MURDER CHARGE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23847, 16 January 1943, Page 4

MURDER CHARGE

EVENTS DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES

ACCUSED REMANDED TILL FEBRUARY 17

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. Jan, 15. Events leading to the party to which they had been invited at 17 Terrace Gardens and which ended with the shooting episode in which two American marines were killed and a girl seriously wounded early on January 7, were described by three seamen in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. It was the first evidence heard in the case, in which John Sidney Crawford, South African seaman, aged 26, was charged with murdering Sydney S. Sparrow and Elmer William Geti, and with attempting to murder Hazel Josephine Salmon and Constable Thomas William lies. ~ Four witnesses were called. With the case for the police partly heard, proceedings were adjourned and the accused remanded till February 17. Mr W. H. Cunningham. Crown Prosecutor, who conducted the case for the police, said that even then they might have to wait till the wounded girl was fit to give evidence. Mr W. J. Stacey, for the accused, said that he would object to the admissibility of evidence heard to-day. . Thom Oswald Philip Walker, cook on an overseas ship, said that he first met the accused on New Year’s Eve, being introduced to him. On January 6 witness said that Donald Hughes and James Gilbert met Crawford with the intention, as the accused said, of going to a party. Crawford knocked at the door of the house, and it was opened by ’’Bunty,” whom he had never seen before. She led the four of them upstairs to the landlady’s flat. She used obscene language to Crawford and went downstairs, Crawlord had said nothing and made no reply till she had gone, when ho told the landlady, witness. Hughes, and Gilbert, that he had kept her apartment going while she was in hospital. Ihe day before he had given her £5, and he had helped her all he could. They had remained in the landlady’s room till just after 12.30 a.m. Hughes, the witness, and Crawford then left and waited on the landing for Gilbert, who, with Hughes, wont down the stairs, witness and Crawford bringing up the rear. Hughes walked outside, leaving the witness and the other two at the bottom of the stairs. Three Shots Fired

As they got there an American marine was knocking at "Bunty's” door. Witness stood about a foot behind him, towards the front door. Crawford was on the left of the witness against the dividing wall. Crawford said that he was going to say good-bye to “Bunty,” to whom the marine was calling out. The next witness knew was that Crawford had a .45 in his hand. “Bunty" opened the door; and Crawford shot the marine and ‘'Bunty," and a third shot was fired through the keyhole. Witness could see "Bunty’s" head and left shoulder through the door. The marine stumbled in through the door when he was shot. The door was open when witness saw the shot fired at "Bunty." Between that and the shot through the keyhole, the door was slammed. After the third shot Crawford passed witness, and coming out of the hall broke a window on his left with the butt of the gun. Witness followed behind Gilbert and Hughes. After the window was broken, witness and his two companions got out of the house and down the steps “at the double.”

Crawford, before he fired the shots, had taken the revolver from his righthand overcoat pocket. Witness had not seen him with a revolver at any time earlier in the evening. The marine knocking on the door was in full “rig.” Before the shot was fired at the marine witness did not see or hoar anything happen between Crawford and the marine, who as far as witness knew did not know the revolver was pointed at him. Crawford did not really point it. but pulled it straight out of his pocket and fired. With Hughes and Gilbert, witness made his way as quickly as possible back to his ship. Crawford was not drunk.

Evidence of Drinking

Cross-examined, witness told of drinking by the men during the day and at night. James Arthcr Gilbert, officer’s steward, shipmate of the previous witness, said that he met Crawford on a previous trip to Now Zealand. When the time came to go homo, witness was fairly sober, but had “had a few.” Crawford seemed to be pretty sober. Walker and Hughes went down the stairs, the first witness following behind. He half slipped as he went down, and as he came to the bottom he saw Crawford standing with his back against (ho wall and somebody knocking at the door of “Bunty's" room.

It was dark Witness could not see Hughes or Walker till he got outside. Ho went back into the front hall and asked Crawford if he was coming with them. The accused made no reply and witness saw' the door half-ajar. Shots w'ere then fired by Crawford into the room. Witness did not see anybody there when the accused fired. Witness dived out, as he thought Crawford was going to kill him. Ho saw the flash of the revolver. About the third shot, witness ran out of the hall and started running dowm hill. He then heard a crash of glass. At no time earlier had he scon the accused with a revolver or heard him mention having one. Cross-examined, witness said that “Bunty” was his girl friend for a time. He thought the accused knew' that witness had finished with her last trip, but he knew that this time she w'as going about with Crawford. The final witness for the day, Donald John Hughes, assistant-baker on an overseas ship, said that he saw’ a marine in the hall. He heard talking, but could not say what it w'as He then heard three shots and left the house.