THE BLACKBALL POISONINC MYSTERY

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1935, Page 6

THE BLACKBALL POISONINC MYSTERY

DETAILS OF ACCUSED’S ACTIONS

SINCE THE TRAGIC HAPPENING

Interviews With Police and Others Described

ACCUSED AGAIN BEHAVES STRANGELY.

At the Greymouth Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, Mr H. Morgan, S.M., resumed the hearing ot evidence regarding the circumstances of the tragic death on September 24, 1934, at Blackball of Margaret May Smith, aged 22 yearq. arising out of which John Skikelthorp Page, 36, miner, a native of England, faces charges of having murdered Miss Smith, on September 24, 1934, at Blackball, and of having attempted to murder Jea n Kennedy Clark and Ethel Annie Bragg, at Blackball, on September 22, 1934. The prosecution is being conducted by Inspector D, Cameron, whilst the accused is represented by Mr A. H. Peterson. Yesterday’s proceedings marked the fourth day of hearing of a mass of detailed evidence gathered by the police investigators since he tragic happening. Interesting developments in the case were disclosed in evidence tendered by the Inspector of Police at Greymouth, who described voluntary interviews he had had with accused wh n Page called to see him at the Police Station, Impor tant evidence was also given by John Thomas, a miner, who had been tho accused’s mate in gold min’ng operations in Otago s'nee they both left Ihe West Coast together. Thomas detailed actions and statements of the accused since the time of the tragedy until witness had had the accused committed to a mental institution, this having been due, Thomas stated, to Page’s incessant strange mennderings and outbursts, including references to the Blackball poisoning in which, the witness stated, the accused had worried | about an envelope addressed in his handwriting,, the accused c,’a‘ming that a person for whom he had addressed 'the envelope, had “trapped him into this. ’ >

During the course of yesterday s hearing accused made several out bursts of words Irrelavent to fh p ev; dence. Through™ the morning, ac cused, who was unshaven, spent m".-' 1 of the ‘ime writing on shoe's of paper, several of which he handed to the constables in the dock beside him. After sitting quietly in tho corner of the dock in the afternoon, Page turned around and stared fixedly at the crowd which filled the gallery throughout the dav, interestedly following proceedings. On this occasion, b' 1 did not speak, but ’ater he again turned around, and a’most inaudibly muttered “In the name of the mother,. son and daughter.’’ During the taking of the evidence of ‘he witness Thomas, ac cused made a leng'hy statement re garding hospitals, their staffs and other disjointed remarks. Only on one occasion. for a very brief period, did accused raise his hand in the typical “Heil Hitler!” fashions as he had done on the Previous day. He also in ■ dulged in whistling for a brief space. Seventeen witnesses yesterdav tendered their evidence, leaving onl v seven more to bo h p ard. hut their evidence wi 1 ’ be of a lengthy nature, probab’v occupying all to-day and on Monday. At to-dav’s nroceedmgs, the evidence of "he chief investigators in the case. Detective-Sergeants T. E. Holmes and H. E. Knight will be heard.

Percival Henry McLean, winchdriver, Dobson, said he was at Thompson’s hotel at Atarau at the time and remembered Miss Smith’s death. During the- week-end from September 22 to September 24, 1934, witness was at the mill all the time. His mate was away from Friday night to Monday morning. Witness knew accused, who was camped in a hut about five chains up the road. Witness could view accused ’s hut from his hut. Witness saw accused on Friday afternoon, September 21. Witness was on friendly terms with accused. In the late afternoon of September 21 Page came along and was talking to witness whilst he was working cross cutting some logs at the mill. Page offered to give witness a hand with the logs, and did so. Page left witness to go to his hut and witness went to his. Page had been talking about work. Witness asked Page if he was going away for the week-end. Accused said he was going up to his top claim, which accused told witness was about an hour’s walk from where he was camped. Witness could not recollect any further conversation. Witness next saw Page on the morning of September 24, shortly after 7.30. Witness was going to the mill when Page came down the road from the direction of his hut. Page called out asking witness the time. Witness had just pottered about between his hut and the mill during the week-end, and saw no indication as to whether Page was at his hut, and he saw no signs of smoke all day Saturday and Sunday. He did not see anything of a light at the hut either Saturday night or Sunday night. A horse was kept at tho mill and witness fed it over the week end. Tf Page said he . fed the horse over that week-end it would not be true. Page had fed the horse at times when witness had been away. Witness was up early on the Monday morning to get u» steam.

