WELLINGTON TRAGEDY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 254, 23 September 1933, Page 12

WELLINGTON TRAGEDY

THE MURDER CHARGE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 22. At the continuation of the case in which George Edward Jones is charged with murder, Cora King said that on June 29 Mrs Smith and her son had lunch a.t her home. While they were there accused called at the house. Mrs Snith asked accused if he had seen a certain party, whose name witness did not catch, and he replied that he had. Mrs Smith asked accused what he (the certain party) had said, and accused replied he would tell her when he got home. Accused remained at the house for about 10 minutes, and while lie was there lie arranged with Mrs Smith to meet her later in the afternoon at Veitch and Allan’s corner. Accused then left the house. Mrs Smith and the boy left at 3 p.m. to go to meet accused. That w r as the last she saw of them. Annie Tait said that on May 25 accused sold her a sewing machine for £4. He said that his wife had died and that he was breaking up his home. Pansy May House said that accused was her foster-father. The wife of accused, who was witness’s foster-mother, died on January 20 of this year. Witness said that she lived -with her her foster-parents until April, 1931, when she married. Witness said that she was the sole beneficiary under her foster-mother’s will, and that had caused a little trouble between witness and her foster-father. About the beginning of May of this year accused called on witness and made a reference to a Mrs Smith, and said that they hoped to get narried soon. Witness said that tho letter which had been found on the wharf was in accused’s handwriting, and was addressed to her. Mr Macassey. to witness: Can you tell us if accused enjoyed good health? —Yes, as far as I know he had quite good health. Did you ever know him to be subject to fits. —No. Noel Howard Rouse, a solicitor, said that he acted as solicitor for the executor of the late Mrs James’s estate. Accused came to his office one evening after Mrs James’s death and said that if he (Rouse) could not arrange for him to have some money he would consult a solicitor and contest the will, as he was up against it and on relief work. James was told that if he was destitute Rouse would do what he could to supply him with food and clothing, but witness could not give him any money. James appeared to be satisfied. Cross-examined by Mr Leicester, witness said that he was a brother-in law of the previous witness, Mrs Rouse. Constable McManus, who guarded accused in hospital, said he appeared quite rational, but once he had been worrying all day. Constable Rush, who was on similar duty, said accused sometimes complained of pains in his head. He broke down when told that Noel’s body had been found, saying that he loved the boy dearly. He said his wife left everything to her daughter, who would not help him. During the last month or two he often w'ent hungry, and he was only getting 13s 2d from relief work. Whenever a doctor visited him his cough seemed to get worse. Detective-Sergeant Jarrokl said he interviewed accused in hospital on July 2 with Chief-Detective Carroll. Accused said he saw Mrs Smith and Noel last at Miss .King’s place and his mind was a blank for the last two days. He had not seen them since the had left King’s house. When told of the death of Mrs Smith, he said: “I don’t remember anything.” Mr Macassey intimated there were several more witnesses and the hearing was adjourned till Tuesday.