BODY IN SUITCASE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 169, 20 July 1938, Page 7

BODY IN SUITCASE

CHARGE OF MURDER ARMSTRONG ON TRIAL DEATH GF FATHER SUPREME COURT HEARING [ Per Presa Association | WELLINGTON, July 19. The Supreme Court trim oi Douglas Alexander Armstrong, a niter and turner, aged 21, on a charge oi murdering his father, Edwin Woiraan Armstrong, at Wellington on May 6, was started to-day. The jury was empanelled at noon, and the Court rose until 2 o’clock to allow the police to make arrangements for the jurors, who will be kept together for the course of the trial, which is expected to last between throe and four days. It is understood that twenty-two witnesses will be called for the Crcwh, one more than in the Magistrate’! Court. The remains of Edwin Armstrong wre found In two suitcases dolow the Ficton wharf. The Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) is on the Bench. Th? Crown Prosecutor (Mr W. H. Cunnirrlrm) is conducting the case fi r the Crown, and Mr. H. F. O’Leary. K.C . \ ith him Mr. D. Foster, appears for /.rmstrong. His Honour pointed out to the jury that the charge, being one of murder, required that the members of the jury be kept ogether. Necessarily they might be put individually to some lictie inconvenience, but that inconvenience would be minimised as far as possible. The case would last three and a-half days, possibly four, and they would have ample time in which to make domestic arrangements through the police before the Court resumed. William Aitken Armstrong, Training College student and a brother of accused, aged 19, said he leti home about 8.15 a.m. on May 6 and returned home from college at 9.3 p.m. Two knives and a .22 calibre rifle in the Court were identified by witness as accused’s. Cross-examined by Mr O’Leary, witness said he had hidden the bolt of the rifle for fear that his father mignt kill himself or others in the family. His brother had done the same after his father's return from Australia (about two months before his death!. Witness and his brother used to place something against the door to warn them of anybody entering. About two years ago his father slashed his brother's hand with a table knife. Witness saw the occurrence The knife was picked up just for the occasion About 12 months ago their father had threatened witness w.Ui an axe. “About eight months of a year ago" witness’ father had taken Up a arc poker to them. “My brother had toid him to go out and get work instead of living on us,” witness .‘•aid. “He jumped up and said he would knock out my brother's brains and made other vi’e comments.” Witness’ brother loft the room and his mother intervene 1. At the slightest disturbance his father would pick up a Loo?, or .niffeware and throw it. Such event wcr? common occurrences. Since his father's return from Australia he and his brother repeatedly heard disturbances during the night from their parents’ room. They would listen ready Lo intervene. There was not one fay of real happiness in the home after his father’s return from Australia. lie did not speak with witness but would only pass comments. He was gloomy and his eyes were piercing and bioodshot. Witness’ mother supplie 1 hia father with £l3O of her savings in September tn go to Australia. He came back after six months. Douglas expected to leave home soon and the time was coming when witness would have to leave tco. Widow’s Evidence Mary Robb Arm-Lung, school vcscner, widow of Edwin Normao Armstrong, said they were married 22 years, and there were two children of the marriage. Her husband was aged 55 at the time oi his uea«a. They came to Wellington in 1929 when her husband lost his employment with A. and T. Burt, Ltd., it Dunedin. When she received the letter from Douglas she di i nol read it as a message that he had Filled his lather, but as a statement that Its lather was dead. Douglas v/a; very anxious for his father to ieaxe hom*j for witness’ sale.). In answer to a question about her own relations w.th her husoa .d, witness said, “It was nol so much a keiing of fear as a feeding of e-c iness.” She had taken steps toward obtaining a separation many yeais ago when the children were young, but not since their arrival in New Zealand. Mr. O'Leary: In every pcssib'e \.ay was your son as good a son as you could wish to have? Witness; Nobody could huve beUer. Since 1929 her husbi nd had not worked and she had kept h m and bought his clothe.. She had taken a holiday without him. When he went to the races she provided £2 each day and she provided reading matter to prevent his brooding. When he came back from Australia she offered him £lO a month to go away, and Douglas said he would sell his car and give him the money. ~ouglas did everything for his father he was asked to do, including the drawing of plans for a patent application touching the harnessing of waves to generate electricity. The Court adjourned until U» a.m. to-morrow.