‘Charles Edward Fensom, butcher, employed by J. Burr, Camptown, Ngahere since January, 1934, stated that he knew the accused Page, first knowing him at Moonlight cm the gold subsidy. Witness had h?d a talk with accused at his hut when accused was working on Bwr’c property. Accused complMined of opossums at his hut and said he must get rid of them, the reason being that they were pinching all his food supply. Accused’s hut was about 500 yards from Donovan’s farm. Frederick Donovan, farmer, Camptown, near Ngahere, said his farm was near Burr’s farm. Witness knew accused slightly, first getting to know him some time before the tragedy in Blackball, when he was working for Burr. Witness had seen strychnine and purchased some three or four years ago at one of the local chemists at Greymouth. Witness was having a considerable number of sheep worried and could not get the dogs as they were coming around at night time,

so he had to set poison. Witness put the strychnine he did not use away in the barn on the top shelf amongst a lot of nails. lie remembered the detectives calling on witness early in October last and handed over to them the strychnine from the barn. The container was the one produced. Witness was confident there had been no strychnine taken out of the container since it was put in the ratter. The shed was not locked. Witness had used the strychnine eighteen months before the detectives called. Mr. Paterson: You are satisfied in your own mind that the strychnine for these chocolates could not have come from this bottle? Witnes; It was hardly possible. There was the same quantity in it. He could see by the dust on the bottle when he went to get it for the police that it had not been disturbed recently. Aiphonsus Henry Lima, associated in a bakery and confectionery business with his father, in Tainui Street, Greymouth, said that lib. boxes of Happiness chocolate had been stocked in the shop, similar to the exhibit. Half-a-dozen boxes had been obtained in July, 1934. Witness remembered the police calling on witness at the end of September last and took stock of the particular brand of chocolates. There were three packets left, and witness presumed the other three boxes were sold, but to whom he did not know. Perry and Co. Stock and Sharebrokers, occupied offices upstairs in Lima’s buildings. Miss Dulcie Lima, employed in her father’s shop in Tainui Street, said that she served in the shop, and knew that half-a-dozen 11b. boxes of Happiness chocolates had been stocked about a year ago. In October there were two or three boxes left, and these were later sold. Witness could not remember having sold any of the boxes of chocolates. Witness knew accused by sight, but did not remember where she had seen him.

Doreen Hanrahan, shop assistant, emp’oyed at Lima’s, said that in July, 1934, one pound boxes of Happiness chocolates were stocked at the shop. Witness could not remember having sold any. Witness knew the accused by sight. The Inspector: Where have you seen him? Witness: I can’t remember. I think in the shop. Continuing, witness said she had been treated for a throat ailment and had had a cyst removed, which was noticeable. The Inspector: If accused referred to a shop assistant with a goitre at Lima’s, who would that refer to? Witness: Me! Robert Mackay Patterson, a member of the firm of Patterson and O’Dea, Westport, said the firm had formerly had a branch shop at Denniston. The firm on several occasions hUd stocked Happiness chocolates in 1 lb. boxes, first obtaining a dozen boxes in September, 1933. Some of these would be sold and after a period some , destroyed. More than likely some were sent up to the Denniston shop, I which was run by Mr. O’Dea. They! would not have the chocolates in stock ! after three months. They would des- ; troy them then, owing to climatic con-I ditions. The boxes would be burned. I There would be none of the boxes of chocolates in stock about January, 1934. | Thomas O’Dea, an employee of Patterson and O’Dea, Westport, said that he was employed at the Denniston shop, where the particular brand of chocolates were stocked. The last witness remembered of the chocolates was in February, 1934. They came in about November, 1933. The chocolates were sold to people he knew 1 ‘on the Ili'l.” Witness did not know accused.

