” replied witness. “And where was Townsend?” “Out in the rain.” EVIDENCE OF THE DAUGHTER. Jean Townsend said she was 17 years of age. During the last few years she had spent most of her time with Mrs. Pearce. She returned to Mrs. Pearce’s house on September 2, her mother arriving four days later. Both of them had been staying with Mrs. Huse at Onaero for about a fortnight before that. Her mother earned her living by sewing and paid for witness’ maintenance.

Her mother and father were separated. While they were on a farm at Hamilton she had seen her father arrive home the worse for liquor. When in that conditio he would threaten her mother.

Mr. Moss questioned whether such a matter was relevant in view of the lapse of time. The inspector said the point boro some weight. The evidence was admitted subject to objection. Townsend, continued his daughter, had threatened to blow out her mother’s brains. In February her father returned to New Plymouth. He visited her at Pearce's place about four times and about three times at Onaero. Mrs. Huse was her aunt, her mother’s sister. She had been going backwards and forwards between Mrs. Pearce’s and Mrs. Huse’s at the time of her father’s visit. As, far as she knew her mother and father had not spoken to one another before September 15, since they left Hamilton. Witness, however, had spoken to him on several occasions in New Plymouth. Sometimes the conversation was. in regard to her mother. Her father, when the mother’s name was mentioned, would say, “Just a matter of time.” “What would you say was meant by that?” asked the inspector. “Is that a proper question?” asked Mr. Moss. “It ds a question for the jury. Her inference may be quite wrong.” Counsel successfully objected to the next question on the: grounds that the publication of the answer would prejudice Townsend. On September. 15 about 7.15, continued the witness, she and her mother left Pearce’s house. She parted from her mother at Strandon and the latter went to Mrs. Vicker’s, witness going to Miss Johnson, dressmaker. Her mother was in good health. Witness returned to Mrs. Pearce’s at 10 o’clock and met her father on the back verandah., ■ She said: “Hullo, what do you want?” Her father wanted to ‘know if. her mother was there and asked where she was. Witness said “at Mrs. Vickers’ ” Witness refused to get into a taxi to go to Mrs. Vickers’ and told him if he wanted her mother he should. bring her there to have it out.

She did not notice whether her father was sober. There was a white taxi at the gate. On the morning of September 15 she was in town with her mother. She met her father at the Melbourne corner. He asked her where she was staying and she replied “at Pearce’s.” In reply to a further question witness said her mother was staying with her. She told him she had not secured a job yet. “Oh, you’re getting one,” he said as he walked away. Her mother walked on during this conversation. On the night of September 15 her father had on a raincoat and hat. At Hamilton he had a double-barrelled gun. “Just a matter of time” was Said by her father about four, times when her mother’s name was mentioned. STORY OF A TAXI DRIVER. ,John Nelson Bell, taxi-driver, said that on the night of September 15 he was on the Brougham Street stand about 7.20 when Townsend engaged him to drive him to Strandon. On the way he stopped at Mrs. Giles’ private hotel in Devon Street east. Townsend went inside. Subsequently, on Townsend’s return to the car, he was driven to Ronald Street. ■ Townsend had an oyercoat, umbrella and, he thought,; a parcel when he came from the boardinghouse. He was carrying' the overcoat and he put this and the parcel in .the back of the

car. The parcel was about 18 inches long. At Ronald Street Townsend directed witness to the top end of Nobs’ Line, opposite the third house on the left. Townsend got out of the car and entered the house. Witness waited outside till Townsend returned and instructed him to pick him up at the Strandon shops in an hour’s time. Witness arrived at the Strandon shops between 8.20 and 8.30 p.m. and picked up Townsend. He was then told to drive to Onaero. Witness stopped at the house on the top of the hill past the dairy fatcory. Townsend went towards the house and was absent about 10 minutes. On his return he asked to be driven back to Fitzroy. Witness complied and took Townsend to Nobs’ Line, to the same house as previously. Townsend was inside the house two or three minutes. This was shortly after 10 o’clock. On returning to the car Townsend instructed him to drive to Mrs. Vickers’, Sackville street. Witness did not know the place and took his car to the loot of Sackville Street. Townsend inquired at two houses where Mrs. Vickers lived. Eventually Townsend found the house and went inside. Witness remained in the car, from which he saw a light go on in one of the front rooms.

