THE RUAWARO CASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 149, 25 May 1934, Page 8

THE RUAWARO CASE

SETTLERS CONTINUE EVIDENCE

CONSTABLES IN WITNESS BOX

Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Hay 24. The evidence of Ruawaro settlers occupied the Supreme Court at the hearing of the double murder charge against William Alfred Bayly, aged 28, a farmer, of Ruawaro to-day The evidence of these settlers is not yet completed, and several have yet to be called. Cross-examination is being carried out by both counsel for the defence. Public interest m the trial grew in the afternoon, until about 100 men and a number ot women were unable to gain admission, and formed queues. The blind man who was the first to arrive on the opening dav has attended both sessions every day.

WITNESS'S STATEMENT. The Crown Prosecutor, Mr V. R. Meredith, and Air F. AlcCarthy, are prosecuting, while Bayly is represented by Air E. H. Nortlicroft and Air L. P. Leary, instructed by Air R. B. Lusk. Air .-Justice Herdman is on the Bench. On the resumption of the trial after the luncheon adjournment the witness Stent was still in the box. He described the discussion over the fence at the Lakeys’ house. Lakey said to ■witness, “Keep out of this, it is going to be more serious than you think. ’ Bayly told Lakey he was going to cut a fence so he could get out on to the main road. This discussion took place during Christmas, 1932, and lasted 10 minutes. Witness left with Bayly, who said Lakey would not see another season out. When helping Bayly to dock lambs witness said, “You are not too friendly with the people on the hill.” Accused said he would like to get them out. Bayly also said that if Lakey came over he would shoot him. Witness said: “Don’t talk like that; you have a wife and children to think of ” Bayly removed the cream stand at Lakey’s gate. When witness was working for him accused said he was not going to let those miserable s have it. Lakey had a large watch, while Bayly had a small pocket watch, while witness worked at his farm. Stent said Lakey’s was similar to the watch produced. Witness saw Bayly and Lakey conversing, one on each side of the fence. “I heard part of the conversation," continued Baldick. “Bayly said that if Lakey came on his side of the boundary he would fight him. Lakey said the same. Nothing happened; neither went on the otheris property. Bayly said, ‘I you were not injured, I would certainly attack you.’ Lakey 3 us v laughed. Lakey and I then went from the paddock to another. Lakey had asked Bayly to keep a bull off Lakey s Pl Witness did not remember wliat Bayly said. AVhen Bayly rode up with Stent he asked Lakey to remove the fence and allow a road to be made. Lakey refused, whereupon Bayly said he would remove it himself. Prior to that, Bayly had said someone had been across his right-of-way and thrown broken glass, which had damaged the tyres of his car. Witness had been across the road. lii reply to Mr Baldick said it' was the manner in which Airs Lakey drove out the bull which caused the argument. Prior to the Bayly used the outlet through the Lakeys’ farm. Afterward he used a separate road. Witness had seen Bayly using the stand at the Lakeys’ gate before the quarrel. A farm labourer, William John Stevens, said he had known Lakey for 30 years in England and the Dominion. He was married in Auckland. Stating he had worked for them, witness said the couple agreed well. To Air Nortlicroft, witness said that Lakey had a belt with a heavy buckle. Counsel exhibited seven brace runners labelled “Police,” and asked Stevens if he could identify the brand used by Lakey. Stevens was not able to do so. CREAAI GRADING. Alfred Janies Garry, a dairy factory manager, of Taupiri, stated that Lakey had been a supplier to his factory, ■which collected every day, except "Sunday. AVitness gave figures showing that on Monday, October 16, Lakey’s cream was 531bs. short compared with the previous Monday. Lakey’s cream was of inferior grade that Alonday compared with tile usual grading ot superfine. If the lids were left on the cans all night, the quality of the cream would be affected. The Court then adjourned until tomorrow morning. In reply to i\fr Northeroft, witness declared that the first incident he had mentioned had occurred in August or September. Witness had seen none of Bayly’s sheep running on the Lakeys’ place but Bayly had told him his sheep were running or. the Lakeys'. Witness had heard there was a violent row about the matter. This was not the time Bayly discontinued using Lakeys’ access, which occurred about Christmas.

CONVERSATION DESCRIBED. Amy Hilda Venn, single, living at Parnell, Auckland, said she knew the Lakeys, where she went for a holiday in December, 1932. Ivan Baldick was also there. She remembered the morning when Stent and Bayly arrived at the Lakeys’, but did not hear the conversation. Site was standing by the shed and could hear the- voices, but could not say what was said. The lighter produced was something like Lakey’s, but she was not sure. Similar evidence was given by Clarence Ivan Baldick, of Parnell, a carter, who stated he was also at the Lakeys’ in December, 1932. At the Lakeys’ he did some shooting, using the guns there. He could not distinguish the pea-rifle by any marks, but the one he used was very similar to that produced.

Witness denied that the difficulties in opening up Bayly’s access arose through witness having cantered through Lakeys’. Witness was not sure whether Bayly ceased using Lakeys’ access before or after Christmas. He denied that a new route was put through on his behalf. “1 could have come through Lakeys’ any time, provided I did not canter,” declared Stent. ‘‘The new road was not put through for my convenience.” In reply to JVlr Meredith, Stent said he had heard of the quarrel regarding the sheep from Bayly, who had said he had been accused of stealing them. Mrs Gwendoline Maud Stevens, of Ruawaro, said she had seen Bayly driving a sledge on the morning of October 16. He was travelling toward his cowshed. Bayly only had one horse. Witness identified a hat as Mrs Lakey’s. In reply to Mr Nortlicroft, witness said she had informed the police she had seen Bayly about a week later. Another Ruawaro farmer, Joseph Gilmour, who had known the Lakeys for over 16 years, described the pair as a very happy couple. Witness was last at their home on September 24. There were two shotguns and a pea-rifle there. The pea-rifle belonged to a man named Moore, who had worked for witness, whose wife had lent it to Lakey. Deceased had it for 12 months. Witness left a pair of brown boots at the Lakeys’ house, where he had changed to go to Huntly and Hamilton after riding from home. Gilmore described the search at the Lakeys’ farm on the first day, in which he participated before going to the house. The pair of wheels in Court had stood in the Lakeys’ yard for 11 years. When returning from the search witness saw them under a wattle tree in the paddock adjoining Bayly’s. He did not examine them. The boots, which were usually kept inside the door, were missing when witness went to the house. Lakey’s gun and pea-rifle were also missing. Gilmore identified the pea-rifle produced as Moore’s. ~ In reply to Mr Leary, witness said he ’ast saw boots on September 24. ’