Sergeant Donald Austin, stationed at Dunedin, said he was district clerk at Greymouth in October last, and had charge of letters and mail, and it was his duty to open mail preparatory to handing it over to the Inspector. Witness cleared the mail at 7 p.m. on October 20, 1934, and took receipt of a letter addressed “Chief of Police, Greymouth.” Witness pasted the letter on a piece of paper, and stamped it with the district office stamp, then handed it to Inspector Cameron. That was a Saturday night. He could not remember if anybody else was in the office when it was opened. During the seven or eight years witness was at Greymouth, he had remembered several letters being received, addressed to “Chief of Police,” but there was only one on the day in question. On July 26, 1935, witness served a notice on accused setting out the charges now preferred against him. Witness read them over before he handed them to him. Dr. Hayes, Medical Superintendent, Seacliff Mental Hospital, was present and three or four attendants. Accused made no reply. Inspector Cameron then gave evidence, being examined by Detective Sergeant Holmes. He stated that on September 24 last he received a report from Constable Hendricksen respecting the death of Margaret May Smith at Blackball. Witness gave instructions to have the usual inquiries made and later communicated with head office, Wellington, for the assistance of Detectives Holmes and Thompson to assist the local detectives. On October 12, 1934, the accused telephoned witness from Barrytown, requesting an appointment at witness’s office at 7.30 the following evening. Witness was in attendance from 7 p.m. till 9 p.m., but accused did not keep the appointment. It was a particularly wet night and witness assumed that, was why he did not keep the appointment. On October 20, 1934, -witness was in his office shortly after 7 p.m. (as it was customary for him and his staff to deal with all correspondence on Saturday night), when he received the envelope addressed “Chief of Police, Greymouth” and the letter enclosed. The cancellation stamp bore the following

“20th October, 11 a.m., Greymouth.” That was the only anonymous letter witness had received in connection with tho Blackball tragedy. Witness received no letter signed by the accused, and no reference to his not keeping his appointment. On November 11, 1934, accused who was unknown to witness at that time, called at witness’s office and told witness who he was. Accused asked witness if he could give him any information about the Blackball tragedy. Witness said ho could not, but he would be pleased if accused could give him any information. Accused was seated in his office for some little time. Accused to d witness he had suspicion of the Postmaster at Blackball. Witness said, “You have already mentioned that to the detectives,” and he replied “yes.” Witness asked accused if he had any further information that he had not told the detectives and he said, “No.” Witness asked accused if he had any grounds more than he told the detectives for suspecting the postmaster and he said “No.” Witness gain asked him if he had furHFef information to give the police and he •aid he had just come from the hjospiia at Greymouth, where he had been visiting a patient named Williams from Blackball, and Williams had told him that his mate had suspected the two men who were suspected of poisoning dogs about Blackball. Accused was unable to give the name of Williams’ mate or the two men suspected of poisoning the dogs. That matter was later investigated by the detectives. Witness said he had just came from the hospital where he had seen Williams. On leaving accused shook hands with witness and witness invited accused to call and see him any time should he come into possession of any useful information. When accused first ’phoned witness from Barrytown, accused told witness he wished to see him about the Blackball tragedy and that he thought he could give him some useful information. Accused made no reference to not keeping the appointment, nor did he say that he had written witness an apology for not keeping it. Accused again called on witness on November 19, 1934, and told him he was leaving the district and would be going to Otago, but that Perry and Co., Sharebrokers, Christchurch, would be able to supply -witness with his definite address. Accused said he had a box containing effects, at Ngahere, and that if the detectives wished to see through that box before he left, he would show them through it. “Did he state the reason that prompted him to call on you?” asked Det-ective-Sergeant Holmes. Witness I just can’t remember? Witness, continuing said he arranged with accused that he could meet the detectives at Ngahere the next morning, in compliance with his wish. Witness gave accused every opportunity to give any information, but beyond the Williams incident he had no information to impart. Mrs. Mary Dunn, wife of the licensee of the All Nations Hotel, Barrytown, said there was a custom for boarders at the hotel in posting letters, the letters being left on a ledge in the kitchen for the service car drivers to pick up and post at Greymouth. The cars came through from Westport in the mornings on Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s. If a letter was left on Friday evening or Saturday morning in the customary way it would be picked up by the drivers on the Saturday morning to be posted at Greymouth. In October last accused was boarding at the hotel. He was boarding there for the whole of October.

