MAN APPEARS ON CHARGE OF MURDER

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19271, 7 January 1931, Page 8

MAN APPEARS ON CHARGE OF MURDER

WOMAN DIES FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS.

Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, January 7. Following the death of Mrs Alice Anderson, who was shot at M’Farlane's farm yesterday, Charles Colston, aged thirty-eight, was charged before Mr J. Maher, J.P., this morning with the murder of Alice Anderson at Erua on Tuesday, January 6. Detective Walsh asked for a remand to Auckland on January 16, and this was granted. The police are unable to give any details regarding what happened on the farm after the boy went for assistance. When Colston appeared in Court this morning he -was wearing a navy blue suit. He is 33 years of age, about sft lOin in height, and strongly built. When asked if he had any objection to the remand applied for by Detective Walsh he answered “Xo” in a quiet voice. The house where the tragedy occurred was poorly furnished and somewhat dilapidated. Charles Colston, Mrs Colston, Ernest Colston (16), Phyllis Colston (13), Jack Storr (16), and a child of four years were residing on the farm at the time of the tragedy. Storr gave the alarm to the stationmaster, alleging that he saw Colston chase and fire shots at Phyllis Colston. ARREST WAS MADE BY PRISON OFFICIAL.

BOY RODE TO STATION TO ASK FOR POLICE. P'*\ Press Association. TAUMARUNUI, January 6. Mrs Alice Anderson was shot dead on M’Farlane’s farm, about four miles from the National Park railway station, at midday to-day. The first intimation that anything was wrong was given when a boy aged fifteen years arrived on horseback at the National Park railway station and informed Mr John Luhrs, the stationmaster, that a man named Charles Colston was chasing his (Colston’s) daughter with a gun at M’Farlane’s farm and had already fired four or five shots. The boy also stated that Mrs Anderson was trying to take the gun from Colston The boy asked Mr Luhrs to get the police. The stationmaster could not get the police at Raurimu or at Taumarunui, as they were out on duty; so he rang up Gaoler Glynn at Waikune Prison Camp and asked him if he could do anything. Gaoler Glynn said it was a police matter, but as it was serious he would go up to the scene. Arrest Effected. On his arrival at the National Park station Gaoler Glynn saw a man making towards the station. He stopped him and asked his name. The man replied that he was named ' Colston Gaoler Glynn and Warder Allen then closed with Colston, handcuffed him, and placed him under arrest. Colston said Mrs Anderson was shot and that they wanted a doctor. . Gaoler Glynn then got in touch with the police and a doctor. In the meantime he got two young men from the railway station, Messrs Johns and Herron, to go out to M’Farlane’s farm where they found Mrs Anderson lying at the house dead. They set off back to National Park with the body and on the way met the doctor, who examined the woman and found she was dead. The body -was then conveyed to the station. Shot in the Head. It that Mrs Anderson was shot in the * head, as pellets from a shotgun were scattered over her face Possibly some entered the eyes and pierced the brain, causing her death. At the time Colston was intercepted by Gaoler Glynn he had just alighted from Mrs Anderson’s motor-car, which at the time was being driven by his wife; and he was making his way to wards the station. About a fortnight ago Mrs Anderson drove the Colston family in her car from Wanganui, and they all settled together in a house on M’Farlane’s farm, which was unoccupied at the time. Colston, who is now in the cells at the Taumarunui police station, is aged about thirty-eight years. He is a boiler-maker. He had married Mrs Anderson's sister. The deceased woman was about forty-five years of age. Her body was brought to Taumarunui to-night. It is impossible at the present juncture to say how or when Mrs Anderson was shot, beyond the fact that it occurred at the house after the boy went for assistance. WITNESS 3REAKS DOWN DURING THE INQUEST. Per Press Association. TAUMARUNUI. January 7. The inquest on Mrs Alice Anderson was heard before Mr J. Maher, J.P., and a jury at one o’clock to-day. The first witness called at first gave her name as Mrs Colston. Then she commenced to weep and said, “My name is Lillian Edith Tolley. lam a married woman living apart from ray husband." Witness then gave evidence that she identified the body as that of her sister, Alice Rose Florence Anderson. Deceased was a widow aged thirty-five years. The inquest was adjourned sine die.

MRS ANDERSON HAD WANGANUI BUSINESS. (Special to the “ Star/’) WANGANUI, January 7. Mrs Anderson, the victim of the National Park tragedy, was well known in Wanganui, where she resided for over a year. She was a tall, wellbuilt woman, and had an interest in a small business which changed hands before Christmas, when her partner in the business also left the district. Colston also worked in Wanganui for a short time. The motor-car was bought some time ago through a New Plymouth firm.