MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27374, 12 June 1954, Page 2

MANSLAUGHTER CHARGE

EVIDENCE HEARD AT • HOSPITAL ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, June 11. Because of the illness of an important Crown witness it was necessary to hold a special sitting of the Magistrate’s Court in a small room off one of the wards at the Auckland Hospital today. The accused was Donald Lamon, aged 44, a salesman, who was charged with unlawfully killing Waikauri Maude Cribb, aged 20, a waitress, on May 5, thereby committing manslaughter. The accused pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

Grouped round the bed of a young woman were the Magistrate (Mr F. McCarthy, S.M.), Mr Graham Speight who prosecuted, Mr Lloyd Brown the defence counsel, two detective sergeants, a constable; a typist taking the depositions, a Court clerk, and twe reporters. The witness, whose name was suppressed, said she knew Cribb, who discussed her condition with the witness about a fortnight after Easter. After Cribb left Waitomo for Auckland on May 3, the witness put a toll call through to an Auckland number and asked for “Don.” The witness spoke to “Don” and told hirh her girl friend wanted to come to Auckland. He said it would be all right for her to come the next day about 2 p.m. Later, when Cribb telephoned her, she told Cribb of the appointment she had made.. The witness had previously told Cribb the name ana address. After that, the witness did not hear from Cribb again. £42 Found on Accused

‘When the hearing resumed in the Magistrate’s Court later, DetectiveSergeant T. J. Devonshire said he was present when Lamon was arrested. Lamon returned to his flat at 2.55 a.m. Senior-Detective J. B. Finlay spoke to him, and Lamon asked what was the matter. Senior-Detective Finlay replied that he had good reason to believe a girl had come to Lamon’s flat for an illegal operation, and that she had died as a result.

Lamon made no comment when Senior-Detective Finlay told him the police knew this girl had an appointment with him.

“He was then searched,” said De-tective-Sergeant Devonshire, “and £42 15s 2d was removed from his clothing. Senior-Detective Finlay told Lamon the girl had £4O with her when she left Waitomo, and asked whether this was some of the money. Lamon said £l3 of the money was social security he had received that day. “He was then told that another girl had telephoned him from Waitomo about sending a girl to him. Lamon then admitted he had had a ring from Waitomo and that a girl had said she was ‘sending someone up.’ “Senior-Detective Finlay said: *What for?’ Lamon said he supposed it was for an illegal operation, but not by him. He thought it might be to put her on to someone else. Lamon added that the girl never came.” Detective-Sergeant Devonshire said Lamon was then asked about the man who was the girl’s friend. Lamon admitted that the man had called to see him on May 6, and also spoke to the landlady. But he had told the man he could no nothing for him.