CHARGE OF MURDER.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 5 February 1927, Page 8

CHARGE OF MURDER.

MERRETT ON TRIAL. (Per Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, February 4. At the Merrett trial, Walter Penn, deceased’s brother-in-law, said that Donald told Mrs Penn: “I did not do it, but I will confess if you like.” Witness did not take this seriously. Nurse Grant gave evidence that she overheard a conversation at the hospital. Mrs Penn told Mrs Merrett that she must have fallen. Mrs Merrett replied: "No. It was an extraordinary thing. I heard the explosion. Did not Donald do it? He is such a naughty boy.” Elizabeth Christie, dancing instructress, stated that Donald said his mother had shot herself, possibly accidentally. Experts testified that suicide was improbable. [John Donald Merrett, aged 19, was arrested in December on charges of murdering his mother, Mrs Bertha Merrett, and forging her name to cheques. The Merretts were formerly New Zealand residents.]