KERR TO STAND TRIAL

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 95, 23 April 1931, Page 11

KERR TO STAND TRIAL

ATTEMPTED MURDER CHARGE

SHOOTING OF GERTRUDE WEST

EVIDENCE AT TE AWAMUTU.

(By Teiegraph.—Owg Correspondent.)

TE AWAMUTU, Wednesdav.

After further evidence had been heard teforc Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M., to-day, Frank James Kerr, aged 41, carpenter, of Te Awamutu, pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempting to murder Gertrude Edith West, 19, by shooting her, on January 24 at Te Awamutu, and was committed to stand his trial jn the Supreme Court at Hamilton. Formal evidence was given by Conitable Naylor and medical evidence by pr. J- B. W. Robert on. Charles L. Woodman, taxi proprietor, Te Awamutu, said he had Vnown accused for three or four years. About 9-40 a.m. on January 24 he saw Kerr near the taxi stand in Arawata Street- Kerr asked witness to drive liim down the street, some distance, where he got out and spoke to Miss West. He could not remember if Kerr gaid anything when engaging him except that he was to overtake the girl on the street. Kerr spoke to "the girl, and then returned to the car. Witness did not hear the conversation, but he (saw the girl shake her head. While in the car, Kerr said something to the effect that "he had been too straight with the girl." Kerr seemed to be) sober. Witness saw Kerr a little later that morning, carrying a gun. "He Looked Demented." John Chadwick, dealer, Te Awamutu, said that about 9.50 a.m. on January 24 he saw Kerr in Arawata Street, walking alone toward the post office, and carrying a gun. Witness added that he had kept Kerr under observation because he did not think the man was a fit and proper person to be carrying a gun in the state he was in. He looked demented.

Charles Ward, step-father of Gertrude West, said that for about two years Kerr had shown an interest in the girl. Sometimes Kerr came to the house in the evenings, staying perhaps about a coupfe of hours. Witness did not encourage Kerr's attentions to the girl, and she never went out alone with him. The girl was not fond of Kerr, and never encouraged him, but she talked to him as a friend. Witness then described the shooting incident as detailed by his stepdaughter in evidence. ~ "Where She Goes, I Go." Edith A. Ward, wife of the previous witness, said she first noticed Kerr's attentions towards her daughter about nine montjts ago, when he gave the girl a box of chocolates. That evening Kerr frad had some drink, but he was not drunk; he was a bit muddled. A few weeks later he wanted to take the girl alone to the pictures,. but witness replied, '""Where she goes, I go." Some months afterwards he wanted to take the girl to the Auckland races for the weekend. Witness refused her consent again, very definitely. On the morning of the shooting witness and her daughter had been office cleaning, and were having their 'breakfast at about 10 o'elock, when Kerr put his head round the kitchen door, inquiring, "Would you like a rabbit?" The girl rose and went to tell her father. The shooting followed, and witness saw her husband struggling with Kerr for the possession of the gnu. While witness wa3 intending to her daughter, Kerr same and threw himself down beside the girl and stroked her hair. Witness said, "Go away, you swine! You've murdered my child!" Kerr did not reply —"he just sort of groaned." She had no further conversation with Kerr, and soon the doctor and the police arrived. Evidence was also given by William Bathurst and Constable Rlmmer, who stated that after the shooting. Kerr protested that "it was an accident."

Other evidence of a more or less formal nature was also heard.