COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1930, Page 5

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL

ALLEGATION OF WIFE MURDER

fOWNSEND HEARING CONCLUDES

ACCOUNT GIVEN OF HIS ARREST

Following evidence by 23 witnesses, Alexander Townsend, farm labourer, was yesterday committed for ,^' l . a L to m^e J ed preme Court at New Plymouth on the charge that he his wife, Cora Alice Townsend, aged 47, atTitzroy early on the morning of September 16. No coroner s verdict w g j Mr. R. W. Tate, S.M., announced that the *ted jointly with the lower court proceedings, would be adjourned sin die to a date following the Supreme Court hea J™ g " • after Townsend’s movements at Waitara on the p flnture the tragedy, his taxi ride to Onaero and Urenui, his capture by Constable ’Lapouple, and his subsequent main subjects of the evidence given by 1 XS the Possibly owing to the exercise of . magl^® ria L po n X spectators Justices of the? Peace Act the previous day, the ® pe in the court yesterday were those actually concerned ml case.

WITNESSES FROM WAITARA

ONAERO TAXI RIDE AND CAPTURE

' THE NIGHT AT SACKVILLE STREET

?' Ruth Isabella Vickers, 17 years of a°e, a daughter , of Mrs. Vickers, was called to. say that while occupying the back bedroom in the house in Sackville Street she was awakened early m the morning of September 16. It was 2.40 bv her watch. There was a sound of voices by the telephone. “Ring, now ring—try it! said a man. There was a scuffle of feet and a woman spoke in a moaning, piteous voice. Then witness got put of bed, turned on the light, and Idoked at her watch. Looking out into the hall she saw the /curtains swinging. She could not distinguish any human forms. The .curtains ■ were between her and the door of 'the' sitting room. Witness went to her mothers room, where she was informed Townsend was in the house. Returning to her own room, she listened through the partly opened door. , . ‘‘Don’t kill me,” eaid Mrs. Townsend. “If you must, shoot me, shoot me. Don’t use your pocket knife.” “Shoot you?” said the man. What do I want to shoot you for?”- , “I would rather go that way, if you please,” was the reply. . • There were souhds of bumping, rob lowing which Mrs. Townsend said: “Don’t break my arms, Alex.” Witness next heard the switch in the sitting room moved. The light wenv out. Townsend was talking a lot, mostly abusing Mrs. Townsend. “Could you hear what he said?” askinspector. ■ . “No”i said the witness. Just for a minute I put my Angers in my. ears.” There ■were hard bumps, she continued, and then the'light went on again. Then Townsend went to the front door and rattled the lock. “I am a dead man now,” he said. ■ ‘ “No you’re not, Alex,” called his wife from the sitting room. “Not yet.” “I’ll fix you,” said Townsend. From the sounds he appeared to walk back to the sitting room. Quiet followed. The next she heard was Townsend again rattling the front door. Then the sound of his steps indicated he had turned and was running down the passage and past her window. She heard nothing more. She looked at her watch. It was ten minutes to 3. ’ * “ANY CHANCE OF A DRINK?*

