MURDER CHARGE!

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 166, 16 July 1931, Page 8

MURDER CHARGE!

NEWTON TRAGEDY STABBING OF WOMAN. EVIDENCE AGAINST RAMEKA, DAUGHTER IN WITNESS-BOX. BOTH FRIENDLY WITH ACCUSED. Faced with a charge of the murder of Mrs. Gwendoline Alice Johnson, aged 39, at her home in Randolph Street, Newton, on the morning of June 24, Pahara Rameka Kere, alias George Rameka, appeared in the dock of the Police Court this morning. He was also charged with the attempted murder of Queenie Rose Lawrence, single, aged 17. The inquest was taken simultaneously. Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., was on the Bench. Detective Sergeant Kelly prosecuted the case for the police, this being the first time for many years that a prosecution in a murder charge has been taken by a police officer instead of the Crown Solicitor. Mr. W. Noble represented Rameka.

Long before Rameka had arrived at the Gourt a curious crowd had gathered waiting to catch a glimpse of him. When the case started the Court was crowded.

When Rameka had been charged, Mr. Hunt asked how long the case would last, and Detective Sergeant Kelly said it would take two days. At the suggestion of the magistrate, Rameka was given a chair in the dock. Throughout the morning Rameka, who was dressed in a blue serge coat and grey trousers, -sat with his head bowed and resting in cupped hands. He was composed, but seldom looked up.

By mid-day the chief witness for the Crown, Queenie Rose Lawrence, who was in the room when Mrs. Johnson was stabbed, had completed her evidence. She broke down when the clerk of the Court was reading her evidence to her.

The first witness called was Qucenie Rose Lawrence, aged 17, whose_ right arm rested in a sling. She said she lived at 85, Hepburn Street, Freeman's Bay, and the late Mrs. Johnson was her mother.- They had 'been residing in Auckland for four years, the last year being spent at Randolph Street. Witness' brother, aged 18, also lived there. On June 2, 1930, her mother was married to John Michael Johnson, printer on R.M.s. Niagara. "Miss Driscoll." Her. .mother, before her marriage, worked in two factories under the name of Miss Driscoll. She.went under that name as she found it easier to obtain employment. Witness. always spoke of her mother in company as "Gwen, my sister." Mr. Kelly: Why did you do this? — Because it was my mother's wish. Her mother never went to work after she was married to Johnson. On April 11 last witness and her mother were at a dance- at the Orange Hall, Newton. While there they met accused for the first "time.- Witness danced with him. While dancing they had a conversation about -racing.- - Witness told _ him she attended races with her sister (her mother); • After the dance witness sat down with him, and told .him her mother's name. Her mother also danced with Rameka. • After the dance witness and her mother walked home in company with Rameka, and on arrival at their home her mother remained outside with him for about five minutes.

What did Rameka describe himself to be?-—He told us he was a stock agent, and that he came from Tauranga. He said that he had two children, but that he was not married.

When did you next see accused? — About the middle of the week. He came to the house early in the evening. Witness said she went to the door, and accused asked to see "Miss Driscoll," her mother. He was admitted, and went into the front room. The evening was spent with music. Rameka brought a suitcase of apples with him. He left about 10 p.m. The following Sunday, witness said, she went to a house where accused was boarding in Anzac Avenue about 7 p.m., and left about 10 p.m. Her mother was with her. Accused accompanied witness home. Visited Mother When 111. A week later witness and her mother spent an evening in Grafton Road. Rameka accompanied her both there and back. Two days later her mother was ill, and was attended by Dr. Bull. Rameka called to see her mother, and went up into her bedroom. This room witness shared with her mother and slept with her during the absence of witness' stepfather. Was anyone else in the bedroom at the time accused visited your mother? — Yes, me. How long was your mother in bed? — Just over six weeks.

During her mother's illness witness said Rameka visited her nearly every night about 7 o'clock. He usually lett about 11 pjn. Sometimes Rameka brought her mother fruit. Was your brother ever in the bedroom when accused visited your mother? — Yes. Sometimes they played cards. Were you absent when your mother was hi bed? —Yes, sometimes for aboui half an hour.