He waited in the car for 20 minutes. Then Townsend came to him and said, he would not require him any more that night, and that he would go to the stand to pay him in the morning. When he mcked Townsend up the second time, after an hour’s wait, he had an umbrella, overcoat and a bag of oranges. He had the umbrella and overepat on going to Onaero, but witness could not say whether he had the parcel. “What time did you last see him that night?” asked counsel. “About 10.25 or 10.30.” “Did you notice whether he went back to the house, or not?” “IT WAS A WILD NIGHT.” “No. It was a very wild night, raining and blowing, and I had the window curtains up. I could not see. I could not say where he went” after he left me.” » “Where did he sit when in the car? asked counsel.

“In the front seat with me.” “He was showing signs of liquor in the ear ?”

“Yes, I smelt liquor on him.” Charles Latham, farmer, OnaAro, living with Mr. and Mrs. Huse, said Mrs. Townsend was his daughter and so was Mrs. Huse. The Townsends had been married 15 or 16 years, but had been separated some years. } About 9.15 p.m. on September 15 Townsend knocked at Huse’s door. Witness answered it. Townsend asked where his daughter Witness said he did not know and* that the other's were all in bed. Townsend then asked for Cora, his wife. Witness said he did not know where she was. Townsend then said, “Oh, don’t you!” and went away. It was so dark .he could not; properly see Townsend, but he thought he seemed a little dazed, or partly drunk.

■ Next morning he saw ’Townsend talking to Mrs. Huse outside the door. Mrs. Huse was crying. She asked Townsend where. Cora was. “Where you ought to be,” he .replied. Townsend appeared to be in a similar condition to that of the previous night.“How long was Townsend at the house at Onaero on the Monday night?” asked counsel. . “Not five minutes, I think. “And on the Tuesday morning when talking to Mrs. Huso?” “I could not say.” . ' “You did not see him arrive ?

“No.” Ernest Frederick Huse, factory manager at Onaero, said Mrs. Townsend and her daughter had stayed with him at times. On the last occasion they re turned to town a fortnight or three weeks before September 15 They had stayed at his place a fortmsrht that time. Previously they had been U;ere for week-ends. ;

He saw Townsend about 8 a.m. on September 16. Townsend was then entering' the house at Onaero. Mrs. H’* s ® pushed him back, saying he had no right in there. His wife asked where Cora was.” Where you ought to be,” said Townsend.

Witness stood there till Latham camo. They were talking, but he did not know what they said. Witness then telephoned for Constable Lapouple. By that time he had received a message from the constable saying what had happened to Mrs. (Townsend. Townsend was going away when witness again went to the door, Townsend walked round the .house, lit his pipe and got into the car, which was driven towards Urenui.

“How long was he there that morning?” asked Mr. Moss. “Five or ten' minutes; I could no-t swear to the time." To the inspector: • Townsend seemed “a bit excited” that morning and wanted an argument. He looked as though he had been, drinking—like a man who had had a night out and no sleep. VISITS TO ONAERO. Mrs. Mary Beatrice Huse, wife of the last witness, said her sister, Mrs. Townsend, had Iliad two children, only one of whom was living. On the morning of September 16 she received a message from Constable Lapouple about what had occurred in town. Sometime later, about 8 a.m., Townsend arrived at her, door, which was open. Townsend stood outside and then entered. He said he was going to talk to her. She told him to go outside, where she would talk to him. He asked her what she was crying for. She did not reply, but asked him where her sister was and what he had done with her.

“He said' she was where I ought to be,” continued Mrs. Huse. She .then called her husband. Townsend went outside and talked for a while. She closed the door and her husband telephoned for the police. She saw Townsend enter the waiting car. She had on several/ occasions heard Townsend discussing her- sister. The quarrels were about money matters .and the farm. She had not heard the daugh-

