TRUNK MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 128, 2 June 1927, Page 7

TRUNK MURDER.

ACCUSED ON TRIAL.

Confession Admits Disposing

Of Body.

OBJECTION BY COUNSEL.

'By Cable—Press Association.— Copyright.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LONDON, June 1

There were remarkable scenes in Westminster Court, when John Robinson, a clerk, aged 46, was charged with the murder of Mrs. Minnie Bonatti, whose dismembered body was found in a trunk at Charing Cross Station. Women and girls fought for admittance. At the outset the defending counsel, Mr. Vine, objected to the admission of the alleged confession. He declared that something improper, amounting to inducements, had happened in the course of the half an hour that Robinson was in the sitting-room in Scotland Yard with Sergeant Clarke. The prosecuting counsel offered to call Clarke, whereupon Vine lengthily questioned the latter anent the conversation in the waiting-room. Sergeant Clarke denied saying to Robinson: "You are in a serious position, but Ido not believe you 'did it. I do not think you would do such a thing. You have seen Sir Bernard Spilbury's theory, you ought to tell us all about "it. I will be your pal if you justify yourself and you can tell the Court the woman died from heart failure." Vine declared that Robinson would say' on oath this conversation occurred. The magistrate ruled the admissibility of Robinson's statement. Accused's Statement. This showed he met the woman in the street. She suggested she should accompany him. They went to his office where she Raid she was hard up and asked for a pound. Robinson refused and she became abusive. He lost his temper and struck her face. She fell, striking her head. He left her lying there and went home. Returning on the following day he was surprised to find her still lying there. Not knowing what to do he decided to cut the body up. He bought papc, string and a chef's knife. He finished as quickly as possible and wrapped it up. He then left the office, had •*. drink, met his wife and went home. Asks Friend to Help. Next day he faced the difficulty of disposing of the body. He went to Brixton, bought a trunk, packed in the remains, went to a hotel and met a friend, whom he asked to help him carry the trunk downstairs. He took a taxi to Charing Cross and deposited the trunk. If he had not done so it would have been a lifetime nuisance to him. A typist* formerly in Robinson's employ, gave evidence that a duster wrapped round the remains was one used by her in Robinson's, office.