NEARING THE END

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1935, Page 7

NEARING THE END

“CHOCOLATE” TRAGEDY INQUIRY

DETECTIVE HOLMES’ EVIDENCE

One of the most important witnesses in the Blackball murder case, Detective-Sergeant T. E. Holmes, entered t e ox J* the hearing was resumed in the Magistrate s Court, Greymou , day, before Mr. H. Morgan, S.M. . . i The accused man is John Skikelthorp Page, 36,jingle, miner,.and he is charged with the murder of Miss Margaret May Smith, ZZ, at Blackball, on September 24 last year; also with the attell ’P l “ murder of Jean Kennedy Clark and Ethel Anme Bragg. Inspector 9. Cameron is conducting the prosecution, and Page is represented by Mr. A. H. Paterson.

Continuing his evidence yesterday afternoon, after the “Star” went to press, Oscar Moller, of Wellington, a handwriting expert, gave lengthy comparative details concerning the writing on the " exhibits in Court. He stated that,- in his opinion, the envelope addressed to Mrs G. Clark, Moonlight Road, was written by ,the same person who wrote the other exhibits, although the writing on the envelope was disguised, and had first been written in pencil and then drawn in, with ink. As a result of his examination of all the exhibits, he had come to the conclusion that they were all written by the same hand. The taking of Mr Moller's evidence occupied the whole of the afternoon sitting, and the - Court adjourned shortly after four o’clock. Inspector Cameron stated the next witness, Dete»ctive»Sergeant Holmes, would give lengthy evidence, occupying 16 typewritten sheets, and he would also read 17 sheets containing statements made by accused. It was estimated that the taking of the detective-sergeant’s evidence would require four hours. The Inspector asked whether the S.M. proposed to hold a Saturday sitting of the Court, ft not, it was doubtful whether the case could be completed on Monday. The S.M. suggested that the Court should open at 9.30 o’clock this morning, and sit until 11.30 or 12 o’clock. Other cases to be heard on Monday would occupy about an hour, and the Blackball case could he resumed about 11.30 a.m. The Inspector said that there'would probably be no difficulty in finishing the hearing on Monday. The evidence of Detective-Sergeant Knight would occupy about an hour, and that of Mr Grigg, the Government analyst, about a similar time.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. Commencing his evidence, to-day, Detective-Sergeant Holmes stated that, on September 27, he was detailed with Detective-Sergeant Thompson, to proceed from Christchurch to Greymouth, to enquire into the cause of Miss Smith’s death. He carried out investigations under the instructions of Inspector Cameron. On September 28, he received some o£ the exhibits from Senior-Sergeant Quayle.- He examined the postmarks, and also took samples of the marks from the cancellation stamps at the Greymouth Post Office. Witness and DetectiveSergeant Thompson went to Blackball, and interviewed Misses Clark and Bragg. As a result of those interviews, he went to Mrs G. Clark, Moonlight Road, and procured from her the envelope in which she received the anonymous letter. Detective-Sergeant Knight joined the enquiry on September 29, at Blackball, wjth witness. On September 29, Mr Ogier, the postmaster, handed to Detective-Sergeant Knight an envelope addressed/to the postmaster, Blackball, with the words “To post, please,” in the top left-hand corner. As a result of a conversation with Ogier, witness and DetectiveSergeant Knight went to Atarau, and saw Mr Pattison and Mrs Christie. On October 4 Detective-Sergeant Knight went to Ngahere, and on his return handed to witness a phial of strychnine.. Comparisons made between the block printing on various exhibits decided witness and Detective-Sergeant Knight that the whole of the exhibits were connected, and enquiries were made to ascertain what person in the Blackball ■ neighbourhood used block printing. On October G, from information received, they called at a. certain place and were shown some block printing over the accused's sig- ] nature, which they ■ considered was identical with the exhibits. On October 7, they .went to a hut near Thompson’s mill, Atarau, and there saw the witness Swann and his wife. Swann allowed them to search the hut and surroundings. A careful search was made for poison, signs of chocolate, block printing, and handwriting. A number of bottles were fpund, one containing spirits of salts, another with a poison label and the word “Mercury,” a bottle containing cascara, two bottles of lotion, and a number of small patent medicine bottles, such as might have contained pills or oil. No strychnine was found, or any phial that might have contained strychnine. Some pieces of brown paper were found, one containing the address of “T. Moore, Stafford Street. Blackball.” Swann produced a small piece of paper, on which was writing in pencil. Comparison of the writing with other exhibits was made. It was ascertained that Page had had another hut, at the Roaring Meg River, and it was visited by Swann and De-tective-Sergeant Knight. On returning to Blackball, T. Moore was interviewed, and was shown the brown paper.