Reginald William Charles Stuart, Mechanical Engineer, Christchurch, said that on October 10, he went to work for Perry and Co., Sharebrokers, at Barytown, on that date. Witness stayed at the All Nations Hotel there. Witness met the accused there. He was also employed by Perry and Co., on a gold claim at Barrytown. Page | met with an injury at Barrytown, runI ning a nail through his gumboot and I into his foot causing him to go off I work. Whilst off work, Page was I interviewed by the detectives, Page •stating to witness that it was in conI nection with the Blackball murder. Page said something about him possess- ; ing some information and that the deI tectives had approached him in that • way. Page said the police had a copy of his handwriting, and accused told witness the writing on the wrapper was identical with his (accused’s), and according to accused’s was a forgery. Accused said that if the detectives had approached him in the right way he would have given them some information. He did not tell witness what that information was. He heard Mr. Hawkes, a law student, employed by Perry and Co., give accused some advice. Mr. Hawkes explained the seriousness of the charge to accused, and advised him if he had any informalion to submit it to the police. Page came to witness about 9 o’clock that evening to go to Byall’s store, as he was going to ring the Detective office. When they got there the store was closed. Accused said he wanted witness to witness the conversation he was going to have over the phone. Witness heard accused ask Mr. Ryall to get in communication with the police in the morning, for the purpose, witness understood, was in regard to this information accused talked about. Accused told witness that , treused’s handwriting referred to by the detectives was in block form. The only thing accused said about his writing was that it was identical. Witness recollected Labour week-end, Monday October 22, being Labour Day. Witness went to Christchurch on Saturday, October 20. Page came with witness and others to Greymouth on the evening of Saturday, October 20. Page was at work at Barrytown all that day. Witness could not recollect where accused was on the Friday evening, Octo ber 19, or if he was working that day. Accused left the hotel about 7.30 a.m. to go to work on October 20. Accused led witness to believe he was coming in to see the police on that day. Accused never mentioned to witness about writing to the police. Charles Elwyn Griffiths, lorry driver, of Ross, said that he was engaged by Perry and Co. in prospecting operations at Barrytown in September last, going out there about Sunday, September 30. Witness knew accused, who was employed at the ‘same work. Witness had known accused previously at Runanga. Witness went out to Barrytown in Mr. Stewart’s car on the same day. Page, Hawkes and witness occupied the one room at the hotel. Witness recollected Page injuring his foot, and the detectives coming out to Barrytown, whilst Page had an injured foot. The detectives wore interviewing Page in his room, when witness came home from work. Up to that time, f’age had not mentioned to witness the Blackball tragedy. That evening, Page told witness and Hawkes

that the detectives had been out to interview him concerning the Blackball tragedy, and he said that they had taken a sample of his handwriting. Page told them that the writing on the note was similar to his handwriting and he thought that someone had been forging his writing. Page said the detectives had shown him a piece of brown paper with writing on it. Page said he thought he would lay his hands on the chap who did the murder. Accused also said something about communicating with the police. It was suggested by Hawkes to Page that he should interview the police and tell them all he knew concerning the case. Page at that time knew Hawkes was a law student. Witness advised Page to be advised by Hawkes. Page appeared worried during the conversations. Page did not sleep well at nights, complaining of being sick. Some nights he used to get up and go out. Witness could not say if accused wou’d be out for any length of time. When he went out he used to pu;. his thigh gum boots on, as if he ’-as going for a walk. Witness had -ecu accused vomiting of a morning iafter breakfast or during breakfast. This was after the visit of the detecI tives. I The Inspector: Have you ever seen him with a first aid outfit, or anything he might use on himself? Witness: No, the only thing I have seen him with is a syringe. The Court adjourned at 1 p.m. until 2.15 p.m. Just before the Court resumed ac- • -ml turned around in the dock, ad- | dressing the people there. For a start his words were somewhat unintellig Hie, and then could be heard, “Queen Vlexandra, Seaview, Hokitika. My wife is being operated on upstairs and I command respectful silence.” Harold Spark, clerk, G.P.0., Greymouth, said he was on duty on October 2C and had charge of the cancellation stamp from 10 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. The rime on the s f amp was 9.45 a.m. when he came on duty and he changed the time to 11 a.m. It would be changed again at 11 a.m. by the clock. The -*rvice car would arrive from West- ■ ’ about 10.15. It was witness’s dutj to clear the boxes. The letter addressed to the Chief of Police would be stamped by witness and placed in the Police Department’s private box. Edgar Olli ver Palmer, supervisor, Postal Branch, G.P.0., Greymouth, 'ated that part of his duty was to heck the cancel ation stamp inserted the changes recorded being kept in a book in his office. Mr. Spark was on du*y on October 20, 1934. On September 22, 1934, Malloy would -’ear the paper or packet box for the Blackball mail in the afternoon.