Townsend’s visit to Waitara on the morning of September 16 was the sub. iect of evidence by George JamesiWalsh, porter at the Masonic Hotel. He said Townsend called at the hotel a few minutes before 6 o’clock. Townsend asked him if there were any chance of a drink. Witness said no. He had been out duck shooting, said Townsend, and had got wet through. He again asked for a drink but was again refused. _ “Did you notice his condition? asked Inspector Fraser. . , , “Well, he appeared to me to be ilKe a man getting- over a booze and wanting a booze,” replied Wa’sh. *Was he carrying anything?" “No. He was filling his pipe while SP WalBh shid he. had not asked TownsenA where he had been that night Thomas Gardner Mallett, pensioner, living at the Bridge . Hotel, Waitara, fi aid he did odd work about the bar. Townsend had stayed at the hotel in November and December, 1929, and Ja o^ r the Corning of September ,16 Townsend was seen by Witness just after 6 o’clock and again about 6.4 a. On the first occasion Townsend went into witness’ room. “Get up,” said Townsend. Witness refused to do ; W. Then Townsend went Townsend came a second time. “Come on, come on, it’s time to get up,' he said. As it really was nearly time witness got Up. Townsend said he wanted a drlnx. “Are you a boarder?” asked witness. “Yes,” said Townsend. Witness obtained the keys from the licensee and he and Townsend went into the bar. They had two drinks. Townsend had bottled beer and witness bad whisky. Then David McPherson entered the bar and the three of them had a drink. At first they spoke about the Wanganui races. “What was Townsend’s condition when he came to your room?” said the inspector. “Quite all right. He was sober* “Were his clothes and hat dry?” “I did not notice. He had on a light •nit." Witness identified the coat and trousers shown him. In reply to a question Townsend had said he had been down I for the dance in the Clifton Hall ' While McPherson was in the bar Townsend suggested having a drink. “This will be the last drink we will have together,” he added. Witness and McPherson asked him if he were going away. . “Oh, you read the paper m ttie morning and you will see,” said Townsend.

“NOT FINISHED THE JOB.”

Later on he had made another remark. “I,have killed a woman,” he said. Continuing, he said he had not finished his job yet. He asked them if he could o'et.a cxfr to.go to Onaero. ° “Can you get your father?” said witness to the porter O’Donnell. “Swing,” Baid Townsend in the bar, “I must swing.” He repeated that two or three times. If one policeman came along he would go quietly, he said, but if the whole lot came he would shoot them. He told them ne was going back to town and would be having a fiee ride. Part of this conversation occurred while they were awaiting the arrival of the taxi. When the taxi came Townsend wanted to get a parcel, which he said he had had., jz z, ; ■>.; \ ’ :

“You had"no parcel-when you. came here,” said witness. “Yes, I did,” was the reply. They looked in the two sitting rooms but found no parcel. Next Townsend, went to the back of the hotel and returned with a double-barrelled gun similar to the one produced. This he placed in the car, in the back seat, witness thought. Townsend got into the car. ' He appeared to have money. He had paid for the drinks. “What time did Townsend leave the hotel in the taxi?” asked Mr. Moes. “Somewhere a little after eight, I should think.” \ '■ “And he had had no breakfast at the hotel?” “I could not say that.” Duncan David' McPherson, Wellington, said he was formerly a, hotelkeeper and had held the license of the Bridge Hotel, Waitara. On September 16 he was boarding there. On coming downstairs about 7 a.m. he entered the bar. Mallett called him in as Townsend wanted to see him. Townsend was standing at the counter and shook hands. “Will you have a drink, as it will be the last drink you will have with me,” he said. “Don’t talk nonsense,” said witness. Townsend said he had murdered his wife the previous night. ’ “I cut her throat and I will swing for it,” he said. “Will you i have a drink ?” They had a drink, Townsend paying with a note. Townsend said if the police came after him, or the detectives, he would shoot the lot of them. A TAXI-CAR ENGAGED. . Mallett obtained a taxi at Townsend’s request, Townsend saying he was going to Onaero to finish his job. “Did he say how he got from New Plymouth to Waitara?” asked the inspector. “Yes, he said he walked out.” Witness and Townsend, had another drink, for which witness paid. If they looked at the papers, they would see he had committted a murder, said Townsend. Referring to the police, he said if one constable came for him he would probably go quietly. From the the way Townsend spoke witness thought he had not then committed a murder but was going to. The taxi arrived and witness went into the dining-room. He did not know whether Townsend found the parcel or not . While witness was licensee of the hotel he considered Townsend “a real good boarder.” He had appeared to be quite sober on the morning of September 16.

The taxi driver, William Alfred O’Donnell, said that as a result of a telephone message he went to the Bridge Hotel on the morning of September 16, about 7.10. Townsend was in the passageway asking for a parcel. Witness stood at the door. The parcel was eventually found by Townsend, who went down the passage. He returned and gave witness a doublebarrelled shotgun. Witness shook hands with him and asked him where he wanted to go.

