WESTPORT MAN SHOT DEAD

Taranaki Daily News, 27 August 1931, Page 11

WESTPORT MAN SHOT DEAD

WIFE FACES MURDER CHARGE STORY OF A FAMILY TRAGEDY. WOMAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Westport Last Night. The charge of murder against Lena Maud Upham in connection with the death of her husband, who was fatally shot in an empty shop on August 7, was heard to-day, when the woman.' was committed for trial. Harbin Robert Young, surveyor, said that when he made a plan of the premises he noticed a pool of blood near a mattress. Jean Elizabeth Watson said she kept a small shop near where the Uphams lived. On the afternoon of August 6 Mrs. Upham came into the shop and purchased sweets. She appeared very worried over her children being taken away from her. She told witness that her husband was the cause of all the trouble and was very cruel to her. After she had been talking a long time Mrs. Upham said that if it was the last thing she did she would get him (her husband). , William Sliorley Collins said he spoke to Upham on August 6. Upham was carrying something in a bag. He was under the influence of liquor. Annie Ellen Fox said that for three weeks before the tragedy Mrs. Upham had been sleeping at her house. Separation from her children nearly drove her to distraction. Mrs. Upham, had said her husband was very cruel. She had bruises on her arm and cheek. She blamed her husband for the loss of her children, saying that he would not. keep them or provide a home.

VERY WORRIED AND DEPRESSED.

When Mrs. Fox returned to her home she found Mrs. Upham crying and asked what was the matter. Mrs. Upham replied: “Nothing,” and to further inquiries she. said; “I don’t want to tell you and bring anything on to you.” Witness replied, “I will help you no matter what you have done,” and accused said, “You can’t help me because he’s dead.” Witness said, “My God, what have you done? Did you push him in the river and drown him ?” She replied, “No, I shot him.” Mrs. Upham was very worried and depressed because her children were taken away from her. Dr. Nickel described his visit to the premises where Upham was found dead. He said the post mortem examination revealed a bullet wound through the heart. Ho was asked when at a maternity hospital to see Mrs. Upham, who was in a very depressed state and suffering from puerperal mania. A woman suffering from this comp’la-int often had delusions, accompanied by suicidal or homicidal tendencies, and would turn against her husband or child. Such women could have their lucid intervals, and then mania would recur.

Evidence of a somewhat similar character was given by Dr. Foote, medical superintendent of the Buller District Hospital and the Kawatiri Maternity Hospjtal. > Constables Matches, Surgenor find Spence and Senior-Sergeant McGlone all gave details connected with the tragedy, the arrest of Mrs. Upham and the recovery bf the gun, also of the quarrels of Upham and Mrs. Upham, the former being sentenced a month’s imprisonment for assault on his wife. Detective-Sergeant Holmes said the home was in a dreadful state. It. was a ramshackle, leaking building with no fireplace. It had an old gas. stove. It was not fit for-pigs to live in. Matron Mclntyre, of the Kawatiri maternity hospital, whose evidence for the defence was taken as she is shortly leaving Westport, described the condition of Mrs. Upham in hospital, stating that she suffered from delusions, imagining that she had blood-poisoliing. Upham was sent for ,to be told of her condition, but when he arrived he was in a state of partial drunkenness. Mrs. Upham was underclothed and underfed. , Mrs. Upham' pleaded not guilty; re i served her defence and was committed to the Supreme Coprt sittings.at West; port next month for trial. iz; ( ■< >, ■