DUNOLLIE DECLARATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 February 1930, Page 3

DUNOLLIE DECLARATION

———-———— FARRELL SENT FOR TRIAL. The hearing of the case against William Farrell, of Dunollie, was continued at the Greymouth ..Magistrate’s Court after the “Star” wbnt to press yesterday. Accused was charged that, on December 31, 1929, he did make a declaration that would amount to perjury if made on oath or affirmation in. a judicial proceeding. It was alleged that Farrell had claimed for. certain articles from the Northern Assurance Co., alleging falsely that they had been destroyed by the fire which demolished his house on Christmas Eve. These articles included a gramophone and records valued at £B, sofa £3, Morris chair £3/10/' armchair- £2, violin £2, wardrobe £6. The furniture was insured for £lOO, and was valued in the declaration made by accused at £133. Detective Murch prosecuted, and Mr W. J. Joyce represented the accused. The first witness after- the luncheon adjournment, Albert Leslie Ellery, a neighbour of accused, stated that, on noticing the fire at Farrell’s house, he entered the front room, and took out a sewing machine, a Morris chair. He also helped to save a small arm-chair, a sofa, a small table, and a cushion. Later on, he took the articles to his own place, and put them in the washhouse. A basket of clothes, a violiiicase, a drawer containing a camera,

some bedding and a cabin trunk were also in the washhouse. Witness could not enter the other rooms in the burning house. Accused took the chairs away from the washhouse two or three nights later. Witness was not present when the rest of the goods were taken away.’ He did not know whether accused had a gramophone, but he neverheard one during the fifteen months he had lived near accused. To Mr Joyce : His place was on the opposite side of the road, 70 or 80 yards away. Mrs Eileen Mary Ellery also described the articles saved and placed in the washhouse.. Had a gramophone been playing at accused’s house, witness would have heard it. Detective Murch stated that, as the

result of his inquiries, he interviewee accused on January 20, in the presence of Constable Patterson. Mrs Farrell had previously refused to answer any questions, and referred them to hex husband. Accused refused to make a . written statement, but agreed to answer ’ questions. He gave details of the contents of the house, and said that a gramophone stood on the table in the front room. He said that tlie sewing machine, two small chairs, and the sofa were saved, but the violin was not, and neither were the mattresses. Accused could not say why he included the sofa and the Morris chair, in the declaration• of loss. He denied ordering the fire adjuster out of the house. Witness found only one double-bed wire mattress in the fire debris, and accused said he could not explain the absence of the other, for which he had claimed. Questioned again about the violin and case, accused said he could not remember whether they were saved or not. Farrell refused to allow witness to interview Mrs Farrell, but allowed him to inspect the articles said to have been saved. To Mi- Joyce : Mrs Farrell was not in good health at the time of the interview. Constable Patterson gave corroborative evidence. Accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was fixed at self £5O and one surety of £5O or two of £25 each.