Clarence Edward Wagstaff

The Argus Monday 14 February 1921, page 8 Sunday. Reginald Matthews has been found guilty of the murder of Clarence Wagstaff at Timaru on October 27, and sentenced to death....

Northern Advocate 12 February 1921, Page 2 In the trial of Reginald Matthews for the murder of Clarence Edward Wagstaff, aged 19, at Timaru on October, 27 1920 the jury, after an hour's retirement, returned a verdict of guilty: The prisoner was sentenced to death. The scene of the gruesome tragedy was the trim front lawn and garden of the residence of Mr Henry Wagstaff. Clifford Vincent Knapp, who was with young Wagstaff, is employed in the Public Trust Office. When Knapp returned from the pictures on Wednesday night Wagstaff was in bed and asleep. Knapp was undressing, and he saw, through the open door of the hut, a crouching figure. He immediately aroused his companion and the young lads fearlessly planned a campaign to intercept the intruder or scare him off, as it was their opinion that the keys of Messrs Ballantyne's premises was his objective. The lads carried out their scheme, one taking one side of the house, while his companion took the other. Their quarry was sighted, and a chase resulted. Clarence succeeded in getting hold of his man, but the latter broke free, and when racing down the north side of the house, the intruder turned round and fired three shots point-blank at his pursuer. Young Wagstaff dropped instantly. Knapp endeavoured to intercept the intruder on the front lawn, but the front fence was cleared at a bound and pursuer raced into Seaview terrace, turning into Sefton street in the direction of Le Cren street. Constables Dorgan and Palmer, receiving the alarm, promptly on their beat, arrived almost simultaneously with Dr. Gibson, by which time the young man was suffering considerably from loss of blood and apparent haemorrhage. Immediately after the occurrence Inspector Hastie, Senior-Sergeant Fahey, Serjeant McGregor and Detective Abbot commenced a searching investigation of the locality. Inquiry elicited the information that the murdered lad slept in a small hut behind the house.

Evening Post, 5 March 1921, Page 6 Meeting of the Executive Council was held in Christchurch this morning, when it was decided that the death sentence on Reginald Matthews, who murdered Clarence Wagstaffe at Timaru, should be commuted to imprisonment for life.

Northern Advocate 11 February 1921, Page 4 At the trial of Matthews, yesterday was occupied with evidence for the defence by medical experts on accused's mental condition and the effects of hereditary. Dr. McKillop classed accused as a paranoic, who did not know the difference between right and wrong. [Reginald Matthews b. 1 August 1892 - died 1982]

• Reference: MyHeritage Family Trees - SmartCopy: Oct 3 2021, 3:58:20 UTC