ALLEGED MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 226, 24 August 1932, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER

EVIDENCE IN BLENHEIM CASE. Ter Press Association. BLENHEIM. Aug. 23. The Police Court proceedings against Edward Tarrant, a well-known I icton resident, about 58 years of age, who is charged with murdering James Flood at Picton on November 3 1931, were continued before Air T. E. AlaunBell, S.M., to-day. CONTENTS OF MALLET. Constable Condon was cross-examined at some length regarding how many times he had seen the wallet in deceased's possession. He said he had seen it half a dozen times in the last three years. , , ~ Counsel: At hen deceased paid you money he drew it from the wallet. AVhat did he then do with it.' —He placed the wad on the table and then lifted the £lO notes into one pile. How many notes were in the £lO bundle?—l didn’t count them, but there appeared to be about a dozen. He paid you with a £2O note? Yes. AVhere did he take it from? —From the wad of £2O notes. AYere there only £2O notes in that bundle—l know the next one to it was a £2O note and I saw that the bottom one was a £2O note, so I assumed that the others were also £2O notes. Were there many of them? —There appeared to be 12 or 15. James Thomas Tetley Flood, builder, of Picton, gave evidence that he was a nephew of deceased. About 1908 deceased was taken to the mental hospital in Nelson, where he remained for about four months. The Public Trustee took over deceased’s farm property, but witness’s father looked after it. A few months after James Flood's discharge from the mental hospital he leased the farm to witness and his two brothers. The lease was for 20 years at £IOO a year. Counsel for the defence: AA hat does it matter? The Crown Prosecutor: It proves the source of the money we say lie had. Witness said ho saw his uncle frequentlv. He was of quiet disposition and very thrifty. A\ itness had never known of anyone borrowing money from him. AA itness built the cottage in which his uncle lived and was paid £lßl and some shillings in July, 1930. The money was paid in notes. AA’itness could not remember how the amount was made up. There would bo some single notes. Later witness built a wood shed for his uncle and was paid with a £5 note, a £1 note and some silver. Coming to the night of the tragedy, witness said that about 9 p.m. on November 5, as the result of a message he went to his uncle’s house. Here he met Constable Condon, and they proceeded to the cottage, where the constable got through a window. AYitness said that on Constable Condon’s request ho and Air Esson forced the door open, and witness saw his uncle's body lvmg on its hack in front of the fireplace. AYitness described the injuries and said the right side of deceased’s coat was open. The coat had blood on it and the pocket appearto be quite fiat. Beneficaries under deceased's will were witness, his two brothers, and two sisters, and three cousins. Cecil Godfrey Flood, a labourer, u nephew of deceased, said he saw ffeceased about once a month. He had known him lend money on one or two occasions. Arthur Lionel Flood, also a nephew, said he had never known deceased lend money. John Thomas sheepfarmer, said ho had known blood all his life. He was careful in money matters, never lending. AA itness described deceased’s wallet, which was actually, a lady’s handbag. BANK TELLER’S EVIDENCE.

Janies Alexander Fuller, hank teller, of Picton, said deceased his death had two fixed deposits—£224 and £lO9. He produced a statement showing tire denominations of the notes issued to deceased on account of interest since January 8. There were eight £2O notes, 96 £lO notes, 42 £5 notes and single notes. They were Bank of New Zealand notes. From 1915 to 1931, deceased received interest totalling £2761. Witness then detailed the various interest payments.

When deceased lifted the interest he put the money in a wallet which he took from his inside coat pocket. It was a brown wallet, but very dirty, and had a rubber hand round it. The money in it was wrapped in a bundle; deposit receipts were also in the wallet. Tire money was in notes; he saw one £2O note in the bottom.

"The money I gave him lie wrapped round in a bundle,” said witness. “I estimated there was between £2OO and £3OO in the bundle. Deceased occasionally changed notes in tho hank, but not many £2O notes —three as far as I remember.” Witness correct his statement regarding the interest paid to deceased irom 1915 to 1931. The correct calculation was £3233 8s 9d. Deceased had no current account.

Witness then detailed at length particulars regarding cheques paid to K. Tarrant by certain firms and the denominations of notes in payment. This was wearisome but necessary evidence, it being explained that accused had accounted for the possession of certain notes he had cashed by a. statement that these particular firms had paid amounts to him and he had received specified notes in payment from the bank. Four £lO notes had been paid but no £2O notes. Cross-examined, witness said he did not know if the wallet had any other fastener than the rubber band. The amounts paid from January 8, 1931, to deceased were eight £2O notes, 96 £lO notes, and 42 £5 notes. Witness produced bank notes of the denomination of six £2O notes and fen £lO notes. These notes were paid to deceased on interest coupons. Detective F. Sinclair described the position of deceased's body when it was found in his cottage, and detailed the wounds which caused death. On November 0 the caretaker of the croquet lawn gave witness a key which filled the lock of the entrance door to deceased’s house. Witness removed from deceased’s clothing a rubber flap (produced). It was sewn above the inside pocket; it had a buttonhole which fitted a button below the pocket of the coat. , T Witness said he saw accused on .[November 8 at the Picton jmlioo station. Accused called to report having borrowed £3O from deceased and to inquire to whom he should pay it back. Accused made a statement, which, he signed. In this he said he called on deceased regarding some fencing posts. He asked deceased for a loan of £3O and deceased gave it to him without demur He took it out of a wallet. That waf on the Saturday before La°W h ile** examining the cottage when the body was there. Detective Sinclair said he found the poker produced. It a. 'l blood on it. He searched ioi the wallet and the door key, but could Tl °C r o ss -e xa mitred witness said^^the f, r st intimation he had abol . There are .still a large number of wit-

nesses to bo called, and the proceedings threaten to be protracted.

TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS.

Per Press Association. BLENHEIM, Aug. 24

In the Police Court to-day during the hearing of the charge against Edward Tarrant of the murder of James Flood at Picton, John Walker Fowler gave evidence of finding a key on the green of the Picton Croquet Club. Henry RufFell, a butcher gave evidence of calling at deceased’s house on No vein her 4 about 4.30 p.m. He got no reply to Iris knock and tried a dooi which was locked. Cross-examined, witness said that lie cut the meat up on a van, using an ordinary butcher’s knife and cleaver. James Aldridge, a baker, also deposed to calling at the cottage and finding the door locked which was unusual.

Tennyson Connolly deposed to passing the cottage on the night of -’November 3 when all was dark. r J he following morning he again passed and saw a window open. This was the first time he had seen a window open. The door was closed.