The Death of Phillis Symons

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6627, 14 August 1931, Page 7

The Death of Phillis Symons

Taxi Driver’s Sensational Story

Relief Workers in the Witness Box

Times Special WELLINGTON, Last Night. Relief workers who were engaged on the Hataitai job in June last gave evidence in the Magistrate’s Court to-day at the continuation of the Crown case against George. Errol Coats, a Labourer, aged 29, who is charged with the murder of (Phillis Avis Symons, aged 17, on or about June 26. There is still a large number of witnesses to be beard, and the hearing is expected to last at least another full day. Public interest in the case continues unabated, and a queue began to form outside the Court soon after 8 o’clock this morning. By 10 o’clock there was a moderate crowd outside the building, and throughout this morning’s hearing the public gallery was packed. Mr. E. Page, S.M., was on the Bench. The Crown Prosecutor (Mr. P. S. K. Macassey) conducted the case, and the accused was represented by Ml*. C. A. L. Treadwell, with him Mr. H. J. V. James.

Resuming liis evidence, John David Glover, machinist, said that about a fortnight after Evie Coats left Wellington he met tho accused and Do Maine in Adelaide road in the evening. Coats said he was going to Melville's to pick up somo letters. In reply to a question as to hotv Phillis was getting on he said, “Fine.” He added that he tad done something to her, and “it had come off all right.” He asked witness to drop in for a game of cards later in the evening, but witness did not do- so. De Maine was usually at tho accused’s house when witness was there, end they generally played cards. Questioned about the conversation with Coats in Adelaide road, witness said the accused would not tell him what he had done to Phillis. One Saturday night in June witness played cards with the accused at Melville's place, and walked homo with him early on the following morning. Melville was living in Mein street. When thoy reached the accused's house they stayed outside talking for a while. Coats said: “I got a beauty on to Phillis the other night. I took her over to Hataitai and tapped her on the back of the head with a pioce of pipe and knocked her out, and I waited until she came to.” Mr. Macasscy: “Did he say what she said when she came to?” Witness: “Oh, George, I feel cold all over.” Witness said that Goats told him he “kidded” Phillis that she was going to die. “Did he tell you what she said she thought about it?”—“I can’t remember.” “Did he explain why he tapped her over the back of the head?” —“Just to knock her out.” “When he told you that did he tell you what you should do?” —“Ho told me to keep it under my hat.” “Did he tell you any other person know about it?”—“Yes, De Maine.” “Did he say where he went when he left Phillis at Hataitai?”—“He said he left her to go to Melville’s, and when he came back Phillis was lying on the bed and De Maine was there.” Witness said that Coats told him De Maine had “pumped” Phillis and got out of her what had happened. On the evening of 25th June, witness was playing cards in the accused’s room. Phillis said that they were behind in tho rent and wet going to shift. Witness and the others went home about 11 o’clock. That was the last time ho saw Phillis alive and the last time he saw Coats before the latter was arrested. Dead Girl’s Letter. Witness said he called at the accused’s room on the following Tuesday, 30th Juno. There was no one in tho room. He turned tho mattress on tho bed over and found a letter (produced). Witness took the letter over to Melville aud showed il to him at the Diamond taxi-cab office. Witness handed the letter over to Mr. Symons, the girl’s father, on Sunday morning, sth July. Goats and the girl had appeared to be on good terms, witness continued. Phillis seemed to be fond of the accused, who treated her fairly well. She was nearly always willing to do anything for him. On most occasions she obeyed him when he asked her to do anything. Witness did not sec tho girl wearing more than one set of clothes. She wore a black dress, a dark green overcoat, a black straw hat, and mostly a pair of brown shoes. She also wore a wedding ring and a small diamond ring. Witness identified ceitain articles of clothing (produced) as having belonged to the deceased. On sth July he went to the morgue with the police and identified a body there as that of the girl with whom Coats hai been living. < < Do you remember an incident that happened in tho earlier part when the accused and the deceased were living at 140, Adelaide road, and he cut his finger? "-“Yes.” “Do you know how ho cut his finger?”—“No.” “Do you know what clothes he was wearing?”—“l can’t remember.” “Did tho accused ever have a dog to your knowledge?” —“No.” Questioned by Mr. Treadwell, witness said that the most ho ever lost playing cards with tho accused was 10d. The last three months of the girl’s life were spent at 140, Adelaide road. He was quite sure tho letter produced was the one he found under the mattress. He could not read it properly when he first found it, as he had bad eyesight. Ho first knew the full contents of the letter when he handed it over to Mr. Symons. “Was Melville present when you handed it over?”—“Yes.” “Do you remember that in the letter the girl said she had many times contemplated suicide?” —“I remember something about suicide, but not how many times it was mentioned.” “Do you remember she said Coats was doing his best to keep her in food?”—“Yes.” “And that she wanted her parents* consent to marry Coats?” —“Yes. ’ Digging a Hole At the conclusion of Glover’s evidence Mr. Macassey pointed out what