Witness said she visited accused at Brighton Road on several occasions, usually arriving about 7 p.m. and leaving about 10.30. She usually went both there and back home in a taxi with accused. " Not at Home." Witness gave lengthy evidence of going to ,the races at Ellerslie and Alexandra Park meeting with Mrs. Keesing, her mother and Rameka. After the second day at the races, Mrs. Keesing, witness, her mother and Rameka went home in a taxi. Rameka left the car at Newmarket and paid for the taxi. That nidit Rameka called at the house about 6 "o'clock. As a result of what her mother told her, witness sent her brother downstairs to tell accused that her mother was not at home. Rameka left with witness' brother, but returned an hour later. No one answered the door and Rameka waited about 10 minutes. After accused left, Mrs. Keesing came home and took a note to her mothers room. r , ~ , • j Detective Sergeant Kelly explained that this note could not be found. Witness said she read the note which was approximately as follows: —"Dear Gwen, if you want to get rid of me this way, I would rather die than lose you." There was some reference in the note to a party at Otahuhu the following night, and the note suggested that witness and her mother should go. The note also said that Ramcka's father was coming up from Tauranga the following night and that accused had something to

tell Mrs. Johnson. The note was signed either "Hori" or "George." Witness' mother had taken possession of the note. Produced Bottle of Poison. "On the following night accused called again," said witness, "and my mother opened the door. Accused asked my mother if she was coining to the party and my mother said 'No.' My mother told accused that he had better go, but accused said he would not go. Accused tried to come inside and my mother went to shut the door. Accused put his foot in the door and that stopped my mother from closing it. My mother then called out to Mrs. Keesing's father, but he could not hear, because he is very deaf. By this time accused had got inside. He said to Mrs. Johnson, .'l'm going to do it here, Gwen,' and with that -he drew, a bottle of poison out of his pocket. He pulled the wrapper off the bottle and put the bottle up to his mouth. "At this time Mrs. Keesing came out of the kitchen and pushed accused outside," continued witness. "She said to him, 'You're not going to do it here — do it outside.' A little later mother, Mrs. Keesing and I went to a dance in the Druids' Hall and stayed till about midnight." That night, said witness, she slept with her mother, who slept nearest the door. The door was closed but not locked. About 8 o'clock next morning they awoke to find that Mrs. Keesing had brought up their breakfast. She gave the tray to witness and then left the room. During breakfast witness' mother asked her how she slept. After that witness said she went to sleep. "Awakened by Scream." "I was awakened by a sort of a scream," said Miss Lawrence. "The scream came from my mother. I was facing the wall and when I woke I turned round and saw the accused. He was standing over the head of the bed, over my mother. He was standing with a knife in his right hand. He had his arm raised. My mother was in a crouching position and appeared alarmed." ■ Mr. Kelly: What was the next incident? —He struck her with the knife in the right breast. Was there any conversation before accused struck, your mother?— Yes, accused said, "You'll pay for this, Gwen, and I eaid, "No, she won't." Did you sec him remove the knife from her chest? —Yes. What, was your position when accused first struck your mother?—l was in the bed, lying down. After he struck her what did you do?—I sat up.

Wliat was the next you saw ?—He struck her with the knife several times,

What next?—He took a bottle of poison out of his pocket and threw the poison on my face; then he drank some himself. , What was your mother's position at this time? —She was sitting up in bed.

Did she say anything to you?— Yes, she said, "Catch him, Queenie, he will hang." Did you get out of bed?— Yes, but I caught my feet in the bedclothes. "He Brought Knife Down." What was accused doing? —He was standing in front of me, with the knife in his hand. What was the next incident? —He had the knife raised above his head. Accused said that he would love to 6plit my skull open. I said, "You won't get a £11106." What next? —He brought' the knife down and I stepped back. Then he caught my wrist. At this time my mother was trying to get out of bed. What did accused do after he had struck you with the knife? —He rushed to the bedroom door. By this time my mother was standing up on the floor and said, "It's all right —I'm dead." Then she fell to the floor.

