BURWOOD MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1927, Page 3

BURWOOD MURDER

BOAKES ON TRIAL.

By Telegraph—Per Press Association.

CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 21

Accused had made three statements, said Mr Donnelly. His first, in which he stated lie had not been out with the girl Kearff, had been proved untrue. In the second statement lie denied that lie met the girl in Oxford Terrace, but he had been seen to pick her up. in his taxi, obviously by appointment. In the third statement, lie had stated he had not gone out on the evening of Monday, June loth, or Tuesday. June 10th. He had later amended that statement by stating that he went out to buy tobacco on Monday. Ihe Crown submitted that lie went out on Tuesday also. Accused could not he connected with the spanner nor with the overcoat found near the scene ol the crime, Loth of which were stained with human blood. However, with regard to the coat, there was a suggestion that accused must have had two similar coats. Immediately after the coat was found in the scrub. Bonkes appeared in a khaki coat which it is suggested was different from the one lie had previously worn. “ The case for accused,” said Mr Donnelly,

“ is that you can’t identify the spanner; you can’t connect him with the overcoat, except as 1 have said, and from June 15, you can’t connect him with the girl at all. He can’t be traced to the Burwood neighbourhood, except on June Bth, when he was seen on a train, and about which he lied.” The evidence was the same as that tendered in the Lower Court, except that of Sidney Charles King, chemist’s assistant. He said he remembered the occasion when Brown, a taxi driver, introduced him to Boakes about a year ago. He met Bonkes again two or three times, hut just passed the time of the day. Mr Donnelly: Did you make a statement to Air Gresson in his office on November 4th. Witness: Yes.

Air Donnelly: Which is true, that made to Air Gresson, or that made in the Lower Court. Witness: That made to Air Gresson ill his office. Air Donnelly then asked lor, and was granted permission to treat witness as hostile, ami he proceeded to cross-examine him. Air Donnelly: Do you remember your Lower Court evidence. Witness: Yes. Air Donnelly: The statement was altogether untrue? Witness: A'es. Air Donnelly: Why did you give evidence before the Magistrate, which you now say is false? Witness: 1 was bullied into it by Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike. Witness continued that he had written out his statement in the Police Station on July 18, under pressure of a threat from Bickerdike that lie would lay a charge against witness. He had brought drugs to the Police Station, samples of the stuff he had alleged he had supplied to Bonkes, also because lie was practically ordered by Bickerdike to bring them. Air Donnelly: A’oit came hack to tin station, and said, “ Here are the pills and ergot 1 sold Bonkes ” ? Witness : A'es. Ah- Donnelly: When you went to Mr Gresson. you knew vour position was difficult ? Witness: A’es.

Mr Donnelly: Why did you not tel' him that von had lieen to the policestation twice? Witness: 1 did. Mr Donnelly: It is not in your statement. Witness: 1 told him, but lie left it out. Ah- Donnelly: I’m bound to put it to you, that that is unlikely? Witness: A'es, but I told him to jmt it in. Air Donnelly: You stick to it that you said that to Ah' Gresson? Witness: A’es. Witness’s statement to Air Gresson was read by Air Thomas. The effect of it was that Detective Bickerdike had “ kept at him,” and he was frightened and his nerve was all gone. Twenty-two witnesses were heard (luring the day. The evidence should be completed to-morrow.

CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 22. The trial of Charles William Boakos on a charge of having murdered Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff at Burwood was continued in the Supreme Court to-day. The public galleries again wore crowded.

Erie Horace Alugford gave evidence as to the finding of the body. To Air Thomas —After he saw the body he first saw Airs Delamnin, a storekeeper, who told him to go to . Rev. Tobin. M.r Thomas—Did you find someone else at the body l' ] Witness —-Yes, at the head. You told Afr Toliin about this man? . Yes. What was the man doing? He was kneeling at her head. You told All- Tobin the man had his back to you ? Yes. As you came in and made noises, this man jumped to his feet and rushed off into the broom? Yes. You did not see his face? No. lie was a smaller man than Boakos? Yes. Other witnesses gave evidence on lines of the Lower Court. Eric Alugford’s evidence continued— Air Thomas asked: Did a man dash into the broom? Witness: Yes; right into the solid broom. You never saw him again? No. Would this man he about my build hut shorter? Yes. You realise the tremendous importance of your evidence ? A'es. And what you have told the jury is true ? Yes, sir. . . You told Air Tobin witlim a few minutes of the finding of the body? Yes. . . And you told the police about this man ? Afr Thomas asked the hoy to tell him how far he was from the man and paced backwards across the courtroom, till the liov told him to stop. The hoy stopped Air Thomas when he had gone about ten or eleven feet. To Mr Donnelly—He told DetectiveSergeant Young wlint bo saw and showed him where the man went through the scrub. Rev. Cecil A. Tobin gave evidence of Alugford going to him and of Ins returning with Alugford to where * body was. The body looked as if it , had been moved.

j„ll„ George Alcßeth, a taxi driver, said that he had seen Aliss Scarff on the taxi stand on one occasion when she was looking for Boakes. He hn on several occasions taken telephone messages for Boakes on the stand, to ring up a house where Afiss Scarff was employed. Mr Thomas —Why in the Lower Court did you say you took telephone messages twice or three times? It was more tbiM,

You realise that this mam is on trial for his life? A'es. Then why do you do this? Have you any explanation? No, I have not. George Hunter McCann, Staff Sergt. Mnjor in the Defence Department, said that he had examined the two military overcoats produced. I hey were ordinary issue overcoats. To Air Thomas—The size numbers of the coats were not distinguishable. They were approximately of the same size. To Air Donnelly—An important difference between the coats was that of length. One was about four inches longer than the other. George Lewis, a fruiterer, and formerly a bus proprietor, said that from December 24tli, 1923, to October 16th, 192(1. Boakes drove one of Lis buses. AYitness saw the girl Senrff in a bus on one occasion. To Air Thomas—Boakes was ten months in witness’s employ. He was not a hot-tempered man. AYitness had never seen Boakes lose his temper. He seemed to be a kindly man.