"NICE PRESENT."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 139, 15 June 1938, Page 8

"NICE PRESENT."

ACCUSED'S REMARK BROKEN ENGAGEMENT MURDER ALLEGATION. THE HENLEY TRAGEDY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) DUNEDLV, tbis day. The hearing of the charge against Eric Sandagger Parks, aged 26, of murdering Mrs. Frances Amelia Lee at Henley on April 14 was resumed in the Police Court this morning. j The mother of Mrs. Lee, Sarah Eriekson, stated that her daughter was 48 years old. Accused had visited her home with Miss Lee. She had last seen the accused on the evening of April 14, when he made inquiries regarding an order book lie had left at a cafeteria. Witness did not hear the accused say anything about going to Henley. There was nothing unusual about his actions or appearance. Thora Selinda Erickson, cafeteria assistant, daughter of the previous witness, stated that she had known the accused for a year, first meeting him at the Henley farm. She could not say what terms existed between the accused and the deceased. Accused delivered soft drinks to the cafeteria on April 14. He appeared q-iite normal and she saw him at her n other's home the same evening. At this stage the witness broke down, and the hearing of evidence was suspended. "I Can't Do Without Her." Jessie Morris stated that the accused had boarded with her for six months. She had met his fiancee, Frances Lee, who had also boarded with her for three week*;. The accused had told her that hLs engagement was broken. He was very upset, saying: "I can't {lo without her.'' He then went out, returning cheerful, with the remark that the matter had been settled. On accused's birthday, April 13, he told witness he had had a letter again breaking the engagement—a nice birthday present. Accused didn't appear so upset as l>efore. He had been unwell for a month and was depressed on the Wednesday, but there was not anything unusual in his appearance. On the evening of April 14 the accused was quite normal when he came home. He changed his clothes and went out, later returning. He then said he couldn't get a liifed car, hut had obtained a light truck and was going away. He had previously told her that he intended going to visit his mother at Port Molyneux. He seemed in a hurry, and a little excited. Witness did not hear him return, but when she came out of the bedroom in the morning she smelt gas. but thought it was just an escape from the gas ring. She went to bed again for a couple of hours, after which her daughter said something about gas. She went upstairs, knocking on the accused's bedroom door without response. Later she broke open the door and opened the window. The room was filled with gas, with two burners turned on. The accused was "far through." "A Very Decent Chap." Cross-examined by accused's counsel, Mr. White, witness said: "I've nothing to say against the accused. He was always a very decent chap." William Robert O'Fee. company ' manager, stated that he had known the accused for 10 years. On April 14 the accused asked for the use of a car for the night to go to his home at Port Molyneux. There was none available, and the accused agreed to take a truck. The speedometer then showed 155 miles. The accused mentioned that he would want the truck till 11 o'clock the next morning. There was nothing unusual in his actions or speech. When the truck returned the speedometer showed 202 miles for a 47-mile run. There was fine loose clay on the seat next to the driver's seat, but no sign of blood. To Mr. White: Accused chose a truck with a cab. saving that it would be warm for his girl during the drive to Port Molyneux. 11l for Nine Weeka. Walter Hemsley, cordial manufacturer, ' a brother-in-law of the accused, said he had noticed nothing peculiar about the accused's demeanour during the last two or three weeks. He had been working. To Mr. White witness said he had several times visited the accused when the latter was in hospital subsequent to April 14. The accused had been seriously ill for nine weeks.