THE WOMAN WHO STEPPED ON THE GAS

NZ Truth, Issue 1145, 10 November 1927, Page 9

THE WOMAN WHO STEPPED ON THE GAS

niHMUmiiiiitiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiuiiiinmi|iinniiiiiiuiniimiiiiinni(nniiiiiiniiiiinniiiinnnmii flllliilltllHlllllHlllllUlllllllllltlllllllllllillHlllltltttlffilllllllllltlllllUllllllllUlllllllllllllllltllltltltllllllll DURING the course of an eloquent and able appeal to the juryi m defence of Ina Beatrice Wills, it was In strong terms that Lawyer J. FJ W. Dickson castigated Thomas Herbert Skinnor, with whom the woman was associated m a midnight episode which terminated m the arrest of both on charges of breaking and entering, theft, receiving and attempted breakIng and entering. • Public interest m the trial of Mrs. Wills and, Skinner was second only to the Baj^by trial during the. criminal sessions. The court was packed during the whole of the proceedings, a dramatic touch being lent by Thomas Herbert Skinner's decision to plead guilty. Thick-set, well-dressed, hair carefully parted and well-oiled, and heavy, clean-shaven features, Skinner took his place m the dock > alongside the womftn, who was clad m black from hat to shoes. , They presented a striking contrast m demeanor; the man nonchalant, his jaws working vigorously as he chewed calmly, ' occasionally turning almost round m the dock to gaze impertUrbably at the interested audience behind the rail at the rear of the court. ' Ina Beatrice Wills stood demurely m her corner of the dock, head inclined downwards, but occasionally lifting her eyes to gaze abour her with a tragic expression.

Police Pursuit

His lionor did not keep' Skinner long In suspense after Lawyer Beaty had said 'a^few words on his behalf, the purport of which was that his client was 27 years of age and had been convicted of bigamy m Australia. He denied that he was a wife -deserter m addition. The sentence was eighteen months' reformative detention. Skinner was then ■ taken from the dock to wait until such time as his testimony should be required by the Crown against the woman. Charged, along with Skinner, with breaking and entering the shop of Sybil Muriel Townsend, Manakau Road, Epsom, on the night of August 5, and stealing goods to the value of £16/14/-, with alternative charges of theft, and receiving, and also with attempting to break and enter the shop of Raymond Xi. McDonald, Mrs. Ina Wills pleaded hot guilty. . Formal evidence was given by Miss Townsend and , Raymond McDonald, while Constable Butler, of Devonport, detailed the incidents which culminated m a sensational early morning chase by the police m a motor-car along Dominion Road and the arrest .of Mrs. Wills after she had abandoned her car. The unusual movements of a sedan car driven by a woman m Kyber Pass aroused the constable's interest and a little later he .saw a man leave the doorway of a shop m a side street down which the car had turned. This mftn ran towards the car and jumped upon the footboard as it commenced to move away. \ During the chase which followed after P.C. Butler had commandeered a private car — according to one detective's evidence m the lower court, the police car attained a speed of 80 miles an hour— the sedan car ahead stopped twice. ■■ ' ' On two occasions the' pursuing car containing the police forged ahead of the sedan car— the first time for a sufficient distance to enable Constable Butler to abandon it and endeavor to bring the other car to a stop. He took up the pursuit again on a motor-cycle. Detectives Kelly and Allen, who were In the vicinity of the chase, jumped aboard the private car and suggested that the driver "step on it," The second time this car* forged. ahead of the machine driven by Mrs. Wills the detectives also left it and at-

Law's Long Arm Grabs "Aussie" Skinner and j His Fair Companion In Crime .^^ jam

tempted to stop their quarry by flashing their electric torches. They just managed to get out of the way without being struck, according to the evidence. Finally, the chase • ended at the corner of Dominion Road and Mt. Albert Road, where Mrs. Wills and Skinner abandoned the sedan. • The woman, according to Constable Butler's evidence, was found crouching near some trees about two chains away from the car. , Corroborative evidence was given by Alfred Roy Ellis, of Kingsland, taxidriver, whose car was used by the police In the chase.