ter mentioned as a subject of these quarrels. - * , . To Mr. Moss: She heard these quarrels in Hamilton while she was there on holiday. She could not recall the year. The details of the tragedy were described by Elsie Mary Patchel, a nurse living with Mrs. Vickers. She said Mrs. Townsend called at Mrs. Vickers house about 6.45 on the night of Septembei 15. Mrs. Vickers had gone out just previously. About 10,15 Townsend knocked at the front door. Her neice Elsie Vickers answered. He asked for Mrs. Townsend, who was In the kitchen. On being told she was wanted Mrs. Townsend went to the front door. Next she called out to Elsie, asking. if she could put the light on in the sitting room. On this request being granted Mr. and Mrs. Townsend went into the sitting-room. ■ , Witness stayed in the kitchen for a while and heard Townsend and his wife arguing loudly in the next room. She then went into the sitting-room. Townsend was standing in the middle of the room near the door leading to, the hall. He had then been there about three minutes. Mrs. Townsend/ seemed to be upset. ’ ' . , Witness then asked Townsend what he wanted. She asked him to go out and opened the front door and the sitting-room door. Mrs. Townsend came, out into the hall, where she and her husband stood. Witness returned to the kitchen. A few minutes later Mrs. Townsend, came into the kitchen, Townsend having gone. Townsend was not in the house half an hour on that occasion. Soon afterwards Townsend came !n at the back door. She could not remember whether he knocked. Mrs. Vickers came in ¥ shortly afterwards. Townsend and his wife * spoke about Jean. He asked if Jean were working. Mrs. Townsend said/ho; she was trying to get work. ■■ , AT SACKVILLE STREET. They stood in the kitchen and Townsend had a cup of coffee. Something was said about Jean’s board. He said he would not pay for Jean’s board any longer. He wanted to know why she was not working. Mrs. Townsend said Jean had been trying to get work for two months.

Townsend asked Mrs. Townsend to go with him to Jean’s but she refused to do so. “We. wanted to get a taxi for them both,” continued witness, “but Mrs. Townsend would not go. Townsend then went away again. When he went out qf the door he said he would wait for her.” Townsend, said witness, came back again; it might have been half an hour later. Once more he asked Mrs. Townsend to go with, him, but she refused. As lie'was leaving she said she would meet him in the- morning. She could not recall whattime, this occurred, ■ . It was then arranged that Mrs. Townsend should stay the night and sleep in the sitting-room. Witness stayed iff the room with/her, neither ing. It might have been afteip 1 am. when they went’to bed. It was a long , time later when they heard two knocks at the back door. Witness waited for a while before unlocking the door. N-o one was there and she locked- the door again and returned to the sitting-room. There- was a knock at the - French window ,of the sitting-room. She' pulled the blind.up and opened the windows. The light was on. Townsend was standing there. He asked if Mrs. Townsend would go out with him. Townsend was’ inside the room, where witness remained a few minutes. He was asked to take off his coat (produced) because it was wet. He had an-, umbrella, with a white handle similar to the one in court.

She thought he put the coat bnj.a chair and tried to hang the umbrella .on - the back’ of the chair. It fell to the floor. Using the surveyed plan produced, the witness described the position of the furniture in the room.

Mrs. Townsend told her husband it was too late to go J with him. She said she would go at daylight and asked him to sit down till then. Townsend was then standing just inside- the French windows, behind the chesterfield and the chair. , The conversation about Jean and money continued. Townsend said something about Latham and money. When witness left the room to call Mrs. Vickers Townsend asked her where she was

going. On her telling him she was going to call her sister he said, “Let her sleep! ” Mrs. Townsend and then her husband followed into the passage. He asked where the telephone was and on being told he broke off the ear-phone by snapping the cord. ) She heard no threat made by Townsend while she was there. She saw no instrument or knife on him. “A CHANGE OF EXPRESSION." Going back teethe sitting-room she and Mrs. Townsend put the lights out. She moved to go to her sister’s room because during the last visit of Townsend she became alarmed at a change in Townsend's expression. He leaned towards Mrs. Townsend. He went very white and set his teeth. She became terrified and left the room.

After the breaking of the telephone and calling Mrs. Vickers she went for help. To Mr. Moss; Her reason for going for Mrs. Vickers was her alarm at his change of expression and general manner. ''. ' '

When .she left the room Mrs. Townsend was behind, her and Townsend further backi

“So that it was' after that expression earne over his face that the telephone was broken?” “Yeu.” “The change seemed to be a sudden one?” “Yes.” * • ) She said she left the house and did not return to the sitting-room. “How: long had Townsend been there before - that expression came over Jiis face?” “Just a few minutes.” “But ;you are clear the change occurred while he, was in the room?”

