MURDER CHARGE

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 February 1928, Page 12

MURDER CHARGE

FORMER WIFE’S STORY. SYDNEY, February 2. William Beaton, aged 36 years, a traveller, was charged at the Central Police Court yesterday with having murdered Charles John Stratton, at La Perouse, in August, 1913. Detective-sergeant Prior said that Stratton was a “park tout,” who went about in parks and other places blacKmailing couples. When accused was asked by Superintendent Mankey, then chief of the C. 1.8., whether he remembered a man being found dead at La Perouse in 1913, Beaton replied that he had fired at a man in self-defence, the man rushed at him, and, after a struggle, ran away. 'Accused said he had fired to frighten the man, and he did not think that the bullet had taken effect. Later, when charged with the murder, Beaton said: “If I shot him, I did not mean to kill him.” Witness produced a statement, alleged to have been made by accused, to the effect that he was on the evening of August 17,1910, with Miss Stella Hahn, when a man sneaked up behind him. In answer to Mr. Sproule, who appeared for defendant, witness stated that the woman was now in court. She married Beaton shortly after the affair, but he subsequently divorced her. She was now known as Mrs. Harnley. Mrs. Harpley said that, about dusk on August 17, 1913, she and Beaton were seated, in the scrub some distance from another couple. Remarking, ‘‘l have a ‘snout’ on that man over there,” Beaton walked over to the couple. An argument followed, and the man ran away. Beaton immediately drew a revolver and shot the man in the back. The man cried out, and fell upon his face. Beaton prevented her from approaching the man, saying: “We’ll both carry that to our graves.” In answer to Mr. Sproule, witness said that Beaton had threatened her life if she told the police of the affair.

Mr. Sproule searchingly cross-exam-ined witness concerning a trip to Melbourne which she made shortly before Christmas. She admitted that she had brought back a newly-born baby, which she had obtained from a nurse. She had not led people to believe that it was her own, but had adopted it. Later she sent it back. She had seen in the Press a report of the kidnapping of a baby in Melbourne. She emphatically denied that it was her intention to connect Beaton with the child. Pressed further, witness admitted that she had carried Beaton’s photograph in her bag on numerous occasions. She had also engaged detectives to watch his movements, even after he had divorced her. She had intended to tell the police, in order to stop the divorce proceedings. Mr. Sproule said that, as no jury in the British Empire would convict Beaton, he should not be put to the expense of a trial. Mr. Gates, C.S.M., however, said that a prima facie case had been made out, and it was his duty to commit accused to take his trial. Accused w r as allowed bail in £5OO.