PICTON MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1932, Page 5

PICTON MURDER

OLD MAN’S DEATH

TARRANT STANDS HIS TRIAL.

(Per Press Copyright.)

BLENHEIM, November 22.

Extraordinary public interest was shown this morning n the# irial at the Supreme Clourt, before His E mour Mr Justice Blair, of Edward Tarrant, who is charged with the murder, at Bicoon, on November 3, 1931, of an old man! named James Flood. Large crowds of people assembled around the Court House at an early hour, but many of them could not be admitted. The accommodation available was almost fully occupied by the unusually large panel of jurymen who had been summoned in anticipation of a free exercise of the right of. challenge. Mr P. S. K. Macassey, of Wellington, with him Mr A. A. Macnab, of Blenheim, appeared for the Crown, while the prisoner was represented by Mr Evan Parry, of Wellington, with him Mr A. E„ L. Seamtlebury of Blenheim.

The Crown is calling between 54 and 60 witnesses, so that the trial is likely to occupy a considerable time. The victim of he tragedy, who was known to keep in a wallet in his possession a sum of about £l,ooo* mainly in old-style £2O and £lO notes, lived alone in s> two-roomed cottage in Canterbury Street, Picton, with neighbours fairly handy on all sides. He was last seen alive on the evening of November 3. Forty-eight hours later some neighbours, realising that they had not seen Flood about for a considerable period, made investigations which resulted in the .discovery of his body, practically decapitated, lying in the living roonl of his cottage. One door of the cottage had locked after the tragedy and a curious discovery a' few days later was that of the door key, which was found lying on the .edge of the Picton Croquet Club’s closely-shaven lawn. When the •the tragedy was discovered the old man’s wallet, which he had carried in a specially-buttoned inside coat pocket, was missing. ‘ f

It will probably be a week or more before* the Crown case is completed and the defence opened. (Proceeding.