MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 12 April 1935, Page 4

MURDER CHARGE

ARGYLL EAST TRAGEDY.

PRELIMINARY HEARING,

HASTINGS, Thursday

Tho case in which. Charles William Price, alias Edwards, is charged that on or about Gtli February, at Argyll, he murdered Evelyn Mary Madden, was continued in the Napier Magistrate’s Court this afternoon.

Dr. John Mercer, assistant pathologist at Wellington Hospital, who examined a man’s brown suit, a woman’s blue woollen coat, and a woman’s small white hat for human blood, said on tho lining above the right wrist cf the suit lie found two irregular red-dish-brown stains, the external appearances of which suggested that they were bloodstains. Tests revealed that they were made by human blood. Oh the woman’s coat he found on the lower part of the left lapel several oval reddish stains which had also been made by human blood. On the inside of the crown of the hat he found a stain four inches long, also made by human blood. Audrey .Lincoln Jamieson, who with Madden was employed at Mr James Lowry’s station at Fernhill, said Edwards and Madden were rather friendly, and often went out together for walks. On Monday, 4th February, Madden and Edwards left the station together. That day witness had a conversation with Edwards, who said he was going to Auckland, Edwards making a joking remark that lie “was tired of Eva; sick of her.” Witness identified several articles of clothing and other effects as belonging to Miss Madden.

James Nortlie Lowry, by whom Miss Madden and accused were employed, said he drove the pair into Hastings railway station on Monday, 4th February. They left his employ together on that date. Witness and his wife identified a number of cheques of his with which both Edwards and Miss Madden were paid. According to the evidence of Keith Walker Baker, Hastings railway station porter, a man came into the left luggage office on 4th February and said he wanted to leave some luggage. This luggage witness identified among the exhibits. He could not identify the man who brought it. Ernest Henry Gardiner said he met Price at Hastings on 4th February. Price said he had a lady with him and asked if witness . knew a quiet place where she could stay. Witness and Price went to a Mrs Higgins’ house, and later Price told witness his companion had not liked the room, and that they both had booked in at the Hastings Hotel. Evidence of the booking in at the hotel on the afternoon of 4th February of a man giving the name of Edwards and a woman the name of Malcolm, was given by Beryll Seandrett. They stayed two nights and left on the morning of 6th February. The man paid the bill with a cheque, which witness identified.

Ernest Fitzmaurice, manager of a Hastings clothing establishment, said on the afternoon of 4th February accused bought a pair of woman’s shoes, explaining he had left his job at Mr Lowry’s, and that since a girl had been good to him at the station he would like to reciprocate. At this stage the court adjourned -

TO-DAY’S EVIDENCE. NAPIER, This Day. The hearing of the murder charge entered its second day this morning, with 26 witnesses still to be heard. Further evidence was called to-day to throw light on the movements of accused and Miss Madden, following their departure front “Oreka” station, where both had been employed for a time. Walter Sydney Bennett, a postal clerk, of Hastings, said that on Tuesday, sth February, a woman appeared at the money order office of the Hastings Post Office and produced a book on the Wellington Savings Bank. She expressed a desire to make a withdrawal. The woman filled in an application and withdrew the sum of £3O, signing it Evelyn Mary Madden, and requested that the money be forwarded to the Girls’ Friendly Society, Napier. She also directed that the pass book be forwarded to Waipawa. Witness said that the money was never paid out. Edward Mervyn Murray, bank clerk, of Hastings, identified three cheques which he cashed for a woman on sth February. The cheques, which totalled £8 15s 9d, were drawn in favour of Eva Madden.

A housemaid, Margaret McGregor Reid, employed at the Girls’ Friendly Society, Napier, said that a Avoman, accompanied by a man, called at the Lodge on sth February, seeking lodgings. The Avoman, Avho said her name Avas Madden, decided not to stay at the Lodge, and departed AAdth the man, avlio had Avaited outside the gate. A money order telegram arrived at the Lodge for Miss Madden that afternoon, but had not been claimed. Witness did not see Miss Madden again. Alfred Rosenberg, labour agent at Hastings, stated that in August last year he obtained a position for Price Avith James LoAvry. Price returned to Avitness’s office on sth February last, and said that he had left LoAvry’s and Avas looking for another job. Later Price left two suitcases Avith. Avitness, returning for them in a taxi a day or tAvo later. About 13th February a man named Marshall visited witness’s office, seeking a ploughman, and Avitness gave him Price’s address.

Evidence Avas given by a taxi-driver, Joseph Bernard Dooney, AAdiose_Avife is a relative of accused, that on oth February Price arrived at his home and asked him to drive him to the Hastings Hotel. This he did. Later in the day Price returned to Avitness ’s home, accompanied by a young Avoman, Avhom he introduced as Miss Madden. They stayed for tea and supper, and then Avitness drove them back to Hastings.— (P.A.) Dooney again picked Price up at Ins sister’s place in Napier on 7th February. Witness asked Price Avhere tlie girl Avas. He replied that ho loft her at the home of Hollis in Argyle. Accused added that Miss Madden Avas going aAvay, probably to Auckland. Price remained in Napier between 7th and 14tli February, during Avliich time he drank heavily. On the latter date Price told Avitness that he Avas going to a job at Argyll. Norman John Guild, taxi-driver of Napier, stated that on the afternoon of Tuesday, stli February, he went to Dooney’s flat AAdiere he shared an office. In the flat at the time were accused and a young woman introduced to him as Miss Madden. Accused asked Avitness to pick him up in Hastings at two o’clock the next afternoon in

witness drove, vih the Stortford-<Lodge bridge, to a house near Mason’s Ridge where witness and Price left the car and drank from a whisky flask in Price’s possession. They returned to the car and continued on another two miles, when Price pointed out the Taheke station to Miss Madden. They next pulled up at a ploughman’s camp which accused entered. Accused conversed with a drover, after which the journeyed was continued. Thky stopped at other places before' flhey arrived at Taheke station. After « short period at the station they returned to the ploughman’s camp where Price and the girl got out of the car. Price said that he was going to take the young lady .o&er to Hollis’s place by a short cut adlfr was too far by road. “They round the track over the hill and I lost sight of them,” witness said. “Before they left accused told me to wait for him. He said he might be an hour or two hours. Miss Madden had an overcoat over her arm. ’ ’

Witness said that following the .couple’s departure he curled up in the front seat and had a doze. He saw no one else about at the time. An hour and 20 minutes later Edwards returned along the road. He was then alone. Ho said that he left the girl at Hollis’s place, and they would bring her to the railway station on the following morning. Witness noticed that Price’s foot was wet. Accused said that he had slipped while stepping across a creek. Witness did not notice anything strange about Price’s demeanour. They returned to Hastings. “During the journey home Price said that he had got some money from Miss Madden,” Guild stated. “Price said that he had got £3O from her, but he did not show me the money. Then we stopped at the Te Aute Hotel, and had a drink for which accused paid. He also paid me £2 from a roll of notes which included one or two fivers.” -JL Witness said that Price told him ho would be meeting Miss Madden atv the Hastings railway station on the following morning.—(P.A.)