ACCUSED TO STAND TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 210, 2 June 1944, Page 6

ACCUSED TO STAND TRIAL

Reilly Assault Case END OF LOWER COURT HEARING Police evidence in the case in wliieh Walter Roy Webster, labourer, aged and Charles Finch, porter-barman, agt 24 were charged with having assaulted Terence Francis Reilly. Hansard i reporter, at 244 Oriental Parade, M elhngton, on April 26 last, concluded in the Magistrates’ Court. Wellington, yesterday. Webster and Finch were also jointly .•birred that, on April 2i. 1«’44. at Wellington, with intent to defraud by unlawful violence and restraint ofU enee Francis Reilly, they unlawfully compelled him to affix his name to a document agreeing to transfer to his vrtc, Dorothy May Reilly, his half-snare in a property at 244 Oriental Parade. Wellington, valued at £6OOO, in order that i might be afterward converted into or dealt with as valuable security. The charges were heard by Mr StouL SM. Detective-Sergeant J- mornpron conducted the prosecution: Mr. Kent appeared for Webster and r Stncev for Finch. . , , After the case for the prosecution had concluded, both accused pleaded not guilty, reserved their defence, and were coin milted to the Supreme Court for trial. When the hearing was resumed yestcrday morning. Leslie Angus. shippßH eierk residing at 244 Oriental Parade, said that about midnight on April -6 last he was awakened by a noise and went into q nassatreway. itc saw AV ebstar and Reilly on the floor, and Finch standing bv. Webster had a headlock on R ell ’> so witness pulled the men apart and ctnnd between them. He remained for about 30 minutes, protecting Reilly trom being knocked about. Webster and Reilly engaged in conversation, but, he could not hear what they were saying. He received an assurance from M ebster that there would be no further man* handling of Reilly, and went back to his own room- « Terr j| > j e rproar .»

Margaret Anderson, married woman, said she had a room at 244 Orienta Parade. About midnight on Api’l witness was awakened and heard KeiHx screaming out her name. She heaid a terrible crashing going on. and then there was a knocking at her door. As a result of what another tenant of the house told her She went upstairs after several minutes. Reilly was still screaming out that he was being “beaten up. a ’taiHv W j“? * terrible uproar, and she SHW Keiliy iyn»n full length on the floor, holding his head. Webster and Finch were standing oter hl Marv Georgina Alcorn, married woman, said Mrs. Reilly was a friend of hers. About 8.20 a.m. on April 27 last. Webster rang witness on behalf of Mrs. Reilly, asking her if she would come over to 244 Oriental Parade and sign a paper. Witness arrived at Mrs. Reilly’ s house about 9 a.m., and was met at the trout door by Webster, who asked her to come into the lounge. Webster and Reil. were in the lounge and witness was asked to witness the signature to two docuby Mr. Kent witness said Reilly appeared to sign the docu ments voluntarily; he was quiet and com-’’°CrosS-examined by Mr. Stacey, witness eaid she saw Reilly patting Mrs. Redly on the shoulder before he left the house. Reilly said he was sorry and that he would never meet another woman as good as she. Reilly caressed his wife before he left. While in the house she did not hear a single threat against. Reilly. Re-examined by Petective-bergeant Thompson, witness said that Reilly put, his arm round Mrs. Reilly s shoulder. Vincent Carr, taxi-driver, said that on April 27 last nt about 9 a.m. he received a message asking him to go to ental Parade. On arriving there " ebster gave him a letter, telling him to take it to Mr. West-Walker’s office and ask Mr. West-Walker to come to 244 Oriental Parade. West-Walker came back to Oriental Parade with witness. On arriving. West-Walker conversed with Webster in a lane for some minutes and they then both went into 244 Oriental Parade. West-Walker came out after about 10 minutes, and witness then drove him back to his office. Witness was told by '' ebster to get a telephone transfer foini and leave it at "West-Walker's office, ana he did so. Witness then went back to West-Walker's office and took WestWalker’s office girl to 244 Oriental Parade. The girl remained in the house for about 10 minutes, and then came out accompanied by West AV alker, who asked him if he had any objection to witnessing the signing of a document. Witness said he was willing to do so and witnessed the signing of a document by Reilly. ■Webster, Reillv and a woman were present in the room. The documents were handed to Reilly by Webster, and Reilly signed them. Reilly did not say anything when asked to sign the documents. Webster showed witness the statement on the documents by Reilly to the effect that Reilly was signing them of his own free will. Witness said this did not concern him. Witness went to West-Walker s office and collected the telephone transfer form and too kit back to 244 Oriental Parade, as he had been asked to do by Webster, who then asked him to stand by with his taxi in Grass Street till he received further orders. ‘ After about la minutes Webster came along and paid witness about 30/- for hire of the taxi, and gave him £1 extra. Witness dropped Webster at 244 Oriental Parade. Before leaving the car Webster told witness to forget anything he had Seen or heard that morning. 1 Screams for Help. Rosamund Mary Templar Hadfield, married woman, said that before April 27 last she had a room at 244 Oriental Parade. About midnight on April 26 she occupied a room next door to that -oi Reilly. She was awakened by a loud bang on the wall, and Reilly asked her to go downstairs and tell Mrs. Anderson that he waited to speak to her. On her way downstairs she met Mrs. Reilly. She heard, several screams from Reilly, who called out to two men in the house to come and help him. Mr. and Mrs. Angus, Mrs. Anderson and witness ran upstairs, where they found Reilly in the passageway. lying full length and holding his head. Webster and Finch were on top of him. She heard Webster threatening Reilly. Webster said, “We are going to break every bone in your body, Reilly.” He also called Reilly a rat. Webster invited Reilly to hit him and when he would not do so told him he had no guts, judging by the movements, they took Reilly into a room and things quietened down. Witness went to a telephone slot and rang the Central police station. She returned to the house through a friend’s window. When the police arrived they talked to Mrs. Reilly, after which they went away. Witness went out and intercepted the three policemen and all returned to the house. Mr. Angus opened the door, and the police again saw Mrs. Reilly, and again left. This would be about 12.30 a.m. When witness was having a cup of tea with Mrs. Reilly in the kitchen. Webster came in. He said he was taking charge of the situation in Mrs. Reilly’s name and gave witness a. month’s notice to leave the bouse. Witness suggested to M’cbster that there was probably a better method of dealing with Reilly thah beating him up in the middle of the night. Witness went back to her room, collected her effects and left the house about 1 a.m. Webster and Mrs. Reilly came out of the sitting-room and Webster asked her where she was going.. She replied that she preferred the wide open spaces to remaining in tiie house. Annie Leith, married woman, said accused Webster was her son-in-law. Webster had lived with her for some time. On April 7 last Webster brought Dorothy May Reilly to her house, and Mrs. Reilly stayed at her home till April 17. "Witness saw accused Finch at her house, where he was acting as bodyguard to Mrs. Reilly. Two other men acted as bodyguard to Mrs. Reilly. Mr. Kent objected that this evidence had no relevance to the charges against the two accused. Continuing, witness said that on April 29. after Webster had been arrested, and was out on bail, he came home some time in the morning and witness heard a conversation between Webster and her daughter. Witness heard her daughter ask Webster when Hie case was coming on, and Webster asked. “What case?’’ .Her daughter replied. “The case whore you boat up two policemen.” Webster replied. “It was not two policemen : it was Reilly I beat up. T wont through that door like a packet of salts. When Reilly