> John Thomas, miner, residing al Taratu Otago, said he knew the accus • ed, first meeting him at Barrytown, about the beginning of last October. 1 Witness was employed by Perry an? 1 ■ Co. on a gold mining job and worke’ as a mate with accused. In Septem ■ ber, 1934, witness was working for himself round about Greymouth and the West Coast. Whilst about Grey , mouth witness heard about Miss > Smith’s death. Accused and witness i worked for about four weeks at Barryi town aud this would carry them into > November, 1934. Accused and wit- ; ness were picked from there by Mr. ; Perry to go to a job up a mountain at r Macetown, Central Otago. Accused . and witness worked there together. • Witness stopped in a little hut by him- , self at Barrytown. Page did not men- ■ tion anything to witness about the i Blackball tragedy whilst on the West Coast. Accused did, however, mention something about it at Macetown. Accused told witness he had been in- ' terviewed by the police on the West Coast and was extremely indignant about it as he stated he knew nothing about it. Witness was not aware of his movements being known. He did nut mention at any time anything about ' his movements or the police. Page had a first aid outfit. Page complained about his health on several oe- • casions. He complained of bleeding in the stomach, which he said was the after effects of the War. Witness saw no bleeding or any indication of it. Accused told witness he had suf fered from malaria fever and that for seven months before meeting witness he had been in hospital, but where accused could not tell him. He remembered accused going into Arrowtown to see a doctor, as he had stated he was not well. Accused stated that from previous experience of hospitals t here would probably be injections I made. Accused’s washing was done by Mrs. Joyce, who also did witness’s. Mrs. Joyce had several children. The Inspector: Do you remember if Page ever gave the Joyce children anything? Witness: Well, as a matter of fact, he used to give them packets of lollies out of kindness. Continuing, witness said he left Mace town about ten weeks ago, in company with Page, both going to Dunedin. The Inspector: Do you know if Page was interviewed by Detectives in Dunedin a few days after his arrival? Witness: I was taken there too!

Witness said he remained about ten days in Dunedin and during that time both he and Page secured employment at the Taratu Coal mine. The police ■ ere going through to Milton and Li.ey took witness and accused down with them in their car. Page remained in witness’s company until May 19th. Page discussed with witness his interview with the police. He conversed ordinarily. Some of it was a pack of rot, however. Reading slowly, but deliberately from a piece of paper he held in front of him, accused interrupted proceedings with a string of disjointed words, such as “King Edward the Seventh, Queen Alexandra, Long life and prosperity to everyone, for the betterment of the vorld, carry on and be content, and to all in seniority give obedience. The Emperor of Japan, Edward the Seventh and the Princess Joy, are at seaside Otago.” Then followed a string of words unintelligible, and then “Lewisham Staff and Crimean Veterans, the whole system of medical service; ; also other references to hospitals and ' nurses, concluding with a recital of positions of authority in hospitals, including a repetition first year, second year, third year, fourth year, fifth year, and a reference to probationers. Accused was called upon to refrain by che Constables with him in the dock, hut took no notice, and the Magistrate despite his outburst, directed the Inspector to proceed with the witnesses. Accused quietened down, after reading on both sides of the sheet of paper, which he then oddly held up as if endeavouring to read something against the light that puzzled him. He then relaxed himself, crossed his arms and leant on the dock rail, gazing fixedly into the ceiling and occasionally he intently took an interest in the Ins-