barrytown interview

Witness said that lie continued his enquiries about Blackball. On re- ( turning from the Roaring Meg Camp,! Detective-Sergeant Knight handed to' witness a piece of brown paper, on | which were words block printed in! chalk On October 10. Detective-! Sergeant Knight visited Ngahere, and on returning handed witness three en-j velopes. which were compared with other exhibits. It was concluded that tho writing was identical. Enquiries were made regarding the habits and i movements of accused, and it was de-' elded to proceed ’to Barrytown. and ask him to account lor his movements between September 21 and 24, tho dates which covered the posting and delivery of the poisoned chocolates. Page was located at the All Nations Hotel, and was told about the chocolates, and the death of Miss Smith. Accused took the detectives to his room, and v.-as questioned. He

said that he was not m the habit of block printing, but that he could block print. He readily agreed to do a sample for them, and prepared the exhibits produced. He gave specimens of his handwriting, comprising various names and addresses of people connected with the case. He also block-printed, “Will I see you and Tommy at Ngahere dance on Saturday night next? Jim.” Page s P the word Ngahere as “Naghere, and the mistake was pointed out. He then spelt it “Nagahere.” Later he spelt ’it “Nagehere.” A discussion arose between accused and witness as to how some sentences in Page’s statement should be worded. Accused then wrote what he wanted taken down, and that specimen of writing was produced. After being shown the envelope sent to the postmaster, Page admitted that it was his, done carelessly. Ho was asked what the envelope had contained, and said that it would have contained his unemployment levy book, some letters, or money for the letters to be stamped. He was told that it contained an anonymous letter addressed to the schoolmaster at Atarau, making reference to the character of Mrs Christie, the postmistress. Page said that he had ill-feeling towards her, that he suspected her of giving information regarding 'two miners’ rights he had applied for, and also suspected her of having opened one of his letters. He said that he would complain to the postmaster at Blackball, and that since he had complained he had been turned down by her brothers. He also said, that he considered the attitude of Pattison was at times over-bearing. Witness got the impression that accused denied sending the anonymous letter. Page readily answered any questions put to him concerning his early life, but when it came to questions regarding his movements at Blackball, he was very evasive, and hesitated before answering. He said that he did not know Jean Clark or Ethel Bragg, but that he knew Miss Smith, and she was one of the girls at Blackball he respected. He stated that, in 1924. he had applied to join the Police Force. He was questioned about prowling around Blackball at nights. He admitted it, but said that he'had been out to see if he could establish the identity of the “Peeping Tom.” He asked if they would convey him to Greymouth and bring him back to Barrytown, as he had some information he would like to give to the Inspector. He was told they would take him to Greymouth, but whether he was taken back there was a matter for the Inspector. Witness offered to take any note to the Inspector. but accused would not agree to that. Asked what the information was, ho said that he suspected the postmaster at Blackball might be connected with the poisoning, but the only reason he gave was. that on the day of Miss Smith’s funeral, he (Page)' called at the Blackball post office, and in conversation told the postmaster that he (accused) thought the person who had caused the death of Miss Smith would soon be • He said that the postmaster hung his head, and would not look at him again.- Witness asked Page if that was not what any decent young man would do, if such language was used in his presence. Accused said that might be so. Referring to the block printing, Page said, “Wouldn’t 1 be in

AN AWKWARD POSITION

if somebody had been practising my block printing?” Witness took a signed statement from Page at Barrytown. on October 11. They explained to accused that they were not satisfied. and he agreed to let the .police know where he was going, if lie left Earrytown. Asked to account for his movements between Friday, September 21, and Monday, September 2-1, Page stated that he had been in the vicinity of Thompson’s mill and at his hut from the Friday to the Monday morning, and that during the week-end he had fed the mill horse, at the request of Percy McLean. Accused stated he had no recollection of being at either Blackball or Greymouth between those dates, but did not give tho name of anyone who [could say where he was on those I dates.

