ALLEGED MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 275, 20 October 1937, Page 2

ALLEGED MURDER

ACCUSED'S STATEMENT. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Per Press Association. TIMARU, Oct. 19. Evidence at tile hearing of the Arundel murder charge this morning concentrated upon the movements of accused, Randall Reginald David Smith. Jessie Jones, a boardinghouse proprietress at Seacliff, said that accused was like a man who came to her on September 12, but she could not swear to it. He left on September 13. Gordon William McHardy, a storekeeper at Seacliff, said that accused cashed a cheque which was signed by David Bell. Detectives took possession of the cheque before it was tendered to the bank. Detective J. Gibson said the cheque was made out and endorsed by Jack O’Brien. James Daniel McKechnie, manager of the Bank of New Zealand at Geraldine, said that the cheque produced was from a cheque book purchased by Gabv on May 11. No one named David Belf had an account at the bank. When Allan Charles Herring, a warder in charge of the Mt. Eden prison bookshop, was called, Dr. Haslam objected to the nature of the evidence to be given. The matter was discussed in chambers for four minutes after which Mr Herring was allowed to give evidence. He described the types of bootlaces made at Mt. Eden. He knew of no other place or firm in New Zealand •where laces were similarly made. As far as he knew the only place the laces (produced) could have been made was at Mt. Eden. Accused had been m Mt Eden and was discharged on August 1J last. Dr. H.aslam’s objection to all of Mr Herring’s evidence was recorded. Robert Richard Graham Lawson, of Paparoa, identified a lucky charm clock found in Gaby’s store as one that had been among accused’s possessions in August, 1935. ... Mrs Olive Ibell, of Christchurch, and Allan Richard Armstrong, of Christchurch, said they recognised the charm as one worn by accused in the lapel of his coat. They last saw it in August. Detective-Sergeant J. Bickerdike, or Christchurch, said that lie interviewed accused at tlio detective office in Christ church and told him that he was investigating Gaby’s death. 1 'Accused asked my reason for interviewing him on the matter. I asked him if he knew the Arundel district and he said he knew it well and lie knew Gaby s store. I told him a cheque had been cashed at Seacliff by a mail answering his description. I told him the clicouo was from a book on issue to Gaby. After a. few minutes accused said: ‘What is going to happen to mo if I tell the truth?’ I said: It just depends on what your explanation is, provided yon have an explanation. Accused said: ‘I did not intend to kill Gaby. ’ He gave a groan as 1 dragged him into tl*e kitchen.’ _ ■ . “He said ho would prefer to write his own story as lie could put it in Ins own language.” ~ , , , In a statement accused said he stayed at Mt. Somers on September 9, Ho then proceeded to describe his movements until lie reached Arundel at 7 p.m. on September 10. About an hour later he went into the store and took money from tlie till and .also a chequo book. “I was just leaving when I mot a man at the back door. He made some remark and if I remember rightly he made a dash at me. I stepped into the back door of the store and picked up a piece of wood in the kitchen. By this time the man, was standing outside the back doorAM think I pushed him back with my’ hand. He said something, but I cannot remember clearly what it was. . I raised the wood up and struck at him and he fell -to the ground. Ido not remember clearly what happened just then. I have a slight recollection that I picked him up and dragged him into the kitchen. He appeared to be stunned. I cannot remember whether he was bleeding or not. He did not say anything but gave a bit of a groan. I then noticed that he was an old man. The three bootlaces shown to me by the detectives are what I bad on me at the time I went into the store but I cannot say what I did with these. I know I left them at the _ store. At this time I was very excited and do not remember clearly what happened. I then closed the back door and left. After leaving the store I went on to the main road and either walked or ran towards Geraldine as I was frightened After walking for about four miles I cooled off. When a car came along I stepped into the middle of the road and he gave me a lift to Timaru.” , Accused then described Ins movements in Timaru. He pleaded _ not guilty and was committed for trial.