pector’s questions and the witness’s replies. Witness went on to state that Page had said “a very unpleasant thing was now over and I hope it is finished with for good.” Page said that the police had not decked all their cards, or put their cards on the table. He told witness the police had shown him exhibit No. 1, adressed by himself. Accused told witness that he recollected addressing the envelope at a friend’s house previously. Accused told witness who the friend was. He said it was a personal friend of his on the Coast, who had five children. He really could not say if the name of the friend was Moore. Accused did not tell witness that the fact that the police had the envelope was news to him. Accused gave witness an explanation of having :.dd essed the envelope. lie said that hi.- friend passed h'.a an envelope and ashed him if he would mind addressing it to that address for him. Witness discussed the matter considerably with ; -'d. Accused wanted witness to . id see a Justice of the Peace to > f the Justice Department would give him a free pardon, rhe police to te 1 ] him all that they knew and That he would investigate himself with the assistance of the 'olice. to try and get the man who had trapped him into this. Accused was verv worried at that time. Witness had quite a long talk with accused, asking him about the handwriting. Witness said to accused “the whole affair is worrying you too much, Jack. You are losing your power of concentration. Can I help you thrash .he matter out to see how things stand. ’ ’ “I told him that if he only addressed the envelope, and not the contents •l the envelope, I did not see what he ad to worry about’’, said the witness. ‘Accused said he had not done that, nd knew nothing about the contents ) ' the letter whatsoever. I have an den it was Moore who accused said he •.rote this address on the envelope for. Apart from the letter, he knew war fleets were causing him worry. At east, accused told me so. From then It was evident that accused’s distress increased. It did increase ‘ •’’used was walking along the road at •• rime at Taratu and saw a white pej ■ • mint. He said,

“There is the poisoned chocolate,” I have found it for ye . “I had three days ano nigh is of it” said witness. Accused. h» j said, would be talking quite rationally and would says “dogs” or something stupid. Another time -witness tried to keep him walking round, and he would h .ve his arms up in the air. He said on tha. oc casion, “Find me a baby. Ha. Ha!” “Of a night-time when lying on the bunk (I did not undress of course) he ..ould be praying and that, and was asking for a Bible,” said witness. “He was quite happy. He made his peace with his Maker. and all that sort of thing. He said nothing of taking his life or injuring me. He told me he never would take his life or injure me. He said to me, ‘don’t be frightened of me Jack, I won’t take my life and I won't hurt you.’ It was a job to tell whether accused was rational or not when he spoke these words. He was constantly breaking into tears. We were in the hut together for three nights. I left him on one occasion to go over to Kaitangata. When I came oack I found him in the hut,” said > itness. The Inspector: Was he committed to j mental institution on May 19? Witness: 1 had to do it. 1 made application to the police in the first please and then tw r o J’s.P. zui ther examined witness said that used was quite candid and gave wit’.he impression that some friend a;...; got him to address the envelope ..nd that this person had then made use of it.

Thomas Walter Moore, labourer, Clifford Street, Blackbail, said that he was generally known about Blackball as Tom Moore. There was no other T. Moore or Tom Moore about Blackball, as far as he knew. Witness was reared in Blackball, but was away six or seven years. On the last occasion he had lived there for about nine years. In October last witness called at the Blackball Post Office and the detectives showed him a piece of brown paper. Witness thought it was the sheet, with writing on it. He did not think it had a hole in it then. Witness had never seen the writing prior to the detectives showing it to him. Witness knew the accuse! very well. He first knew him when he was brought to his home by Mr. Hannam, greengrocer, of Greymouth. Witness knew accused’s camp at Roaring Meg, and had heard that he was also living hi a hut at Thompson’s mill. He visited witness’s house regularly. He was very kind to children and often brought witness’s kiddies fruit and lollies. He may have brought sixpenny-worth of chocoates. After Miss Smith’s death accused came to witness’s house and told witness that he was going to Barrytown. He brought in a tin to be returned to Mr. Burr, of Ngahere. Witness did not know whose writing it was on the brown paper shown to him by the police. Accused had sent witness papers, but never parcels as far as he knew. As far as he could recall ho had never received anything from the accused, wrapped up iu brown paper. Witness had no recollection of the enevelope produced being shown to him by detectives. He did not know whose printing it was on it. Ji the accused said that he addressed an enevolpe for witness it would be a lie. The Atarau Post Office, he thought would be about five miles from witness’s home. He could not say definteiy where it was. He had never postany letter at Atarau. His eldest child was 13 years, and the youngest 1J ’ there being four girls. Witness had never known them to go to Atarau, I but possibly they had been. To witness s knowledge accused had never left a letter at his home for them to be posted. He had written letters at witness’s home. If they were left at witness’s house thev would have been posted at the Blackball Post Office about 300 yards from witness’s home. Nover at any time had witness asked Page to put an address on a brown paper wrapper, nor had witness ever seen him nut an address on a brown paper wrapper. The papers accused sent witness usually came by Mr. Burr, ■butcher, and he thought that Mr’ Brooks, carrier, might have brought some. They were tied round with String and unwrapped. Accused had asked permission to leave a tool box at witness’s home. Witness asked him