A young man named Cecil Cockburn, ' formerly employed by Mrs. Wills as a traveller In soft and fancy goods, told of visits paid by Skinner to Mrs. Wills 1 shop m Queen Street." He had always asked for her. .Some time before her arrest Mrs. Wills had injured her ankle and had also suffered from neuritis. Early m the evening of her arrest he had brought Mrs. Wills some asprbs, because she said she had a bad headache. Detective Allen corroborated the evidence given by Butler and Ellis concerning the pursuit and subsequent arrest of the woman. The detective, secured a statement from Mrs. Wills, m which she denied all knowledge of breaking and entering or theft of the goods from Miss Townsend's shop or the attempt to enter McDonald's shop. She- did not know that the goods had been stolen, she stated. Lawyer Dickson: Were you the man who told Mrs. Wills that if she made a statement she could go home as soon as she had done so? — No. Skinner's statement, as given by him to Detective Allen, was then read. In. it he denied having been with Mrs.' Wills m the car on the night of Friday, August 5. He knew nothing about the matter at all and denied that a hat found m the car belonged to him. Lawyer Dickson questioned the witness about a letter Skinner had endeavored to smuggle -out of Mt. Eden gaol by a visitor on September 9. "This letter was written to a man named Turner, wasn't it?" he asked, "for the purpose of trying to get two persons outside to give evidence for him and perjure themselves?" Allen intimated that this was correct that the gaol authorities had intercepted the letter and handed it to the police. „ As the result of this, witness had visited the gaol and interviewed Skinner. Lawyer Dickson: "I thought you said you had never interviewed this man m connection with this case? The witness explained that he was under the impression that counsel was referring to another phase of the affair when he denied that he had discussed the case with Skinner at several interviews m gaol. Lawyer Dickson: Did not the witness say to you the following morning m gaol, after her arrest: "You know I ' did not run away," and you replied: "it's all right, Mrs, Wills, that's only newspaper talk?" The witness denied this. Interest among ,the spectators m court became acute as Thomas Herbert

"Keeping Watch "

Skinner stepped jauntily forward, thumped the rail of the jury-box m a care-free fashion as he passed, entered the witness-box, squared his shoulders, settled his coat and removed his chew-ing-gum. I With one foot resting on the lower rail of the witness-box, he remained throughout his evidence the most unconcerned individual ' m court. Skinner made no. bones about the fact that he had attempted to get two persons to give evidence on his behalf, but he did not put quite the same construction on his action, as Lawyer Dickson did. On the advice of his counsel he had pleaded guilty. He had known Mrs. Wills for about three weeks before the arrests took place. On two occasions he had been out with her m the car. Crown\ Prosecutor Hubble: How long were you out with Mrs. Wills the first time? — Well,- very early m the morning; I got home m time for breakfast. Quite a joy ride! I take it she would know your name? — I hope so. •On the Friday night when the trouble took place Skinner said he had gone for a drive with Mrs. Wills aaid

m the course of the drive they passed a tobacconist's shop m Karangahape Road. "I don't think it would be quite fair for me to say anything about that," he added. Afterwards they went to a shop at Epsom opposite the trambarn. Mrs. Wills suggested that a stop be made, there. Crown Prosecutor: Why was a stop made there? — As the main object of our drive had not come . off, it was suggested that I should enter the shop. I did so. Mrs. Wills stood m the shop doorway keeping watch.

He entered the shop twice, Skinner said, and once when somebody was coming Mrs. Wills called out to him and they both walked up the street J a little way and pretended to be just an ordinary couple. After this he entered the shop a second time

He did not know — had not the slightest i dea — what was to become of the stolen goods afterwards. After leaving the Epsom shop, they then went fo McDonald's shop, off Khyber Pass Road. Mrs. Wills was to keep watch. While m the doorway of this shop, after he had broken the glass near the lock, he had looked out to see if anybody had heard the noise. Seeing- a policeman, he took I it for granted that he had heard the noise. "I thought it was time for

me to start going m the opposite direction!" announced Skinner very unemotionally. "Which I did." Skinner informed Lawyer Dickson that he had lost count of the number of times Detective Allen had interviewed him about the case m . gaol. Ho had met the woman that night by appointment. This closed the case for the Crown. Lawyer Dickson, opening his case, launched an attack on Skinner and the police methods. "This man, Skinner," he said, "is what he appeared to be m the box; a man who tried to get two people to commit perjury for him. "He is an Australian who comes across here and alleges that he was led away by this woman, who* has never been before the court inher life — which cannot be said of Skinner."

