BURWOOD TRIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 277, 23 November 1927, Page 8

BURWOOD TRIAL.

CASE FOR THE CROWN.

EVIDENCE BY DETECTIVES.

WHEN BOAKES MET KINS.

ACCUSED: "YOU ARE A LIAR."

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

CHRISTCHURC'H, this day

The hearing of the evidence brought by the Crown against Charles William Boakes ended yesterday. Mr. C. S. Thomas, leading counsel for the defence, told Mr. Justice Adams that no evidence would be called for the defence. His Honor then adjourned the Court "to allow the jury an opportunity to escape from the poisonous atmosphere of the court room!"

Boakes is charged with having murdered Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff at Burwood on or about June 15. The body of Miss Scarff was found in a clearing in the scrub near the Burwood war memorial on the afternoon of June 15, terribly mutilated about the head. Girl's Movements Not Traced.

Detective-Sergeant I'oung described the. scene of the tragedy. He said there was no sign of a struggle. He could find no footprints leading into the broom. Mr. A. T. Donnelly, Crown Prosecutor: You have not been able to trace the girl's movements since she saw Arps on the night of June 14?— There has been no trace whatever.

Witness said he interviewed Boakes on June 16 and Boakes made his first statement. After Mrs. Boakes had been seen, Boakes corrected his statement.

Mr. Thomas: When the first statement was made how long was Boakes at the police station?— From 2.30 p.m. until 0.10 or 9.15.

Mr. Thomas: Where did he have his meals?—ln the police mess. Mr. Thomas: I wish to be quite fair to you. Some of that time was taken up with going to see Mrs. Boakes, wasn't it ?—A great deal of it. Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike, now of Auckland, said that accused made a statement to him in July in his own handwriting. Half-way through the making of the statement Boakes said there had been a lot of talk about him and the girl and that a man might have had certain relations with the girl, but that was not to say he had murdered her. Boakes said a man named Charlio Keyes knew Gwen Scarff well. Boakes said his only military overcoat was the one he was wearing. Interview With King. j

The witness gave evidence of his interview with Sydney Charles King, chemist's assistant. Witness said to King: "I am informed you sold Boakes some drugs for abortion purposes." King said: "Who told you?" Witness replied: "I'm sorry, I can't tell you." King said: "If 1 tell you *the truth what is going to happen to me?" Witness said: "I'm not the boss and can't tell you." King said: "I'd better tell you the truth. I did sell some — to Boakes for a girl whom he had <?ot into trouble."

King subsequently made a statement, writing it out himself. He was at the office about two hours. He left about five o'clock and returned about six with samples of the pills and the drug. Two days later, on July 20, King came to the detective office and said he had omitted to mention in his previous statement that ho had sold two boxes of pills and not one, and he wished to rewrite his statement. King brought a sample of other pills, and Bat down and Tewrote a statement, this occupying about an hour.

BoaSes Asked for King. Witness said that Boakes said to liiir. that the statement of King was true, except that he did not buy pills or a drug from King. Boakes asked for King to be brought to the police station. When King came, Witness said to him, "Do you know this man?" King said, "Yes, that is Mr. Boakes." Witness said, "Is this the man you sold pills and a drug to?" King said, "Yes." Boakes sprang from his chair and said, "You are a liar." Witness, afraid that Boakes would strike King, stepped between them. He told King to repeat to Boakes what he had said about the pills and drug. King did so, and Boakes said again, "You are a liar." King then left the office.

Mr. Thomas: You have heard the statement given by King to Mr. Gresaon. Did you bully him into making this statement to you ?->-->No, I have neve? seen the man one could bully into making a false statement.

'Did you threaten to charge King with an offence ?—No.

In answer to further questions, the detective said it was clear King was a liar.

"Bullying" Denied

Detective Walsh, of Wanganui, said that when King was making his statement to Detective Bickerdike witness arrived before King had commenced to write. There was no bullying.. The statement was made deliberately and voluntarily. King left the station and later returned with pills and a drug, stating they were samples of the he had sold to Boakes. °

This closed the case for the Crown