“Yes.” J . “Did he touch the telephone violently?” - - \ “He took hold of it, said he would ring, and just broke it.”

, When she left the .Townsends were standing in the hall by the telephone, concluded Miss Patchel.

Mrs. Cherry Isabella Vickers said she and three daughters lived in Sackville Street. Mrs. Townsend was a friend of hers for practically all her life. She’ went out on September 15 just before Mrs. ’ Townsem. arrived. She spoke to her at the' front gate. She returned home between 10.30 and 10.40 p.m. and went into the kitchen, where she saw' Mr. and Mrs. Townsend and her sister, Miss Patchel. j Townsend Spoke to her. Mrs. Townsend was seated and he was standing. He wanted Mrs. Townsend to go outside but she refused. He went out then; saying he would wait for her at the gate and that she had better get her hat and coat on. That was before the cup of coffee. Afterwards he went .to th: gate and returned and inquired if Mrs. Townsend were ready to go with -him. She still did not go. This would have been at'a .time approaching midnight.. f ’ ' WOULD MEET HIM NEXT DAY. Mrs. Townsend said she would meet him in the morning about 10 o’clock. Arrangements were made that Mrs. Townsend and Miss Patchel should sleep in the sitting room. Witness then went’ to bed in a room with one of her daughters. . ■ ~ ■ , She could not say what time it was that her sister came to awaken her. I She came out into the passage where she saw the two Townsends. Townsend, broke the telephone receiver and then went towards the front of l the passage and the sitting room with his wife. Witness next heard noises. She heard Townsend say, “I* am a dead man now!” Mrs. Townsend, called out, “No you’re not!” “Bella! Bella! Oh, Bella!” called Mrs. Townsend. 1 All she heard was Mrs. Townsend call her name. She heard neither of them speak again. She heard no sounds of struggling -or fighting in the sitting room. She went into the room with her girls; 1 the four of them were in the one room. One of* her daughters told her she had. heard Townsend leave the house, whereupon witness went • into tile sitting 'room. There she found Mrs. Townsend sitting on the floor near the table. There was blood about. She did not go to Mrs. Townsend. , - ; 1 Mrs. Vickers said Jean boarded with, her for a year about two years ago. Townsend had then been to see her. two or three times. . *

“Are you aware of any reason why she’ left your place?” asked Mr. Mose. “Because,” said witness, “my father was coming and I had not room for her." . -

She said Mrs. Townsend arranged for her daughter to stay with her. Elsie Vickers, a daughter, of Mrs. ’ Vickers, aged 18, said that on September 15 she returned from night school about 9.30. About 10 p.m. her sister Eva returned, and shortly afterwards witness answered a knock at the front door. Townsend was there and asked if that were Mrs. Vickers’ place. On being told Mrs. Townsend was there he said he would like to speak to her for a moment. Mrs. Townsend went to the door and spoke to Townsend. Then she asked and was granted the use of the light in the sitting room. VOICES WERE HEARD. They shut the door and Miss Patchel and she heard voices. After a while they began to talk more loudly and Miss Patchel thought she would go in and ask them to speak more quietly. She was away a«few minutes and then returned to the kitchen. Soon afterwards Mrs. Townsend came out and said her husband was goiilg. Looking out they saw the lights of a car move away. They then shut the door, put the light out and returned to the kitchen. She had not seen car lights when she first went to the door. Witness went' to her room and about 10.45 returned to the kitchen. She said she was going to bed and she returned to her room. After being asleep some time she heard voices in the passage. Townsend said “Where is the telephone?” Her mother asked him not to talk so loudly. The telephone bell rang and someone came up the passage. Her bedroom door was pushed open and she heard Mrs. Townsend say “Don’t pome in here.” Her bedroom was practically opposite the sitting room. Next she heard Mrs. Townsend say “Don’t break my arm?” and “Not with your pocket knife!” Later a light was flashed on her face as the door was opened and then closed. There was a scuffling noise, after which Mrs. Townsend called, “Bella! Bella! Bella!” Townsend said “I am a dead man now!” and his wife replied,'“No you’re not!” She’ thought Townsend was trying to get out of the front door, but he went back after his wife spoke. Everything was quiet after that and later her mother came to take witness down to another voom. To the inspector; She did not know where the Townsends were when the remark about the pocket knife was made but she thought they were going into the sitf ‘ ig room.