THE PIHA CASE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 145, 22 May 1939, Page 7

THE PIHA CASE

TRIAL OPENS. PUBLIC SPACE CROWDED. “NOT GUILTY” PLEAS. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, May 22. The public space in the Supreme Court to-day was crowded and the front row of' the women’s department was also filled when the trial commenced of the two Australians, Gordon Robert McKay, aged 43, alias Tom Rowlands, wool and hides dealer, and James Arthur Talbot, aged 38, labourer, on the charges on which they were committed for trial in the Lower Court—that on or about February 12, 1939, they wilfully set fire to a dwellinghouse, thereby committing arson, and further, - that on or about February 10, 1939, they interfered with a dead human body. They were further charged with conspiring hv deceit to defraud the Mutual Life and Citizens’ Insurance Company, Ltd.. Sydney, of £25.500 by representing that McKay was dead. Mr V. R. Meredith, with him Mr N. I. Smith, appeared for the Crown. Mr W. Noble delended McKay and Mr J. Terry defended Talbot. Before the jury was empanelled Mr Justice Fair announced that during the trial the jurors would he kept together, and he said that the hearing was expected to last four or five days. Each of the accused pleaded nut guilty. “This ease has created very lively public interest, with the result that active newspaper men have published a great deal, even including rumours which mav not he correct,” said Mr Meredith in addressing the jury. “I ask you to lay aside anything you may have lead and base your verdict entirely on the evidence given in this Court.” Mr Meredith added that it would he well to bear in mind the association of the two men for a number of years in Australia. McKay was married, and Talbot, a single man. had been an occupant of McKay’s house for some years. Last year they went to England, but before that tbev went to the T. and G. Company and McKay insured liis life for £5500 in addition to the £4500 insurance he already had. He took out a further £15.000. making a total of £25.500. He paid several hundred pounds to got the policies in existence and had to pay further several hundreds to renew the policies on March 1 last. They were whole life policies. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. Mr Meredith said that McKay and Talbot returned to Sydney from England on January 10 last and arrived in Auckland on February 6. After the premium on the policy was really due and when the period of grace had begun, they were met here by a man named Jones and rented a double room. Mr Meredith next mentioned tho death of Patrick Henry Shine, a returned soldier who served with the Australian troops. lie was a smallish man, oft 7in in height and lie died in the Auckland Hospital on February 8, two days after McKay and I albot arrived. He died in a very emaciated state. He had no natural teeth, and after his death the cavity of the mouth was packed with cotton wool. A death notice appeared in a newspaper on tlie morning of Thursday, February 9. Toward midday, evidence would show, a stonemason at Waikumeto Cemetery was approached by McKay who asked where “the returned soldier” was to be buried. The portion of the cemetery where he was buried was comparatively close to the main road. Evidence would show that when voung Shine, a son of deceased, was taking a wreath home on Thursday, tlie day of the funeral, he met McKay outside his house and McKay made inquiries about Mr Shine’s teeth. The liaeh .was taken on the night of Thursday, February 9, the advertisement of the funeral having appeared on Thursday morning, and McKay had seen Shine, junr.. shortly before the funeral on that day. The ease is proceeding.