FURTHER DETAILS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10869, 19 January 1901, Page 10

FURTHER DETAILS.

The "Post" gives the following further account of the proceedings: — John Marsh, keeper of the Colchester Town Hall, gave it as his opinion that accusod was Blatch.

To Mr Skerrett (for accused)—ln the police station he said he thought accused was a bigger man than Blatch. H2 was much stouter. He expected to be able to recognise Blatch -without difficulty. He hud altered a good deal, and his voice was much rougher and louder. Jiliitch had rather a weak voice and a quiet way of speaking. What caused ycu to alter your opinion? His ftatures. especially the forehead, and his smile and laugh. His walk is different. I said at, first I thought he was much larger and taller than Blatch. His Worship—lf this man is Blatch, don't you think lie must be an extraordinary actor? Witness , —Yes. , Mr Skerrett-—Do you tliink Blatch was capable of that?—l can't say. His Worship—Did you ever know him use the paint-pot?— No. You tliink he is Blatch?—l have a suspicion he is. His Worship —Is that all it amounts to? —I might be able to say if he had his beard 5 off. * -~ t ; Mr Skerrett—He consents to that. He; does not shirk it. . ■ ■ ■ > Witness, further examined, said the photo • produced by Mr Skerrett was not one of Blatch. He could not say whether it was one of accused. Accused—Did Blatch take an interest in : politics?— No. „,.,■ ! Was he an agitator, and did he take an interest in labour matters?— No. Accused—Well, I do.Witness and accused then entered into a conversation near the witness-box, accused doing most of the talking, but the words were only partially audible. He then, : n answer to Mr Skerrett. said he was still in the same state of suspicion as to accused being Blatch. Blatch was a great smoker; he smoked a pipe. . .... Mr Skerrett—Tliis man does not smoke a pipe, and smokes very little. Accused—Now and again a cigar. Witness said Blatch had a place worn in his teeth from holding a pipe. He did not notice the same peculiarity in acoused. ~.<-. ACCUSED TELLS HIS STORY. The accused was then called as a-.witness by Mr Skerrett, and, made an affirmation. His name, he said, was Charles Lillywhite, and he believed he was born in London on 15th April, in 1859 or 1860. His father was a painter by trade, and lie had a brother in Leeds, and other relatives in various parts of England. He put in a letter from his niece, Esther Lillywhite, dated from London in 1897, giving several family details. To Mr Bell—He had sent money by Post OHice order to his niece. During the luncheon adjournment Lillywhite was photographed, and then had his Whiskers shaved off, after which he was again photographed. When the Court resumed, Accused again entered the witness-box. Examined by Mr Skerrett, he gave further details as to his relations in England. He worked for his father in Holloway, London N., until he was seventeen and a "half years old, and then went to Rotheiham, Yorkshire, and worked as a painter for his brother-in-law. Then he went to Sheffield, and worked for a Mr Bennett. He also worked in various places in the North of England, and returned to his father in London when he was about 20 years of age. He left London when lie was about 26 years of age, and went to America in 1885! The photograph produced was taken when he was about 23 years of age. He frr-l never been to Colchester. The witness gave full details of his journey to America, and said he landed at New Orleans, took a trip through Texas, and other places, including Chicago, where he had three families of relatives. He staved for about a month there with his aunt, Caroline Cook, and was altogether there for about two veurs.

Mr Skerrett put in several letters addressed to accused as Charles Lillywhite wliile in America, and also from America and England while in Wellington. Accused said lie carried on business in Tacom.i m a painter, and he produced some bills in his handwriting. They were, he said, copies of bills sent to customers and never collected. He also produced some receipted bills. Accused also produced several other memes and documents bearing on his life -while at Tacoma.