Lawyer Dickson said his client certainly was a woman who led a Bohemian life; perhaps other women would have hesitated and even refused to go "with this man from Australia — the innocent gentleman who was led astray by an Auckland girl." Counsel remarked that m any case Skinner had doubtless got all the skinning he could get" to which his honor smilingly retortea: "I don't know how you can say Skinner has 'had all the skinning he can get!" (laughter). Continuing, Lawyer Dickson said that. Skinner had stated that he had lost count of the number of times Detective Allen had been to see him about the case, while Allen asserted he had only been to see him once about the matter. m}umm i l' m H'i l 'W\A^A "Out of a spirit

of revenge or spite, because this woman told the truth when interviewed by Detective Allen, he was persuaded to make a statement," declared counsel. Judge Reed (sharply) : "You must not say that; "it is very unfair! I will not allow an officer of this court to make such statements. The officer cannot protect himself and I will not allow you to say that the detective prompted this man to attack this woman." After further discussion between judge and counsel, when his honor said Skinner's evidence could not weigh against that o f the police, Lawyer Dickson replied; "Thank you, that •will help me."

There was a perceptible stir of interest and a craning of necks m the crowded court as Ina Beatrice Wills stepped from the dock and entered the witness-box. j Up till then she had remained seated, her face barely visible, behind the rail 1 of the dock. Slim, of medium height, fashionably dressed m black, the only touch of color being her white kid gloves, she turned the battery^ of her dark, expressive eyes towards counsel. Lawyer Dickson, supported by Lawyer Quartery, skilfully drew her story from her. She was a married woman, twenty-five years of age. She had come from New Plymouth to Auckland exactly a month before her arrest. In New Pymouth she had been m business as a tobacconist with fancy goods and had also carried on a dress-making business. She had resided m South Road.

Before coming to Auckland .she had sold her business. Her husband, with whom she lived quite happily, had resided m New Plymouth until recently, when he came to Auckland. They were now living at Grey Lynn. Her sedan car had been purchased with her own money just before last Christmas. Ina denied most emphatically that she had ever been out until the early hours of the morning m her car with Skinner, though she admitted that she had driven him to Newton on one ' occasion when some friends were -with her m the car. Lawyer Dickson guided 'her to the eventful night of Friday, August 5. Her story was that she was suffering from a headache and after the picture show had ■ decided to go for a drive m her car, as she knew she would not be able to sleep if she went home. On her way home along Symonds Street, m the car, some time after 11 o'clock, she -met Skinner, whom she knew, but whose name she did not remember at the time. , When he asked her to drive him to Epsom to pick up a parcel, she demurred, but on his saying: "Oh, come on, be a sport!" she agreed. "And trying to be a sport," said Mrs. Wills, "I drove him to Epsom." She also agreed to drive him to Dominion Road. As her head was bad when they reached a spot m Manakauißoad and Skinner left her, she made herself comfortable m the cac with a cushion. "I think I must have dozed off, because I seemed to wake up with a start when Skinner returned, carrying a parcel." The parcel was placed m the back of the .car, where its contents were subsequently discovered by the police. Near Miller's garage m Kyber Pass, Skinner asked her to turn down a side street and she did so. The engine of the ,car. was shut off while she awaited Skinner's return. With true feminine curiosity, Mrs. Wills said she looked at the things m the parcel and found confectionery. She had not the slightest idea that Skinner Avas up to any unlawful purpose and she remained m the car. Shortly afterwards he came back, calling to her: "Come along!" She started the engine and as the car moved off he took two or three running steps and jumped m. She drove at an ordinary pace to Dominion road, where a stop was made and Skinner got out of the car. Hearing "a noise like a lot of motorcycles," when he returned she asked him what it was and he told her a community car had broken down and. wanted a tow home. It was because of what Skinner had said that she did not stop when she saw the torches flashing ahead of her. "Step on it!" he had said, "and let

