MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1939, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

CASE AGAINST A. J. PATIENCE. LOWER COURT HEARING OPENS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Arthur John Patience stood in the dock at the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court today charged that on or about October. 4, 1938, at Claverley, he murdered his wife, Harriet Jane Patience, The hearing is expected to last four days, the witnesses to be called by the police totalling 43. Forty-seven ex? hibits will be produced by the police. The case is being heard by Mr Levvey, S.M. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr A. T. Donnelly, with Mr A. W. Brown is conducting the case for the police while Mr R. A. Young, with him Mr T. A. Gresson, are appearing for Patience. Mrs Edgar Manuel Jones, Public Works Department Engineer at Claverly produced a plan showing where the spoil had been deposited between the Taratuhi and Claverley camps. Mr Jones said heaps of spoil had accumulatcd between 1936 and 1938. In July of this year there was definite erosion from the heaps as result of heavy seas Patience arrived at Claverley in November 1936, and took up a married man’s quarters about March, 1937. On October 17 he was moved to Rosy Morn camp, 13 miles from Claverley Mr J. B. Kearton, Police photographer, said that he was present when Dr Pearson carried out the post mortem' examination of the woman’s body and he took photographs of several portions of the body. The photographs, which he produced, showed ligature markings on arms and shoulders and marks on legs and thighs. Three photographs were taken of lhe windpipe, showing a depression in front of the thyroid gland and the thyroid gland was pinned into position by Dr Pearson. On? July 24 he viewed the body under an ultra violet ray and on the left unper arm he saw circular marks similar to vaccination marks. The case is proceeding.