THE ESSEX MURDER

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 98, 27 April 1928, Page 11

THE ESSEX MURDER

STATEMENT FROM DOCK KENNEDY CHARGES BROWNE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Australian Press Association. (Received 27th April, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 20th April. The trial of Frederick Guy Browne and William Henry Kennedy on a charge of murdering Police-Constablo Gutteridgo near Ongar on 26th September, 1927, was continued at the Old Bailey. Tho climax of tho case was raached when Kennedy, speaking from tho dock in a clear, firm voice, accused Browne of tho murder, amplifying his previous statement to tho police. Ho had not the slightest idea on tho night of the murder that Browne was carrying a revolver. "The first I knew of it was when two shots wero fired while Gutteridgo was questioning us. I said: 'My God, what have you done?' Browne replied: 'Get out of the car.' I helped ,to pull the policeman to the hedge. Before I could get Browne away a second two shots wero fired. I was terrified. Browne was in an absolutely mad frenzy. I was in such a state of mental agitation that I did not really know what I was doing. The automatic found in my possession was given mo by Browne. I intended to go to Africa-, where tho revolver would bo useful in the wilds. "On the night of the arrest in Liverpool by Deteetivo Mattinson, I intended to take tho revolver and lose it for fear my wife might bo implicated. It was in my overcoat pocket. When Mattinaon seized mo from behind there was a click, but that was made by the muzzle striking on a button. I only intended to bluff him. I never said: 'Stand back, Bill, or I'll shoot.' I can only express the deepest regret to Mrs. Gutteridge that I should have been in the car on the night of the murder.'' Browne did not remove his eyes from Kennedy throughout the statement; Browne 'a counsel, addressing the jury, described Kennedy's statement as a hysterical romance, and Kennedy was a liar. The Judge aums up to-morrow. Tho statement made by Kennedy to the police and read in tho Lower Court on 22nd February described Kennedy as accompanying tho other accused Browne to Billerieay for tho purpose of stealing a car. The statement detailed the removal of tho c&r from Dr. Lovell's garage. Kennedy said that they drove by country byways. "Turning on the main road to Ongar I saw a figure by the roadside which flashed a lamp as a signal to stop. Wo drove on. I heard a police whistle. I asked Browne to stop. The.policeman arrived and stood closo to the car. He asked Browne where ho had been and ■ where he was going. Browne replied that he was doing a repair job. The policeman asked whether the car was Browne's. Browne stammered. I replied: "It is mine." The policeman flashed the light on both our faces and asked if we knew the number of tho car. "We gave the number, whereupon he said: 'I'll take particulars.' , JIo pocket-' ed Ms torch and pulled out a noto book, and was in the act of writing when I hoard a report, followed quickly by another, and saw the policeman stagger and fall into tho hedge. I saw a largo Webley revolver in Browne's hand. Browne said: 'Get out quick.' I immediately obeyed, and went to the policeman who was lying on his back groaning. Browno said: 'I'll finish him.' I said: 'For God's sake, don't fire any more; the man's dying.' "The policeman's eyes were opon, and, Browne, addressing him, said: 'What are you looking at mo like that for?' and stooped and shot him at close range in both tho eyes. Browne said: 'Let's get back to the car,1 and ho drove to ' Ongar. . "Browne gave mo the revolver, and told mo to load whilo ho drove on. While doing so I dropped an empty cartridge in the car. Ho drove at a great pace through many villages and taenco to Brixton, where we abandoned the car." Kennedy described how Browno smashed up tho doctor's cases found in the car and distributed them on various roads to destroy evidence; also how Browne, with a Webley revolver in his hand, threatened to shoot him if ho left him, saying: "You'll stay and face it out with me." Browno did not object in December when ho told him ho was leaving. . Kennedy added that ho had fyeen worried since the murder, and was often desperate, expecting arrest hourly.