Remarkable Case

them see you won't stop. It's those fellows from the community car and they are a bit drunk." She stepped on it. "At the corner of Mt. Albert and Dominion Roads I asked Skinner which way he wanted to go," continued Airs. Wills. "I put the brake on to go to the right. As the car slowed down, Skinner jumped out and disappeared." She had also jumped out of the car, to see what was wrong and m doing so had stepped m a hole m the road, injuring her ankle. It was while she was m a ' crouching position as the result-of the injury that Constable Butler ran up and asked her what she was hiding. . ! . . ' • Mrs. Wills stated that she had complained to the police about the unfair reports of the police chase that had appeared m the local newspapers. Lawyer Dickson referred to a report which stated that the police car was travelling at 80 miles an hour. Judge Reed: "I think sometimes these reports are unfair to accused persons; they must affect the accused person with jurymen. There is a responsibility on newspapers not to

exaggerate these reports. Thfere will v be a big action for libel one of these days." Lawyer Dickson: "It is contempt of court!" His Honor: "Of course, it is!" "We are late birds as a rule and usually retire about 12 o'clock at night," James Richard Wills, Ina's husband, told the court. He and his wjfe were happily marI ried and she had been on the stage before marrying him. Addressing the jury. Lawyer Dickson, on behalf of the woman, said his client, though she might lead a Bohemian life and have the tendency of the "flapper" class that existed m Auckland to-day, was most emphatically not , of the criminal class. "This man, Skinner, who is' the Crown's chief witness, is absolutely a scoundrel — nothing more and ~" nothing less," he continued. "He would have you believe that he is the innocent young man — this gentleman from gaol m Australia, who is led by th© nose by this lady — and that he is the person who is really the victim of her machinations."' At this stage Lawyer Dickson read the letter written by Skinner m gaol to Ivan Turner, motor- driver, Porter's Dye Works, Epsom. It contained minute directions as to what Turner was to say concerning the hat that was found m the car, with further instructions to a girl 'named

Woman Sentenced

Ada, who was to say that she was at a dance at Newmarket on the Friday night and saw Skinner there. „ Further, that after he had danced with her for some time he had then walked home with her and that it was 10.45 p.m. when he came to, the door of the dance-hall. The letter concluded: "Read this over a few times and you cannot go wrong. And what is more, pal, do this and you will get me out of this case." Lawyer Dickson again refei*red to the alleged interviews, between Detective Allen and Skinner, but Judge Ree.d intimated that he would not permit any slur to be cast on the detective, stating that it was inconceivable he would" put himself m such a position "with a man of Skinner's class, who, he quite agreed with Lawyer Dickson," was a despicable scoundrel." Counsel declared that it was reprehensible for" detectives to interview persons m gaol awaiting trial.. When the jury returned with a verdict of guilty on the charge of receiving, F. N. Bartram, M.P. gave evidence as to Mrs. Wills' character and said he had known her for twelve or thirteen years. ■ He had always regarded her as a high-spirited girl, fond of dancing and with a leaning towards the theatrical. When Mrs. Wills stepped into the dock to receive her sentence before a crowded court, the atmosphere was electrical with . the high tension of expectancy. "I place no reliance upon the word ot Skinner, who is an unmitigated scoundrel," said Judge Heed, addressing the prisoner. "At the same time, one portion of his story seems to be absolutely true — and it is that you made the appointment. "It is impossible to believe that you were driving about the town at a late hour at. night and you picked up this man by accident. Your story is absolutely unbelievable! .■"'■■ "One thing I must take into 3erious consideration was the perjury committed by you. • "You absolutely gave^the police witnesses the lie direct on things there could have been no possible mistake about." "Probation is out of the question," remarked his honor as he' sentenced Ina . Wills^ to twelve months' reformative detention.