“To Onaero,” replied Townsend. Witness put the gun in the back seat. Witness agreed to have a drink, but Townsend was refused a drink by Mallett. “Oh, well we will get away now,” said witness. It was pay-day in Waitara and he wanted to get back again as soon as possible. Asked what he was going to do with tl.e gun, Townsend said he was going duck shooting at Onaero. •, “Oh, there are no ducks out there to shoot,” said witness. “Well, there are plenty of hares,” replied Townsend. They stopped at a bowser. Afterwards Townsend asked him to pull up at the Bridge Hotel to have a drink. They both went in, but Townsend was again refused. \

THOUGHT UNDER THE INFLUENCE

“What was his condition at that time as regards sobriety?” asked the inspector. “Myself, I thought he was under the influence of liquor,’’ said witness. Driving away, witness next stopped between Mbtonui and Onaero to give a man, Huggins, a lift. About a mile out of Waitara Townsend produced two crumpled pound notes and some silver. “You had better take this one for car hire,” said Townsend, wiving him one of the notes. ° Witness said there would be some change as the fare to Onaero was l less than £l. Townsend told him hg fiould

k%p it as it was no good to him.. Townsend told him to pull up just past the Onaero factory, at a small house on the left hand side, half-way up the hill. He was asked to wait at 1 the top of the hill. On the way out, Townsend said he had been. fleeced all his life by “old Latham” and relatives. “They’ve .rogued me all mv life/-- he said. He had no time for the Huses, he continued, and had “a business to fix up with them. He said thev had/ robbed him of all his land and had “thrown a crippled woman on to him.” I “I am a 1 man of principle, and have been all my life,” he said. “So. is my brother.” Witness was not certain whether he said brother or brothers. “I have always paid my way and never robbed anybody,” continued Townsend. “Those can’t, say that.” He said he had spent a lot of money on his daughter and had done his best for her. The mother had never tried to help her, but had encouraged her to go out dancing and jazzing all night. H- did not approve of it. ' Witness did not take much notice of what was said, as he. considered Townsend was under the influence of liquor—rambling. They stopped at Huse s gate. Townsend o-ot out, witness pulling to the door of the car. Townsend turned his back to the car and asked him to wait at the top of the hill. He had some business to do up at Huse s place, he had eaid before the car stopped. Witness kept the engine running and as soon as Townsend got out drove on to the top of the hill and stopped.

“WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIM?”

Hb then turned to the man in the b'aek seat. “What do you make of this man I have brought out? Open that emn and see if there is anything in it.” ° Witness turned round after Huggins handed him the gun. He was not certain who opened the gun, but they found two live cartridges in it. These he placed in his pocket and later gave them to Constable Lapouple. After six minutes Townsend returned, apparently in a- raging temper. He stamped his foot on the ground, saying: “I can’t do it on principle. The little' girl Barbara hung to the mother’s logs and cried.” . ' ' ■ Townsend seemed terribly upset. He thumped his hand on his knee. He had his pipe either in his hand or his mouth. “Oh, don’t talk, silly,” said witness. “Jump in the car and we, will go to Urenui and have a drink.” “I think—l think—l think we will, buy, as this will be the last one we will have,” replied Townsend. They drove towards Urenui.. Towns-

end repeated his objections to his daughter going to dances-. They stopped outside the Urenui Hotel. Townsend got out of the car and bought some matches at the store. While he was away witness spoke to Healy and his wife, licensees of the hotel, about the matter. Townsend eame over and repeated the complaints about his daughter and about Latham. They stayed at Urenui 10 or 15 minutes. Townsend asked Mrs. Healy for 6 drink. “Did he get any drink from Mr. or Mrs. Healy?” asked the inspector. “Need I answer that question?”