"I heard someone banging on the door," continued witness. "It was Mrs. Keesing. Accused then opened the door and rushed out. He gave Mrs. Keesing a push." "After accused went out of the door, he went along the passage and down the stairs," said witness. "Shortly after I went downstairs, and when I got down the poison on my face and in my eyes started to burn. I went to Mrs. Keesing's room. The wound in my arm was open. Shortly after that neighbours and police arrived." Witness said she had known accused for about two months before the tragedy, and during that time'he had been constantly in the company of witness and her mother. Knife Not in House. Mr. Kelly: Can you say what kind of a knife was used? —No. What was accused wearing when he came into the room that morning?—A raincoat and a grey felt hat. Had you a knife in the house similar to the one produced? —No. When accused attacked you, did you have anything to defend yourself with? —No. 1 What was your mother wearing at the time?—A white silk nightdress.

Witness Cross-examined. Mr. Noble: When your mother was ill for six weeks, Rameka was with your mother from 7 till 11 p.m. You were not there? —I was most of the time. Did Rameka give your mother £25? —No. Did you ever see him give her any money I—-No. You don't know what your mother said to Rameka, or what he said to her? You were asleep when he entered the room ?—Yes, I woke up when I heard a scream. Miss Lawrence entered the witness box at 10.40 and concluded her evidence at 12.10 p.m. Before the clerk had completed reading her evidence to her, Miss Lawrence broke down and was led from the court. "Do It Outside." Lucy Mary Keesing, married and residing at 47, Randolph Street, said deceased and her daughter had boarded with witness for a little over 12 months. Thev occupied a bed sitting room upstairs. Witness knew Rameka. He I started to visit deceased about two I months prior to the tragedy. Deceased

had been married from witness' house. She preferred to be known by the name of "Miss Driscoll," so that she could keep her work. On one occasion deceased asked witness to tell nobody that she was married. "The night before the tragedy, said Mrs. Keesing, "the bell rang. I said,_ It will be George; you can go and see him. Mrs. Johnson went to the door, and afterwards sang out, 'He is going to poison himself.' I pushed her aside and went straight up to liim. He said, Ita going to do it right here now.' I said to him, 'I want no trouble here; do it outside!' I then'pushed him outside. "I did not 6ee accused again on pulling him out of the door oil the night before the tragedy," said Mrs. Lucy Mary Keesing, continuing her evidence. _ She went out for ten minutes to see if she could see accused outside. She thought he might, have • taken the poison. Mrs. Johnson, her daughter, witness' son and •herself left at 7.30 to go to a dance. They remained there till 11 p.m. and then returned home. On the following morning, June 24, she took a cup of tea up to deceased about' 7 a.m. She was ! awake, but her daughter was asleep. About an hour later witness took breakfast up to deceased, who was still in bed with her daughter. "The front door of my dwelling was open frOm eight o'clock," continued Mrs. Keesing. "About 8.30 I heard some footsteps, .hut- thought it was my son taking the paper upstairs. A little later I was disturbed by a screech from upstairs. I went to the kitchen, got a flat-iron and rushed upstairs. I screeched, 'Murder!' as I went. Queenie was still screeching, . but the other noise had died down. I went to turn the handle of the door, but it Avould not open, and I kept hammering on it with the iron to break the panel. "I Struck Him." "The panel was going and the door opened, and accused met me at the door with a knife in his hand. I lifted tin iron and struck him. The knife fell out of his hand. He made a grab at me and I rushed out to the baicony, screeching. Accused rushed past and I sent the iron flying after hiin. There was blood on accused's hand." v Queenie, said witness, ran from the room bleeding at the arm, and went to Mrs. Keesing's bedroom. Witness felt Mrs. Johnson's heart and found she was dead., (Proceeding.)