WANGANUI MURDER CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 7 June 1930, Page 5

WANGANUI MURDER CASE

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

AYAXGAXUr, June 0. In the murder case, after the luncheon adjournment, Stanley Cowans (. romarty, motor driver and cook, a brother of the deceased, corroborated bis mother’s ami sisters Dora’s evidence regarding there being an engagement between his sister Gladys and Manly, and regarding the movements of the accused prior to his going to Wellington. AVilnes-s stated lie was out of work at that time, and Alunl.v wired him to go to Wellington. He went, and he was met at AVellington by Manly and Gladys. Manly told witness that he had a job for him as third cook at the New Zealander Hotel, which he accepted, starting next day. Gladys left her position in the hotel on the day that witness started. He and Afatily

were subsequently dismissed from em-

ployment. They arrived in AA'nnganui on Tuesday, A fay 6. He then invited ATnnlv to aceomnany him to his mother's house, and he accepted.

AVitness described bis associations with Alaniy from , the Tuesday to the Thursday, during which time Afanly appeared quite normal. On the Tuesday night Manly took his sister to the met ores. The only thing he heard was Manlv snv: “AVliy, girl .won’t it he the hist time?” On the Friday morning AT a n 1 v was nervous and shaking all over. AVitncss and Afanly went out to fim cleaners to get Alanly’s trousers, which had been left them the previous d-'v. They plavrd billiards together, and then went home. They had some d" : nks going to t.lm cleaners, ,eneh a "lass of beer. “Manly asked me when. +~o nolire office was, and T told him it was in Ridgwav Street,” witness continued.. “AY'e arrived home about noon, and bad lunch. I went out, leaving Manly ’in the kitchen.” Later, said witness in consequence of what be was told, be went home. Dora was sitting on the front steps. AA’itness went to see his mother first, who was with Airs AfcDougall, next door. Then lie went into his mother’s house, and found his sister Gladys lying on the floor. He lifted her up to the extent of six or eight inches. She had her throat cut. and was dead. AA'itness then left the house. Witness. recognised knives produced in Court as Alanly’s. One particular knife was singled out by Air Bain. The witness said that he might have seen it, hut he could not identify it. Alanly’s knives were all marked. John Orr said that he was a hoarder at No. (i, Ridgway Street. He related how Gladys Cromarty, Stanley Cromarty, and Manly cattle back from Wellington. He board a conversation which ‘occurred in the kitchen of the Cromarty home relative to going to the pictures, Manly, said lie was taking Gladys to the pictures. AVitness said “It is a funny thing to be taking a girl to the pictures when the engagement is broken, off.”

Evidence was given by Airs Charlotte McGrath, a married woman. She said that on Mny 9, she was passing through Ridgway Street. She saw a man who was very pale run out of the gate of No. 6 He ran down Wilson Street towards the railway station. A lady came out of the gate screaming. AVitness did not know the man. She had never seen him before. On AI ay 17th she attended at the police station, and from a number of men she picked Manly out. He was the accused.

ALargaret Pidwell identified a pair of trousers produced in Court as having passed through the laundry at which she worked. They would not have left the laundry in their present condition. She identified them by the laundry mark.

Noel AlcDonald, service car driver stated lie knew Alanl.v. < He met him on May 9 at about 3 o’clock and bad two drinks with him. Manly bad a stout, first and a gin the second time. Manly said that the young lady he was engaged to was ill, and had come hack to Wanganui, and he had come back also. He appeared quite normal. '.Mr Flagg it raised an objection at ihis stage, submitting that the evidence had the same trend as that of Dr -'dams.

Air Pain said that the purpose of the evidence was to show that Alaul; had had drink.

Vera Campbell, of AVebb Street, AVellington, said that she knew Gladys Cromarty well, having met her in Wellington on April 29. AVitness saw Gladys and accused waiting 'for Stanly Cromarty at the Aard Office. AYitni'xs was on one side ol the road and they were on the other. lliev ueie quarrelling. Gladys .still had her ung on, but it was on her right hand. She next saw Manly at tlm New Zealander Hotel on A lay 3. “He told me that Gladys lmd broken the engagement olf.” witness proceeded. “and he asked me if i knew. 1 said I didn’t ]|,, said: “If 1 can’t keep Gladys, nobody else will!” 1 told him not to he silly. He said: ‘You might think so. hut 1 don’t.’ ”

Detective D. AA'alsh described the finding of the body and described the

soiiToumiiugs in detail. I here was no si,,-,, of weapon. Witness returned lo [he police station nt (S.‘JO p.m., and there saw the accused sitting in the watch house. AVitness requested Manly to sten on a table under an electric light. When requested to do this, Al-inly said: “1 am not denying.” AVitness continued that he then asked Ala illy if he had any explain-

tion to make regarding the blood stains uii hi* clothing, at the same time cautioning him. Continued witness :“He did not reply to my question, hut said, ‘I do not know why I did it! All J know is 1 did!”

“Later,” continued witness, “Manly was sitting in my office, smoking a cigarette, when he said : T went to lij'r room. She was sleeping. T spoke to her. I had the- knife with me then.” AA'itness stated that Dr ■Adams arrived then, and had an interview witli Alanl.v. He answered the Doctor’s questions clearly and intelligently in a low tone of voice. AVitness continued: “In Alanly’s property there was a letter.” Mr Haggitt “I object to this evidence. I submit it is not relevant

The Magistrate: “Anything emanat'im from the accused must be admitted.”

Detective AA'alsh then deposed that Mv* letter in question was addressed to the Officer-in-charge of the police station, AA'anganui. it was /stamped but had not be-een through the post •Too. it had been opened by Senior Sergeant McLean, in Alanly’s presence. lie (Alanl.v) said he had written it. and it was read out to him.

Mr Haggitt: “I asked that my objection be noted.” “I can quite see that if the letter is read at this stage it will prejudice Afr Haggitt’s case,” said the Atagistrate.

Mr Bain: “I quite agree that tho letter should not be read.”

The Magistrate; “Is it signed by the accused?” Detective Walsh: “Yes.”

Proceeding, the Detective said that Manly bad said he had written the letter that dav (May 9) at the railway station. A\’itnes.s told how SeniorSergeant McLean, during a search in the Sasli mid Door Timber yards, "omul the knife in a cattle stop. It was an ordinary knife, as used by cooks. Tt had the litters “V.I” on the handle, were other knives similarly marked in the accused’s suitcase. When Afanly gae himself up to the police, he had in his possession a pawn ticket which showed that on April 30th lie had pledged a five-stone diamond ring for £3 with AA 7 . Smart, pawnbroker, of AA T ellington. That ring was redeemed bv the police on May 12, and was the engagement ring exhibited. The case was adjourned until 10.30 a.m. to-morrow.

ACCUSED’S QUEER BEHAVIOUR

AA’ANGANUI. June 5,

Tn the Afanly case, Stanley Cromarty said that when Afanly returned to AA’anganui from Wellington, the latter’s relations with bis sister Gladvs were friendly, and on tile morning of the tragedy, witness said, Manly appeared nervous, and be was shaking all over. Later in the dav Manly asked witness where the police station was.