On October 17, witness went to Christchurch, and the various writing l and block printing exhibits were shown to Mr. Collins, the handwriting expert, and later to Mr. Moller, the Wellington expert. On October 20, witness was at the district office, Greymouth, when Sergeant Austin was opening the evening mail. The mail included the envelope and letter exhibited in Court. Witness received them from the Inspector, later the same evening. Witness and Detec-tive-Sergeant Knight obtained many samples of writing and block printing I from residents of Blackball and the neighbourhood, but were unable to find any with a combination of similar I characteristics to those of the exhibits. Extensive enquiries were made regarding the sale of strychnine, extending from Wataroa to Karamea. and similar enquiries with regard to chocolates. The enquiries also extended to Nelson, Christchurch. Auckland, and Wellington in connection with strychnine. During the enquiries a considerable number of rumours were heard, and all were enquired into, but nothing was found iff the rumours to assist the enquiry. Preliminary reports were received (torn the handwriting experts. Ou May 11 and 15 last, with Inspector Cummings, witness interviewed Page at Dunedin. Accused said he thought thev would still bo enquiring about the’ Blackball murder. Witness told him that a number of things had arisen since the previous interview, and accused said that he would see how much he could tell them. He stated that he thought they would

have had a “tag” on his movements, land that he was expecting to see them again. Tie stated that he and the witness, John Thomas, had just come from .Macetown, and had been promised a job by the Taratu Coal Company at Kaitangata. Page was told that they would like the names of anyone who could support what he had to tell them. Page said that he had several appointments that day. but one he would not put off. with a lady friend. t He said.. “You know, I can put my *hat on, and walk out on you at any time!” When told that would like to ask about several matters, he said, “Jake! Go ahead!” He said ttiat he had passed the seventh standard, and since leaving school

HAD EDUCATED HIMSELF and had procured a mine deputy’s certificate. He produced his army discharge, showing that he had been in the Kent Territorials of the Royal Garrison Artillery, and had served about four years. He also stated that he had been a member of the Secret Service. Page said that he had applied to join the New Zealand Police Force, in 1924, and he was-then shown three of the exhibits, which he carefully examined, and said that the writing was his ordinary handwriting. He was also shown the file of the Labour Department, containing other exhibits, including a map, and he admitted they had all been done by him.

The Court, adjourned for five minutes, at 11.15 a.m. Continuing his evidence DetectiveSergeant Holmes stated that accused admitted the writing on the blotting paper and pad was his. He was asked if he had resided at Waiuta, and he said he was well acquainted with the hospital there, and had assisted to take casualties from the mine, that he had received attention himself at the hospital, that for a time he was a member of the committee of the Medical Association, and that he knew the run of. the hospital. He was shown a piece of brown, paper, and admitted that the chalk markings on it were his. He was asked if he had made any purchases at Miller’s or Truman’s, in Greymouth, as it was de-r sired to trace the origin of certain brown paper. Page denied making purchases himself, but said that if the paper was from Truman’s, it was possible it might have gone to his hut through Hannam’s, of Marsden Road, who were customers of Truman’s. He was asked if he had told his workmates that his uncle was a chemist in England, and admitted doing so. He stated that he had got some roofing iron from McGregor’s, Blackball, and that it was general knowledge Jean Clark worked for McGregor’s; also that Jean Clark and Miss Smith were friends. He said that he knew Ronald Neilson, and that there had been a. “Peeping Tom” about Blackball. Inspector Cummings asked Page about the “Peeping Tom,” and accused named two houses, and said he had also seen the man in other parts of Blackball. He drew three rough sketches, and filled in the name of the streets, principally in block print. During the discussion, when Page marked the position of the aerial track, he was told it was allaged that he had often been seen about the track after the pictures had come out when Jean Clark and Ron Neilson were going to her home at Moonlight Road. Page said it was quite possible, but that he had not been there by design. He said that Jean Clark was the most conspicuous girl in Blackball. At 11.45 a.m.,. the proceedings were adjourned until 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The authorities wished accused to be returned to Seaview Mental Hospital, Hokitika, at 1 p.m. to-day. He is showing the strain of attendance in Court, and a day’s rest is necessary. Each day this week, Page has been taken to 'Hokitika by car, and brought back to Greymouth qn the following morning. His mid-day meal has been supplied to him in one of the rooms in the Court building. During to-day’s proceedings, he made one of his usual rambling statements, of an unintelligible nature, and on several occasions moved his index finger through the air, as though forming letters and words. Detective-Sergeant Holmes will continue his evidence on Monday, and that of Detective-Sergeant Knight, the Government analyst (Mr. Grigg) and another witness, named Watson, is to be taken. The present probabilities are that the hearing of the case will not be concluded until Tuesday.