THE COLCHESTER MYSTERY.

Evening Post, Volume LX, Issue 116, 13 November 1900, Page 5

THE COLCHESTER MYSTERY.

LILLY WHITE OR BLATCH? ■ MORE EVIDENCE AS TO IDENTI- * FICATION. The Colchester mystery again came before Mr. Haselden, S.M., this moirning, when Arthur Blatch, alias Lillywhitc, was charged with having murdered Alfred Welch at Colchester on Bth December, 1893. Mr. -Skerrett appeared! for the accused, and ask,ed that* he should be given an opportunity of cross-examining c^e witnesses who had already given evidence. The documents found on accused, he said, Mere inexplicable, umes^ on tho assumption that lie had got po, session of papers belonging to Charie.Lillywhite. The papers included certificates of naturalisation d.-ited during v, period of years which was absolutely ny consistent with the posse.-.sor of tho,.e papers being Biatch. He would ask for. a iurther remand until Friday. On the application of Inspector Tender it was decided to take the evidence of two witnesses before a remand wa.s granted. Henry David Hopkins, contractor, of Levin, stated that in September, 189s>, he was a patient in the "Wellington Hospital, and accusedi was there at the same time. They were, in the same ward, ami became friendly. ' Several times they wero chatting about Home. Accused said he came" from London, and was there at the time of the Tooley-street fire, about 3rd or 4th December, 1893. Witness was there, too, and left on 7th December, 1893. Accused said he left England about 15th January, 1894.- Accused also said he was caretaker at some gardens ; he did not say in London, but at some place that witness did not know. Thought 'he spoke of them as recreation grounds. Accused asked him one day where he lived, and witness told him' at Levin. Accused said he migh* go up there, aitd made some remark about a Wbman he was irquiring for. He mentioned a woman who was living with a Chinaman, and witness toldi him such a woman was living at Levin. Mr. Sker>rett said he was not prepared to cross-examinie at' present. Esther Helen Bailey, wife of Robert Bailey formerly of Otaki, said shejenew the accused. She knew a woman named Wong You, whom she also knew as Margaret Belcher. The name Margaret Archer was on her luggage when she left on Bth May last. Had seen the accused and the woman together First saw ni-m about four years ago, wlien he came from Masterton to see Mrs. Wong You. The woman told witness he came from Masterttm. He remained only' one day. They stayed at the woman's place al' day. Witness was working there. She saw him next about a year after, and then he came and took Mrs. Wong You to the Otaki races. He went away next morning. He di 3 not say where he came from. They came twice to the booth at which she was working on the course. He stayed at Mrs. Wong You's all night. Saw him next on Good Friday this year, when accused and Mrs. Wong You came to witness's house in | Otaki. They stayed there all nig^t. Mrs-. Wong You said that accused came from Foxton, and she came frojn Levin. They occupied -separate apartments. They left Otaki on the Monday afternoon for Levin J the woman having stayed at witness's house alone the previous night. Accused came to see Mrs. Wong You. on the Monday morning, . but cUU not entep the house. Witness knew that the woman came from, Colchester, England. .'When Mrs. Wong You was leaving Otaki her box bore the address ''Miss Margaret Archer, England." Inspector Pender: .You saw accused to-day? — Witness ; Yes. Was he alone? — No, he was with three other men. Had you any difficulty in identifying him? — No, I had not. Mr. Skerrett said he would defer his cross-examination. Inspector Pender said he would have further evidence this day week, and asked for a remand. His Worship granted' a remaend until next Monday, which he said was a moie convenient day, on the understanding that if Inspector render was not tuen ready with his' evidence he would grant a further remand! until the following Monday.