TRIAL OF BOAKES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 276, 22 November 1927, Page 8

TRIAL OF BOAKES.

BURWOOD MURDER CASE

MAN KNEELING BY BODY.

"DIFFERENT IN BUILD FROM

THE ACCUSED."

EVIDENCE GIVEN BY BOY.

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURCH, this dav

The public galleries of the Supreme Court were again crowded this morning when the trial of Charles William Boakes on the charge of murdering Ellen Gwendoline Isabel Scarff was continued.

A boy named Mugford. who was the first on the scene, said ho saw a man kneeing beside the body. This man was of a different build from the accused. Frederick James Arps. taxi-driver, said he knew Miss Scarff, who was introduced to him by Boakes. He gave evidence regarding a visit to Dallinjrton which he took in company with Boakes. Miss Scarff and another girl. Witness was with Miss-Scarff, and Boakes was with another woman altogether. Man Dashed into Broom. Eric Horace Mugford gave evidence as to the finding of the bodv. Mr. C. S. Thomas (leading counsel for the defence): Did you find someone else at the body:—Yes, at the head. What was tbe man doing?—fle was kneeling at her head.

At no time did tliat man turii round and face vou?—Xo.

As you came in and made a noise this man jumped to his feet and rushed off into the broom?— Yes. You did not see his face?—Xo. He was a smaller man than Boakes?— Yes. Did he dash into the broom?— Yes. right into the solid broom. \ou never saw him a^ain? —Xo. Would this man be about my build, but shorter?— Yes. And you told the police about this man ?—Yes. The Rev. Cecil A. Tobin said Mugford went to him, and he returned with Mugford to where the body was. The body looked as if it had been moved. Spanner Not Identified. Detective Laugeson said that he had made inquiries about the spanner which had been found near the scene of the murder. He showed the spanner to l.>lo persons, but no one was able to identify it.

George Hunter McC'ann, staff sergeantmajor in the Defence wave evidence regarding two military overcoats produced. The important difference between the coats was that one was about four inches longer than the other. Messages For Boakes. *Leslie George Mcßeth, taxi driver, said that he had seen Miss Scarff ».n the Grand taxi stand on one occasion, when she was looking for Boakes. Hehad on several occasions taken telephone messages for Boakes on the stand to ring up the house where Miss Scarff was employed.

Mr. Thomas: Why, in the lower Court, did j ou say you took telephone niessa twice or three times?—lt was more than that.

\ou realise that this man is on trial for his life?— Yes.

Then why do you do this? Have vou an explanation No, I have not. *

"Boakes a Kindly Man."

George Lewis, formerly a bus propi ietor, and at one time an employer of Boakes, related a conversation he had with accused on June 17. Boakes said lie had not seen the girl since the previous Saturday. It had been said that he had been to get some "dope'' foV her. but lie said he did not know anv cliemUt well enough to do that. Boakes said the girl had never been in his taxi.

Answering Mr. Thomas, witness said lie had never seen Boakes lose his i empp;-. He seemed to be a kindly man. (Proceeding.)