to take it away, but be had never had an angry word with Page, lie thought that the lock was broken and he (witness) gave Page a lock to put on the box. There was a key with the lock, but no second one. Witness had never attended a dance at Ngahere. Prior to Miss Smith’s death he had never discussed Miss Bragg with Page. Miss Bragg’s name was mentioned by witness to accused after Miss Smith’s death, because the police had questioned witness about Page, and witness had asked him questions. Accused told witness he thought that he must i have not it from witness’s place as | an explanation of witness’s name bei ing on it. Witness insisted that he had I not got it there. He said that he thought that someone was putting one i over him. On the day of that discusj sion Page had dinner at witness’s home. Witness asked the accused the ques- ■ tinns the detectives had asked him. I He was frank in his answers. He gave

reasuiiaoiu uhswcib an ±ai ».-> was concerned. Witness had heard of a “Peeping Tom’’ about Blackball. I Page had not discussed it with witness Some of witness’s children told Page one time that people thought he was the Peeping Tom. Accused once said that the opossums were eating the food at his camp, and that he would have to destroy them, but he did not say how. The word poison may have beeu mentioned—that he was going to poison them. Witness asked him, and be said that he did not know Miss Bragg, but that he knew Miss Clark, by sight. Witness had never had strychnine in his possession, nor had ever seen it. He had never purchased chocolates at Lima’s. The postmaster at Blackball mentioned to witness that the accused was not attending to >his work, and witness had remarked it to the accused, and that he would lose the

work. Sometimes accused used to tell witness where he had been. Some times he went up for quartz. If the accused said that witness asked him to address the brown paper produced, it would not be correct. Never at any time had witness asked anyone to address the wrapper on the box produced. Witness had never scon it before. “Mrs. Moore, would you like to join your husband?’’ uttered accused when he turned round and addressed Mn. Moore, in the body of the court, and whose husband at this stage was giving his evidence in the witness box. Later whilst Mr. Moore’s evidence was being read over to him Page for about a minute whistled away quite unconcernedly. Mrs. Hilda May Moore, wife of the previous witness, said that she knew

the accused, who had visited her home as a friend. Witness had never known her husband to ask the accused to write an address for him. Accused had on occasions sent newspapers to her home, but she had never known them to bo wrapped. They were usually rolled up and tied with string with the address on the cover of the paper. She knew of no reason why Page should bo in possession of a piece of brown paper, with the address, “Mr. T Moore, Stafford Street.’’ Witness’s home was in Clifford Street. She had never heard of another T. Moore in Blackball. Witness thought Page would know the name of the street in which she lived. She had never heard the name of the girl Bragg mentioned in her home, in the presence of Page, before MTss Smith’s death. She had never known of any unpleasantness between the accused and her husband. Witness had heard her husband ask the accused for an explanation about an address on a piece of brown paper. Accused isaid that he could not say how it got i into his camp, unless it came from wit j ihess’s place. Witness had never seen the writing on the brown paper. When 4

it was produced, witness said that she had never seen it before. Witness had never seen the envelope produced at her home. Witness was sure that her I children had never posted a letter at |Atarau. Witness had heard of a Pecp-| ing Tom being about Blackball, and witness’s children said to the accused, in fun, that it was he who was the Peeping Tom. He only laughed when the children said it was he, and passed no remark. She had no knowledge of Page waiting at her house until late at night, and then going out to catch the Peeping Tom. Witness’s husband never went to dances. Proceedings were adjourned until ten o’clock this morning.