“Yes,” “Well, they refused him a drink, but I think I asked them for a drink for him. I said ‘Give him a drink. If he Jias done wrong the police will soon be out after him.’ ”, Healy had suggested something about “getting away back out of here.’ Witness thought Healy gave Townsend a drink of beer. Townsend said he had to finish his .business at Onaero, after which witness could take him to Constable Lapouple, to whom he was going to tell everything. He commenced to talk about his wife on the way back to Onaero. “You still live with your wife, don’t you?” asked witness. “No, not for the last four years,” said Townsend. (DTD NOT. THINK HER ALIVE.

Replying to a further question Townsend said he did not think she was still alive. “No, I don’t think so after last night,” he said. He asked if witness still had his parcel in the car and the reply was in the affirmative. He told witness to stop at the house at Onaero as he was takjng his parcel to finish his business in there. Witness, at Townsend’s request, said he would stop on the hill, but he went on instead, Townsend saying nothing. After turning the corner he saw Constable Lapouple and he stopped the car opposite Huse’s lower gate. He tooted the horn and the constable came over. The constable, when first seen, had been going into Huae’s gate. By the time the car stopped the constable had the door opened on Townsend’s side.

“Good morning, Mr. Townsend,” said the constable before explaining that he was under arrest on suspicion of murder. Townsend got out and Constable Lapouple handcuffed him. Arthur Fellows Huggins, salesman, Tokaora, near Hawera, related how he had been given a lift in O’Donnell’s car n'ear Onaero. The driver and passenger were in front. Witness got into the back seat. 'When Townsend alight-

ed at .the factory he seemed very slow and weak in his movements. He ap.peared to be under considerable mental strain and suffering from the effects of drink. His voice was very thick, slow and uncertain.

There was a double-barrelled shotgun in the back of the car. He opened it to eee if it were loaded. He took out two live cartridges and gave them to the driver. When Townsend came back to the car 1 he said he could have done for the people in the house, but would or could not because he was a man of principle. Some man, or a man and woman, he said, “had done him out of money over a farm for 20 years.” Witness thought Townsend had said on the way to Urenui that he did not mind if the police did get him, or if he got 60 years for it. Witness left the car at Urenui. He heard none of the conversation there. HAD KNOWN HIM 20 YEARS. Percy William Stanton, factory employee, Motonui, had known Townsend for 18 or 20 years, he said. On February 20, 1920, he met him in New Plymouth. They had a couple of drinks. Townsend asked him where he was working. On being told witness was working for the North Traanaki Dairy Company, Townsend said something about Huse, the manager. Witness was told to tell Huse that Huse had “a cloud hanging over him that would burst any time.” He said something about Dick Latham, “who went to Hamilton to quiz on him.” He made remarks about the whole family, but witness could not remember the details. His wife, he said, took her father’s word before her husband’s. Since that time witness only passed a word or so with Townsend, but had not had any general conversation. To Mr. Moss: He remembered the date because he had come to New Plymouth to have his eyes tested. “Did you tell Mr. Huse?” “Yes.” 1 ‘“Was he drunk or sober when he said those things?” “I would not say he was drunk or sober. I have,never seen him drunk in my life.” “Did he seem to have this subject bn his mind?” _ “Yes.”

The arrest of Townsend was described by Constable Lapouple, Waitara. At 6.30 a.m./ on September 16 he was notified of the murder of Mrs. Townsend, he said. He telephoned Huse at 6.55. At 8 a.m. Huse telephoned that Townsend was at his house.

He and his son, B. C. Lapouple, hurried to Onaero and arrived shortly be-

fore 9 a.m. 1 He was on his way to Hiise’s house, 50 to 100 yards from the road, when he heard the tooting of O’Donriell’s car coming down the hill from Urenui.