Mr. Treadwell: “How many days do you suggest Coats was working on that hole?” —“For about four days while I was there.” “How far was the lower tip from where Coats was digging?”—“About 45 to 50 yards.” “This was conducted in the open during working hours?” —“Yes. “What used you to do when it was raining very hard?’ —“Go back to the shed.” “At least a quarter of a mile?”— “It might be that.” Witness was asked if the excavation made by tho accused was not used by Coats and others for shelter when it rained. He replied that ho had never seen the hole so used. There were sometimes two or three overseers to see that the work was going on ty-Ec-examined by Mr. Macassey, witness said that tho accused only worked on the hole periodically. When lie had to leave his own work on the lower tip ho would come over to the hole and scoop it out a little bit more. The Magistrate: “Did you ever see anyone else helping him?”—“No; never.” Mr. Treadwell: “I take it you earned your'money under the No. 5 scheme by doing your job?”—“I think so.” “You were not acting as a private inquiry agent?*’—“No.” “You would only notice Coats in a casual way?”—“l saw him there whenever he came down that way.” “You saw him very frequently?”— “Yes; but not all the time.” “And he was working in the opening for everybody to see?”—“Y’es.” “To Bury a Dog.”

Sydney Penkcth, a married man, living at Island Bay, another relief worker on the Hataitai job, said his weekly working days were also from Monday to Thursday inclusive. Coats was employed On the same works as witness. From Ist to 4th June witness was working on the lower tip with Coats as a mate.

Mr. Macassey: “On any of those days between the arrival of the trucks did you see tho accused go anywhere?” —“Yes, I did. Ho was digging a hole into the bank where they were tipping the spoil from the top.” “How far was that from where you were?”—“About fifty yards.” Coats, witness said, did this digging on several occasions during the four days but lie did not keep a record of the times tho accused did this work. Witness described the hole but said he was unable to point out on a photograph (produced) its exact location, as the face of the tip had since changed. Coats told witness the hole was to be used to shelter him from the wind, but witness never saw him in it. There was a plantation of trees nearer the tiphead than the hole, which would have provided some shelter from tho wind. The remark was made in Coats’s presence that the hole would be a good place to bury anyone. Witness coujd not say definitely who made the remark. It might have been Coats or himself; they wero the only two present. Witness remarked, “ They would never find them there.” Coats said that spoil from the truck kept coming down and filling up the hole. On one occasion one of the foremen asked Coats what he was digging the hole for, and the latter replied, “To bury a dog.” Accused told witness that a chemist along the road often poisoned dogs and buried them there. During tho period they were working together the accused spoke of his wife and said sho was dead and his children were in homes. He spoke very highly of his wife. The accused said he was living with a young girl who had told him that she was over 18, but he had found out that she was not, and that he would

have to put her out before he got into trouble. He said that the girl used to go out to get stores, but he would have to cut down on them, as he did not have enough money. Ho said that he used to play cards a lot, and when ho returned home the girl was always there. Mr. Treadwell did not cross-examine. Borrowing a Shovel. John Dunsmulr, another relief worker, living in Mein street, said that he commenced work on the Hataitai job on May 11th. He knew tho accused, who had been one of his work-mates on tho lower tip. The accused left the job on June Bth. On the afternoon of June 25th, Coats came to where witness and another man named Outfield wero working. The accused asked witness to lend him a shovel, saying that he wanted to bury a dog. The accused asked if there was any room in the tip left, and witness told him that the tip was about full, and the best place to bury it was to dig a hole on the top and bury it in tho soft clay there. Coats said that the dog was still alive, and that its pedigree was all rignt. In answer to further questions by witness and his companion, the accused said he was going to kill the dog by hitting it on tho head. Witness told him that the most humane way to get rid of a dog was to drown it or give it a little poison.

