CHARGE OF MURDER

Taranaki Daily News, 3 August 1932, Page 3

CHARGE OF MURDER

three persons drowned woman and two CHILDREN. husband sent for trial. Remarkable evidence was given at th® inquest regarding the triple drewning tragedy at the Sunshine swimming pool, Victoria, on June 11. The tragedy wa® discovered by a hoy who went to th* pool early on the morning of Sunday, June 12, to inspect ’ fishing lines, and found the bodies of two children floating in the pool. The children wer® identified, next day, as Harold George Russell, aged three, and Eric Russell, aged 18 months. The body of their mother, Ivy Jessie Letitia Russell, aged 27, of Maidstone, was found in the pool two days later by the. police, after prolonged dragging operations. The police also recovered from th® pool a perambulator in which the children were taken from their home on th® previous Saturday by. their mother. Detectives inquiring into the tragedy questioned the husband and father, Harold James Russell, aged 26, mechanic, and arrested him on a charge of bigamy.

Later he was charged with the murder oi his wife and their-two children. The coroner found that Mrs. Russell and her two children were drowned the pool by her husband, Russell, who declined to give evidence, was committed for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and. children. Bail was refused.

GIRL swoons IN COURT.

Alma Davey, aged 18, who admitted that she went through a form of marriage with Russell on May 19, swooned as she was leaving the Court, and had to be helped outside. More than 30 witnesses gave evidence. Detective Sickerdick said that Russell had made several statements to th® police. When -witness accused. Russell of having lured his wife to the pool, Russell denied, that ae had drowned, his wife and children. He said that his wife on June 11 had threatened to drown herself and the children. . She wheeled the children down the road, toward the pool. He followed, and urged her not to be foolish, but to return home. She agreed, and he turned round to walk away. Witness said that Russell then ran down the hill, pushing the perambulator, and disappeared. He ran back and saw his wife in the water. He rushed down and tried to pull her out, but could not reach her. He then undressed and dived into the pool. He could, not find, the children. He then sat on the bank and cried. Witness said that he had asked Russell why he had not raised a hue and cry, and Russell had replied that he was frightened that he would get the blame. Constable Boulton said that on June 13, when Russell was asked to accompany the police to a room he -was renting in Footscray, Russell said: “I may as° well tell the" truth. There is a girl there I married about three -weeks ago.” Qn June 15, while they were in the office of the Sunshine police station, Russell said: “Do you think I wiU get my neck stretched for this!’’ Witness replied: “For what?” Russell said: “For pushing them in.” Witness said: “Then you really did push them in?” Russell replied: “No, but I know I will get th® blame for it.” _

ALMA DAVEY’S EVIDENCE-

Mrs. Lyndo Comley said that when returning to her home at Sunshine on June 11° about 10 p.m., she heard cries from the direction of the swimming pooh Alma Davey said that she first met Russell about a year ago. He said that he was single, but had been engaged to a girl who had died. After their marriage they arranged to take rooms at Foo tecray. When Russell returned to her aunt’s home at Maidstone on June 11 she noticed that his sleeve was wet. He said that he had fallen when crossing a paddock. Later they went to a house in another street. On the night of June "3 Russell, talking in his sleep, said: “She’s dumped them. She’s dumped them.” When she awakened him ha said that he did not know what he had been talking about. On the next Tuesday Russell said: “1 suppose you will think I am a bit of a rotter, Alma. Those children who were drowned were mine.” That night he told her about, his wife. She told' him that he would have to be a man and go through with it. Russell’s parents gave evidence that Mrs. Russell had often said that she was tired of life and that she was going, to “dump” herself.