SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1930, Page 5

SUPREME COURT

AVANGANUI MURDER TRIAL. CASE CONTINUES. (By Telegraph—Frees Association), AVANGANUI, Aug. 12. The murder trial of Herbert Frederick Manley continued before the Chief Justice (Sir M. Myers) and a .jury to-day. Stanley Gown Cromarty corroborated niucli of toe evidence of liifj sister. On April 28 he received a telegram from A-lanley asking him to go to Wellington. He went., and worked at the New Zealander Hotel. The next day Gladys -left'the hotel and returned to Wanganui. The same evening witness and 'Manley were paid oif and 'both returned to Wanganui, but intended going back to AA T ellington later. On arrival witness and Alaniey stayed at witness’s mother’s residence-. He believed that on Friday morning that Manley asked him where the police station was. He called to his home in the afternoon and found his sister dead. Cross-examined witness said he had not met Alanley until t-lu’ee weeks ■after the engagement.

A dram'atic episode occurred, when witness fainted in the box, after asking for. a drink of water, His mother, who was,in the Court, began to weep and had to leave . the Court room.

The cross-examination of, the .witness was postponed and another witness was heard. . . George Off, who was staying at Cromarty’s said he was in the House on the Thursday evening prior :to the departure otf Gladys and Manley to tlie pictures. AVitness remarked that it was funny a man taking a girl to the pictures when his engagement had been broken off. Charlotte McGrath said she was passing along Ridgway Street on Friday, May 9th and saw a man run down Wilson Street. On May 17 witness identified Alanley as the man she had seeii running away after this tragic happening. ' Did not a great 1 deal appear in the newspapers together'with a photograph of the accused? AVitness:—l '‘don’t;think- so. Did not accused’s photograph appear before you went round to the police station?. • ■ AA’itness:—1 do not know. I was at the police station on .the second day of the AVanganui races. Air Treadwell,:— Unfortunately I do not know what that was, it was Alay 17th, before you went to the police station. You had the benefit of seeing accused’s photograph in the newspapers. -v c; ! , y.

. Yes. .'His Honor —I hope the-press, will carefully consider the proprietory of publishing' photographs of accused persons. Sometimes it may be an advantage to the accused persons? but' on the whole I myself think that it should not be done. Noel McDonald said he met Alanley on the Friday in question. They had a couple of drinks together and Alanley stated that his engagement had been broken off. . ; . - . Vera Campbell of 'Wellington said' she saw Alanley and Gladys in Wellington. She was speaking to them. Gladys was wearing her ring on her right hand. Witness knew of the engagement. Witness next met Alanley on Alav 3. She went to see accused, because Gladys had not written. He told witness he was leaving and said that Gladys and lie were finished. Alanley said if he could not have Gladys nobody would. To" Afr Treadwell—She thought the statement was silly. Stanley Cromarty returned to the witness box and continued his evidence. To Air Treadwell—He did not come into contact with Alanley till about three weeks after the engagement. He remembered when Alanley stayed with his mother prior to going to Wellington and duri'ng that time -witness saw a good deal of Alanley and thought he was a nice cliap. The family enjoyed bein'* 1 ; in Manleys company. AVitness got out of work and accused was anxious to get him a situation. Witness later went to Wellington and was met by Gladys and Manley. He went to the New Zealander Hotel and started work the day after his arrival. Gladys returned to AVanganui and on the evening of Alay 5 the proprietor paid both Alanley and witness off.

Mr Treadwell : Why did that happen ? Manley was not suitable. He appeared depressed. There was no objection to Manley taking Gladys to the pictures on the night prior to the tragedy. On the morning of the murder Manley appeared to be nervous and was shaking all over. Later the same morning both witness and Manley had a game of billiards. Accused later asked where the Police Station was. All appeared happy at lunch time. On 'Friday night witness expected Manley to pay a social call at Wanganui'East. Detective Walsh gave evidence of going to the scene of the tragedy in response to a message. The body was lying in the kitchen, as described by Dr Adams. Witness was unsuccessful in finding a -weapon about the house. On returning to the Police Station at 6.‘20 witness saw Manley there and he commenced an examination. Witness asked Manley to step on the table and Manley replied. “I am. not denying it.”