George Norgrove Appears On Murder Charge.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18407, 8 March 1928, Page 9

George Norgrove Appears On Murder Charge.

GAVE HIMSELF UP TO POLICE YESTERDAY, AFTER TRAGEDY AT NEW LYNN.

(Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND. March 8. Morbid curiosity drew a crowd to the Court this morning when Allan George Norgrove, of 13, Sussex Street, Grey Lynn, who gave himself up to the police yesterday afternoon stating that he had “ done something to his sister-in-law,” appeared before the Magistrate, Mr M’Kean. He was chafed with the murder of Christina Norgrove on March 7. Accused is single, a New Zealander, aged twenty-seven. He is a butcher by occupation, and was remanded till March 15. When Norgrove stepped from the prison van, he -was not handcuffed, so that loiterers could not distinguish him from his companions in custody, most of whom were about to face minor charges. Photographers vainly tried to catch the group, and on his return to the van, escorted by two uniformed policemen. Norgrove, catching sight of the array of camera-men, covered his face with his hands. As the prisoner was about to enter the van, his brother-in-law (he married Norgrove’s sister) stepped forward and endeavoured to embrace him, but was restrained by the police escort. Prior to the formal reading of the murder charge, Norgrove was taken to the small upper Court-room, where he conversed in low tones with a constable, until summoned to appear in the Coroner's office, where details of the identification of the dead woman were attended to. The Coroner stated that he had viewed the body yesterday, and adjourned the inquest until Thursday week. POSTPONED WEDDING TOOK PLACE TO-DAY. (Special to the "Star.”) AUCKLAND, March 8. The postponed wedding of Mavis Norgrove, aged eighteen, daughter of the woman murdered at New Lynn yes-

terday. took place in the Registry -Office this morning to Robert George Firth. BATTERED TO DEATH WITH FLAT IRON. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, March 7. A shocking murder was perpetrated at New Lynn, a suburb of Auckland, to-day. The victim of the tragedy was Mrs Ernestina Mary Norgrove, a short, slightly built woman of about thirty-eight years of age. She was killed with a flat iron in the front bedroom of her home at No. 3, Cardwell Street, New Lynn. Her brother-in-law, Alan George Norgrove, single, aged twenty-seven, residing at Grey Lynn, surrendered himself to the Ponsonby police, stating that he had “ done something to his sister-in-law.” Police investigation revealed the tragedy which had taken place, and a charge of murder was preferred against Norgrove. A tragic feature of the murder is that a daughter of the murdered woman was to have been married today, and the tragedy was revealed shortly before the time fixed for the wedding ceremony. The bridal party was on the way to the wedding when, news was received of the terrible affair. Mrs Norgrove was standing by her dressing table when she was struck, and appearances suggest that she died without a struggle, for the room bore no signs of disorder. She had received terrible head injuries. She was lying in a pool of blood at the foot of the dressing table when found. In the house was found a bloodstained flat-iron. The injuries inflicted were such as to cause almost immediate death after the victim had been rendered unconscious by the first blow. Norgrove’s surrender was the first intimation to the police of the murder. It is stated that Norgrove was very averse to the girl being married. The bridegroom was waiting at the registry office when he heard of the murder, and guests were preparing to attend the wedding breakfast and the dance to follow in the evening.