WOMAN MURDERED

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 January 1933, Page 5

WOMAN MURDERED

. ■ " 4 —~~ SHOTWVHILE XN4 BED. ASSAILANT ATTEMPTS SUICIDE. AUCKLAND, This Day. Mrs Bertha May Bennett, aged forty, a "widow, and owner of a small dairy farm, was murdered by being- shot in the chest with a shot-gun while in bed at her home in. East Tamaki ißoad, Papatoetoe, at eleven o’clock last aiight. Deceased and her daughter were wellJcnown riders at the Pakuranga Hunt Club.

This morning, Thomas Francis Clark, •32 years of age, a New' Zealander, and a. labourer, was charged before Mr McKean, S.M., with having murdered Airs Bennett.

“ Accused will not appear, as he is 5n the hospital,” said Detective-Ser-geant Kelly. “After the murder of this woman last night he attempted to shoot himself, but most of the charge struck his wgtcli and glancedoff. There is every cHfce of his recovery, and he will havUfo be watched.” An application for a week’s remand was granted. It is understood that the police obtained a statfjuent from Alfred George Hamilton, a butcher, aged about 40, a cousin of accused. Hamilton lodged with Mrs Bennett, and had been living with her as man and wife. He states that they retired to bed about nine ■o’clock. About II o’clock he heard the woman say: “.What are you doing in the room, Frank? Get- out of it.” Immediately there was a flash from the foot ofAbe bed. Hamilton jumped out of bed and made a rush at the form of a man, the latter passing through the door and closing it behind him. He heard another shot, and, rushing through the door, saw that Clark, who brushed past him into the bedroom, hacl injured himself, with a gun. It is understood that Clark wanted to marry Mrs Bennett, and was not aware of her relationship with his cousin, Hamilton. —(P-A.)