MURDER CHARGE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19671, 13 December 1933, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE

MERRIMAN BEFORE THE COURT COMMITTED FOR TRIAL By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, Dee. 12. Before the Magistrate, Mr E. D. Mosley, this morning, Reginald John Merriman (32), motor driver, faced a charge of murdering his wife (Elizabeth Jane Merriman), and his three children, on or about November 14, at Kerr’s Road, Wainoni. Witnesses described how they had found Merriman's three children dead, gassed in the kitchen, and the wife dead in the bedroom. Dr. Sheffield said that when taken to the house he saw in the kitchen three children, and a man lying on a mattress. The man was still breathing, but unconscious. Later he was taken to hospital. Witness made a superficial examination of the woman in one of the bedrooms. Her body was cold, much colder than that of the two girls. The boy's left shoulder was slightly warm. There was a rubber tube connected to a gas stove above the bed, with a piece of string. The gas had been turned off when he arrived, but the whole house reeked of gas. He saw no external marks of violence on Mrs Merriman's body, but did not examine it closely. George Burton, a neighbour, said he felt disturbed on the morning of the tragedy, because on previous occasions he heard the Merrimans quarrelling. He and another neighbour hammered at the door, but no one answered. By looking through the blind they saw Mrs Merriman in bed. It was 9.20 when they first went to the house. After further inquiries they rang the police. The police did not arrive for two hours after that, said the witness. When he got into the house there was no smell of gas except in the kitchen. At 12.45 a policeman from New Brighton arrived and looked at his watch and said: “A quarter to one. I am the only one here.” Later a number of police arrived. Frederick Arthur Baker, supervisor of the P. and T. Department, said that for two weeks previous to the tragedy, Merriman appeared to be very worried, and his personal appearance fell away. Emma Elizabeth Watson, married, of Opawa, said that Merriman came to her house on November 13. She said: “What are you doing here?" Merriman replied: “I am looking for board, auntie. I've got the kick out to-day. and I’ve got to find lodgings." He added that things had become so bad that he did not know whether they could live on together at home. They had been rowing. He was worried about the children. “Indirectly Responsible.” Edwin Crowhen, single, a motor mechanic, employed by the Post and Telegraph Department, said that he knew accused and his wife intimately. On November 12 he called at Merriman’s housa Merriman said he had something to say to witness. Mrs Merriman said “Say it in front of me.” Merriman then said he had nothing to say. To Mr Thomas, witness said that he had enjoyed the lies', itality of Merriman and his wife. Mr Thomas: Did you return the trust that Merriman placed in you? Witness (after hesitating): No. Did you begin a course of meetings with Mrs Merriman unknown to her husband?—Yes. Did you sometimes have illicit relations with her?—Yes. Did Mrs Merriman say in July, 1932, that she would seek a divorce?—Yes. When Mrs Merriman went to Cambridge Terrace, did you visit her?—Yes. Did she not go back to her husband to save you your job in case you were named as co-respondent?—She might have put it that way. Is it not true that some weeks before the tragedy Mrs Merriman spoke of suicide?—Reg. told me so. Do you feel perfectly innocent of any responsibility for this murder?—l am indirectly responsible. Pathologist’s Evidence. Dr. A. B. Pearson, pathologist, said that an examination of the bodies of the children showed no external marks of violence. On the body of Mrs Merriman was a large recent bruise on the left temple. There was a minor abrasion on the forehead, and a cluster of abrasions on the right side of the neck. In the post-mortem examination he found a fracture of the bone at the base of the tongue which was certainly caused by violence. The mother died first and the children afterwards between the hours of 10 o’clock on the night of November 14 and 3 o’clock on November 15. The cause of death was poisoning with coal gas. Statement by Accused. Detective Duncan McKenzie gave evidence of Merriman's statements while in hospital. Crowhen had visited the house several times uninvited. The result was quarrels with his wife. Repeatedly he told her that unless Crowhen stopped his visits there would be an end to it in some way. On several occasions she said she wanted a divorce, and on some occasions a separation. Once she packed her effects and left her home and the children. Eventually she returned and later went with the children to the Chatham Islands, saying that Crowhen had given her £ls for her fare. On her return relations were friendly, but Crowhen came again. She suggested that he (Merriman) should leave home allowing her £2 a week. There were other rows. Merriman was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.