The car was pulled up opposite his. He saw Townsend sitting in the front seat. He opened the door on Townsend’s side and assisted him to the road. He told him he was arresting him on a charge of murdering his wife and placed the handcuffs on him immediately. He had been informed ho was armed, so searched his pockets. In the lefthand coat pocket was the blood-stained pocket-knife produced. This had a hook-blade similar to that of a pruning knife. It was sharp and appeared to have been recently applied to an oil stone. UNEXPILODED CARTRIDGES Tn addition seven unexploded shotgun cartridges were found in a coat pocket. Two other live cartridges and an unloaded double-barrelled shotgun were given him by O’Donnell. While he was searching Townsend’s pockets witness saw the gun in ,the back of O’Donnell’s car. He told Townsend he was. going to take him to Waitara. He resisted violently and said he would not go. “>I will kick the bus to pieces,” said Townsend. “You will have to drag me if you' are going to take me.” “I tried to humour him without avail,” said the constable. “With the assistance of my son I threw him to the ground, got the rope from the car and tied his ankles. Then we drew the long end of the rope through the handcuffs and drew his hands to his feet. We had to push him into the car." “Is my wife dead?” asked Townsend on the way. .• " VYes,” said the constable. . . - “Well,” said Townsend. “It’s a —— good job. I should have done it years ago.” • \ ... On the knife being and placed on the table at Waitara Townsend said he did it with that. “I did it,” he said. “String me up six times over if you like. I don’t want any trial. That’s the knife and that’s the gun. I don’t want to put the country to the expense of. trying me.”

He said he had walked that morning from: New Plymouth to Waitara in .the dark and rain. He said he was going to shoot Mrs. Huse and her father, Latham. He had expected the police. If the police had come out he would have shot the lot of them. , He said he would have killed Mr. , and Mrs. Huse and Latham, and had intended to come to Waitara to give himself up to the constable. He also said he

had intended to shoot himself after killing his wife, 'but decided afterwards to kill Latham and the Huses first. The constable examined his clothes carefully hut could not detect any bloodstains. The clothes were dry. He seemed to be very excited. Witness thought he was suffering from the effects of liquor. , “He made no attempt at escape, nor did he struggle till after 'being handcuffed? asked. Mr. Moss. “No.” Witness said the handcuffs were applied very quickly. Townsend seemed to he dumbfounded: AFTER THE ARREST. ' Constable King said that following a telephone message from William Owen Jones at 2.35 a.m. on September 16 he went tp Sackville Street. Jones was on the footpath and both of them went into the house, Mrs. Vickers letting them through the back door. Witness was directed to the sittingroom, where Tie saw the body of Mrs. Townsend lying face downwards in a pool of blood on the floor, close to the door through which he had entered. He Wade 'a hurried examination, first of the body. He was satisfied the woman was dead. He pulled back the collar and saw the neck was almost severed from the body.* There were various patches and pools of blood on the furniture and floor. z . 'Witness telephoned for assistance and a, doctor from Jones’ house. Returning to Mrs. Vickers’ 'house he again went to the sitting-room. A man’s wet overcoat and an umbrella were found. Witness' produced the clothing worm by Mrs. Townsend. There were cuts through the collar, back and lapel of the coat and a cut on the left collar of the bodice.

Shortly after 11 a.m. the same day he. was in the watchhouse when Townsend was brought from Waitara. He was very talkative and as soon as he gJ; inside he said; “I’m the man. I’ve done it. I know what I’ve done. I’ve done it for a good purpose. J must say I was drunk last night.”

Detective Meiklejohn then asked Conta'ble Lapouple if Townsend had been, charged. Townsend replied “No.” The detective then charged him with murder and issued the usual warning. ,

“I know I am charged with murder,” replied Townsend. “I did it. I did it for my daughter’s sake. Is she dead?” “Yes,” said the detective.

“That’s a 'good job,” said Townsend. “Don’t have a court. Hang me right away. It ought to have been done years ago.” (His property was lying 'on the table, the knife and guif being visible.