saw me he squealed for the police. It took me a long time, but I made him-sign documents giving away £4OOO and other properties worth £12,000.” W’ebster said he had been well paid for it by Mrs. Reilly, and showed' her daughter a bundle of notes. Bodyguard for Madame Dawne. William Leslie Holloway, waterside worker, said he knew both accused. Ho met Finch at 77 Kent Terrace, where he was on a job with witness. Webster employed them to see that nobody cot to a woman’s room. He knew the woman as Madame Dawne. Witness was paid £1 -a night by Wcbtser for this work. In all. Webster paid him £12., Mr. Kent objected to this evidence, but the magistrate ruled it was admissible. John Archer Cadwallader. supervisor in the employ of the Ministry of Supplies, said that ou April 20 last, as he was walking along Willis Street with Reilly, Webster came up and threatened Reilly. Webster bad his hands clenched and was leaning forward in an aggressive manner. "Webster said. “I told you to keep away from "Willis Street, and if yon don’t I will get two bashers to beat you up.” Webster also threatened witness, who interfered when "Webster appeared to be going to strike Reilly. Detective G. C. Urquhart said that on the night of April 28 last Jie and Detective Hogan called upon Webster at 244 Oriental Parade, nnd informed him that they had a warrant for his arrest for assaulting Terence Francis Reilly. The warrant charged him with common assault. On May 1 Detective Hogan and witness interviewed Finch and told him that they had received a complaint that on the night of April 26-27 Webster and another man. who was held to he Finch, had assaulted Reilly at his home and compelled him to sign documents. Finch said he had gone to 244 Oriental Parade on the night of April 26 in company with Webster, in case things got a bit tough. He denied assaulting Reilly, who he said had bumped into him in a passageway. Finch said Webster had broken down the door of Reilly’s room. When arrested Finch had nothing to say. On April 28 witness inspected a room at 244 Oriental Parade and found a door had been broken. Tbis closed the case for the prosecution. After accused had been committed for trial, Mr. Kent applied for bail for Webster. stating that he h.'.d been admitted to bail before the case was hoard. It would facilitate the defence if counsel could have free access to accused. Mr. Stacey also applied for bail for Finch.

The magistrate said he would admit Finch to bail on the same terms as previously a personal bond of £lOO and one surety of a like amount, as he considered Finch was simnly a tool anil abettor of Webster, and had probablv been taken along to protect" Webster if there was a fight witli Reilly. “With regard to IV fibster.” said Mr. Stoiit. "I consider him a dangerous man and Reilly probably would not be. safe'if he were allowed, to be at large. Bail for Webster is refused.”