HENLEY TRAGEDY

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20523, 13 June 1938, Page 8

HENLEY TRAGEDY

CHARGE OF MURDER WOMAN BTRUCK ON HEAD EVIDENCE OF EXPERTS vßy Telegraph.—Press Association) DUNEDIN, Monday At the Police Court this morning before Mr J. Bartholomew, S.M., Eric Sandaggar Parks was charged with the murder of Frances Amelia Lee at Henley on April 14. The inquest was taken concurrently. Mr Adams, Crown Prosecutor, represented the police, and Mr C- J. L. White and Mr J. B. Thomson the accused. Dr. Wylie stated he was telephoned for at 7 a.m. on April 15. Proceeding to Henley with the police, in a back bedroom he found the body of a woman, aged about 50. She was lying on her back, the face being covered by a pillow 7. There was a head wound from which brain substance protruded and the bed was soaked with blood. There was no evidence of a struggle. The injury suggested that deceased was struck by a heavy instrument with a flat surface, which might be the sledge hammer (produced;. Death was caused by a compound skull fracture with severe laceration and a haemorrhage. Death would be instantaneous, and it appeared as if the blow were struck while deceased slept. Witness stated to Mr White that the body's position was consistent with deceased having been awake when the blow was struck. Dr. Eileen Chapman, assistant pathologist at the Medical School, staged that on examining the body on the following morning she found three further skull wounds. Witness thought deceased had lived some minutes after the blow. Blood-stained Hammer Eric Frederick D’Ath, professor of pathology, gave evidence that he received several articles including a sledge hammer from the police. The hammer bore human bloodstains. There were o few- grey hairs attached to the hammer, these corresp* :m«ng with the hairs from deceased's head. Witness examined the skull and sai l he believed only one blow had been struck. Dr. Marion Wliyte stated that she was called to a house at Willow bank, Dunedin, on April 15.. On a bed in a room witness found accused deeply unconscious and showing signs consistent with gas poisoning. Accused's condition was very grave but she was unable to say how much longer it would have been necessary for a fatal issue.

A Broken Engagement Harry Hemsley. cordial manufacturer and employer of accused, said the latter was a good worker and a nondrinker. Witness knew accused was engaged to a girl named Frances Lee. which engagement was broken. Parks had received a letter from the girl which had made him very depressed. Witness knew Parks occasionally hired rental cars. Answering Mr White, witness said lie thought accused was very infatuated with the girl. Young Girl’s Evidence Frances Amelia Lee I * . daughter of deceased, stated that the latter had been housekeeper in Mi’ Smith s house at Henley which was the home of her mother and self. Accused started keeping company with witness two years age. Parks later stayed at Smith's, working on the farm/ There was nothin? peculiar at this time about accused's attitude to her. Witness became engaged to him last September. There had been no serious differences between them, just "a few words." About an accident witness sustained accused spoke of writing to her mother about it to which she agreed. She did not see the first letter accused wrote but did see the second. At this stage witness broke down, the lunch adjournment being taken.