“That’s the knife, that’s the krnfS* z; said Townsend. “That’s the gun. H ; was not used,- but 11l tell you, boys, if you had come along it would have been. If you had met me on the road iust after it happened it would have. J been.” -

Most of these statements were re-t peated several times. He kept on talking until taken away by the detective, zt His condition on being brought in indi-,- ~ >: cated he was just getting over a severe . < .v,. drinking bout. He was not drunk. He appeared to know what he was talking about. •' .. .. Detective Meiklejohn said he arrived VJ at the house in Sackville 'Street with * ; .z, Inspector Fraser and two constables, Referring to the raincoat he said that in one of the pockets was a box of 11 cartridges, size 12, number 4 shot. Other things in the pocket were a box. of matches and a double-bladed pen-knife, apparently used for cutting tobacco. . r On the armchair nearest the bqdy were four smears of blood on the cret- p J onne side-covering. Blood was onthepil- i sj low on the chair near the body. Blan-. kets and hot-water bags were on the couch and one of the armchairs, which had been made up for sleeping. There was no sign of any intsrument. Witness ; described the location of various blood-' marks in the sitting-room, kitchen and hall, on door-handles, including the front . door, and the walls. , z'yz?& When Townsend was brought to the z.'j’. New Plymouth watchhouse he was wearing slate-blue grey suit and felt :; hat produced. He started talking a \ '-j good deal. , “I am the man,” he said. “I’ve done / 'it. I know I’ve done for a good pur? pose.” 1 •' Witness asked Constable Lapouple if .-'.y-C Townsend had been charged. The con- . stable said he had. The detective warned Townsend in the usual terms and . : asked him if he knew what he was charged with. ' V ‘‘Yes, murder,” he replied. “I did it. Is ■ she dead?” .. '.‘ i/ .. P z “Yes,” said the detective. ’ ' • z’ \ zV'Ji “Well, ‘it’s a good job for the ‘ A girl’s sake,” said the man. “Don’t have a court. Hang me right away.” \ . • , : z (zip' 'WHAT THE DETECTIVE HEARD. ' . " ." J Z “That’s the knife I used, that’s the -J knife. There’s no insane or anything • about me. Should have been done years ago. That’s the gun. It was never used, but if ■ you • had come along; it would have been used. There’s no insanity here—a clear mind.” ■Some of the statements were repeated, z , said the detective, some more than once.Witness then took Townsend upstairs . J;, to wait with him and Constable La?'; pouple, for the arrival of Dr. Thomeon. Townsend saw the'raincoat in the ; jh' detective’s office, y/ “Oh, God, that’s my coat,” he said. “That’s my wife’s blood on-my coat.” ' ; The detective examined Townsend’S clothing and found what appeared to L-' 1 •be three bloodstains like those on the ".pz; crown of his hat, bloodstains on the z lower part of each lapel, and on the £ lower right cuff. Townsend attributed ’> ■. the stains on the coat to a bruise on • his left wrist caused by the handcuffs. ' On September 18, after obtaining i. v Townsend’s effects from the Grhnd Vue . > boarding-house, the detective made a A \ further examination of Townsend’s coat, and hat. He found another bloodstain in the left outer pocket. This could {('Pt have been caused by the bruise on the . y wriest when the handcuffs were released at the watchhouse on September 16. A,'z Other apparent bloodstains were found on the trousers and on : the flap of y J the right side-pocket of the coat. . i . He cheeked eight marks on the t?oT|s-? i er leg that may have been, blood or . i;S something else. On September 24 he gave the raincoat, coat and trousers, the '- ‘z’j’ stock of the gun and the pocket-knife ■ z to Constable Fleming to take to the ; .fi pathologist at Wellington. These had . been returned to him last Tuesday. On ; September 27 he gave Oakley, photo- L grapher, the three X-ray films for re- . producing. A few days after the tragedy he took McCabe, chief draughts- \z-j$ L man for the Lands and Survey Office, -jz New Plymouth, and showed him the de- ' : /i. tails marked on the plan before the court. t When brought to the watchhouse on , September 16- Townsend was talking ’ ■ S; ; - more than persons ordinarily brought there. When walking up the! stairs to . . the defective's office and in' that office he was steady both in voice and posture. He was flushed, which was some indication that he had been drinking. v When 7 the doctor asked him he said ha Jiad been drinking a good deaL ’ _ O ' ■ ' A :zi