Murder Charge Failed

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 8 (Supplement)

Murder Charge Failed

HOME again after his five-day ordeal at the Old Bailey, where he -was acquitted of the murder of nine-year-old Pamela Coventry, Leonard Richardson, 28-year-old chemical worker, of Hornchurch, Essex, recently resumed the happy life he led until his arrest last January. Hack among friends and neighbours who regard him as a "jolly good sort," lie planned a short holiday before returning to hie old job in Dagenham, which linn been kept open for him. Mrs. Richardson, Iμ , r great fight to prove her husband's innocence at an end, will help him to forget his ordeal. She, was lying in hospital when he was arrested, and her condition became grave when she heard the news. She fought her way back to health and set about helping the man she described in the Old Bailey witnesa-box as a "jolly good husband" and a perfect father. She was among the first to congratulate him when the jury brought his trial to a sudden clone. "I know they must realise you never did that terrible thing," she declared. Shortly before, Richardson hnd figured in a flcono probably without precedent in the court. The jury of nine men and three women who brought in a formal "Sot guilty" verdict, after intimating that they wished to stop the case, shook hands with Kichardson and wished him luck an they filed out of the building.

1 "Let me congratulate you," said the , foreuiiin. f Little Pameja Coventry's father and step-mother, both dressed in black, sat . in court alrnoHt throughout the trial. ' They were near the entrance to the dock, and Richardson, on being disj charged, stood next to them. But no > word passed between them. Outside the court friends hastened to shake Richardson'* hand. Some of thorn embraced him as Mrs. Richardson etood '. smiling happily. , Then, in a room nearby, Richardson f asked for a cigarette, Snd his wife joined I him in a smoke. She declared that all , along she had had faith in her husband, f and hud never been in doubt about the. , result. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Richardson \ went by cur to their home in Coronation i Drive, Hornchurch, for a reunion with f their two children, a boy of four and I a girl born on January 9. "It hae been a terrible time," declared ' Richardson in an interview, "and I thank God it is all over and I can go home. "Day after day during the two months I have been in custody I have thought of this day. I knew I was. innocent, and that no jury could possibly find mo guilty of a crime I did not commit. That ie why I never seemed to be unduly worried. "My wife was a brick throughout the trial, and before it started she worked day and night on my behalf.

On Clue Of "Roll-Your-Own" Cigarettes

"Tt is an extraordinary thing that the fact I make my own cigarette* should have landed me" in the Old Bailey dock. My wife knew that the half smoked, hand-rolliid cigarette found on Pamela Coventry's body was not mine. It was her idea to prove that thousands of men make, their own cigarettes with the same tobacco and the name cigarette papers as I do —and to prove that many men make their cigarettes in exactly Urn (same way. "She talked over her plan with neighbours, from whom she obtained stub ends of their own hand-rnnde cigarettes. These, (ifl exhibits, formed an important part of the- evidence for the defence, backed l>y the evidence of hand-mode cigarette smokers, who were prepared to testify. "Xo man could have had better friends, neighbours and employers. The men who worked with me, too, have rallied around—l have never realised what a fine lot of chaps they were. "My employers have been splendid, and have pnid my wages to my wife all the time I have been away. "Xow I am ready to take up my life ngain. First I shall have a short holiday, then it will be back to work. My wife and I are going to try to forget that all this ever "happened to us." Before he left the Old Bailey unnoticed, with his wife, Mr. Coventry spoke to a Press representative about hie daughter. "Pamela was a sweet child, pretty and loving," he said. "I would give my life to find out who killed her."

It was on January 19 that Pamela Coventry's body was found in a ditch near her home in Hornchurch. Submitting the prosecution's case at Richardson's trial, Mr. L. A. Byrne stated that Pamela, left homo iiffer dinner on January IS for school. Her stepmother «aw her approaching Coronation Drive, and t hoy waved to each other. At. 1.1."i p.m. ;l milkniiin saw Richards<. n ryeliiijr touiinl.s Dagenham. He turned round and went towards Coronalion Drive. A 1.45 a neighbour saw hnn Tim along the toad in the direction of the railway station. Next morning at 5.20 a milkman i oticed lights in Richardson's house— an unusual thing. In the prosecution's submission, declared Sir. Byrne, Richardson had an opportunity to commit the murder in his house between 1.15 and 1.45 and an opportunity to put the body in the ditch during the night. When found on January 19, the body was unclothed except for a petticoat tied round the neck with string. Materials used to truss it consisted of black electrical cable, to which were attached three pieces of tarred etring, preen electrical cable, thick string and insulating tape. Counsel remarked that a comparison had been made between cigarette-ends found on Richardeon and one found on the child's body. All were hand-rolled and made of Empire tobacco.

Pieco=; of tarred string found in Richardson's garden were stated by Dr. Roche. Lynch, to bo the same kind ae that found on the child's body. Among the witnesses were two experts whose evidence was criticised by Mr. Justice Huwke. "These e.\|K-rt« lieve -said things •which it is for the jury In decide," he declared. "It is objectionable." The malinger of a tobacco eornpaiiN s chemical laboratories asserted that the tobacco and paper of all the cijraretteends found in Richardson's possession and tin- end found on the girl'e body were similar. Replying to Mr. Rodger Winn, defence counsel, thin witness agreed that half the handmade cigarette papers made in Britain were of the eame niako as in the stubs produced. "And the makers sell 1,000,000 packets of paper every week. Each package has (i 0 papers, so there arc 00,000.000 papers," observed Mr. Winn. With the conclusion of the prosecution's case, Mr. Winn submitted tliat there was no case to go to the. jury. Mr. Justice Hewke, remarking that n "great change" had taken place, commented that he. thought he must let the case go to the jury. He supposed there was still enough to call upon Richardson for an answer, and that was ali lie would Buy. The jury could stop the case at any time. Richardson then entered the witnessbox and declared at once that lie did not kill Pamela Coventry, and did not know her. Richardson was questioned about a statement he made to the police concerning his movements before, on, and after January IS.

TTo related that he rose at 9 a.m. or O.:iO and spent practically all the morning redecorating his kitchen. He left home about 1.40 p.m. and went to his work at Dagenham 'by train, "clocking in" juut before two o'clock. He did not feel well, and, obtaining leave of absence, returned home. He went to bed and stayed there until 4.45 p.m. Richardson was crose-examined for an hour and a half. He stated that while his wife was in hospital it was arranged that the milkman should knock him up in the early morning. Mr. Byrne: You have heard his evidence that he saw a light in your kitchenette at 0.20 a.m. on January 19. Yon eay lie has made a mistake? Richardson: I think he has. I may have left the light on. Asked if ho saw any schoolchildren on his way to the railway station on January IS, ho replied: "I really can't say." He had seen children going past his house on their way to school. He did not run to the railway station that day. Further questioned, he said he grew runner bonus, and last season trained tho beans up tarred string. For supports for tho string he generally used cable, wire. Handed tho cable found on the girl's body, he declared that he had never seen any of it. At Mr. Byrne's request, he put on hit* raincoat, and held uij his right hand, and indicated some blood spots on the wain. He declared he injured his knuckles while at work. At Mr. Winn's suggestion, Richard- ' son dcinoii-t rated how he rolled a cigarette, and the judge left his seat 'and examined it. Then Mrs. Richardson, the wife, entered the witnees box, and following an adjournment came the sudden ending of the trial. >