he took to be an error in the depositions. The witness was ordered out of Court while a discussion took place between tho Court and counsel. On returning to the box Glover said he could not remember whether in his evidence yesterday he said “we” or “he” in the sentence reading. “We could easily put her (Phillis) over there (the gully at Hataitai).” What the accused said in that connection was that he could easily put her over there. Bobcrt Brockie, a married man, living in Grafton road, Boseneath, said he had been employed on tho relief works at Hataitai. He commenced work on 2Sth April and worked four days a week, from .Monday to Thursday inclusive. He knew the accused Coats by sight. Coats was also employed on tho same work as witness. Coats worked on the lower tip—the Buahine street tip. Witness remembered the Hutt-Wellington football match played on 3rd June, and during that week he saw the accused excavating a hole in the bank. He did this every clay on all tho occasions he was not working. Witness identified tho place where Coats had dug the hole on the photograph (produced). The hole was about sft. long, about 3ft. wide, and anywhere from 24 feet to 3ft. deej). Such a hole could be very quickly covered up by the spoil being tipped over. At that time they were tipping to the south and gradually working past the hole.

“Did he say why he wanted to get rid of the dog ” —“No.” By that time, witness went on, it was nearly 5 o’clock, and tho accused, witness, and Outfield went homo together along tho bottom of tho big tip into tho reserve. They had to walk in 'single file. Before leaving witness put a shovel under ono of tho tracks. He also put another shovel, which had been left behind by one of tho workers, beside the first. He did that to oblige the accused. Usually tho shovels were put in a shed overnight. The accused did not say when he was going to bury tho dog. The shovel (produced) was similar to the one witness left behind. While on the waj? home Coats remarked that if he could get a job he would go to Napier. Witness left the accused and Cutfield in Mein street. To Mr. Treadwell witness said that Coats was talking to Cutfield about Napier. The conversation with Coats had definitely taken place on June 25th. Ee-oxamined by Mr. Macassey, witness said that it was on Thursday, June 25th, that Coats had come to the job and witness had left the shovel for him under a truck. Ho remembered the day because he had been working extra time. Another relief worker, Willoughby Brassey Cutfield, living at 145 Onepu road, said that since April 27th he had been working four days a week. He knew tho accused Coats. Witness was employed as a brakesman on the trucks running along the lower tip, where the accused was working. Coats left the job on Monday, June Bth, leaving in witness’s care an overcoat and a soup mug. On tho afternoon of June 25tli witness saw Coats about half-past four. Ho was up at the Toad junction near the traffic tunnel, and he followed the trucks down to the lower tip. Ho told witness he wanted a shovel left out that night so that he could bury a fox-terrier dog. Witness did not have a shovel, and told Coats that Dunsmuir had one He heard Dunsmuir tell . the accused that tho shovel would be left under the tracks for him. Coats had some letters in his hand, and said ho was going to Auckland for a job. He said he was undecided which route he would take, but mentioned that he might go to Napier by boat. While they were talking witness noticed Aitken, the timekeeper, go by. When they left to go home Dunsmuir put his shovel under one of the tracks, and witness put another shovel alongside it. The accused was present all the time. After leaving Dunsmuir in Mein street, witness and Coats walked down to the hospital, outside which, they parted company. In reply to Mr. Treadwell, witness said he remembered the date as Juno 25th because ho had worked overtime on that day. More About a Shovel. Leonard Oswald Gydc, a single man, residing at Miramar, said he was employed as a truck horse driver at the relief works at Hataitai. Ho had been working full time since April 27th. Witness described the operations of loading and tipping the trucks. Witness later identified the accused at the police station as a man whom he had seen working on tho lower tip. Witness only knew accused by the nickname of “Rod Band.” On tho Thursday that the married men had worked extra time, witness said, he saw the accused some time earlier in the afternoon near the mouth of the new tunnel. Coats said ho was going into town. On the next day, Friday, June 26th, witness saw the accused again at the north side of tbe bend on the lower tip. The accused was not wearing his collar and tie. Witness suddenly came upon the accused, who was coming from the direction of the tip head. Coats was about eight yards away when witness first saw him. Witness was on his way down to the lower tip, where Coats told witness that he had asked these men to leave out a shovel as he wanted to bury a dog, but the men had told him that they were responsible for their shovels and had to return them to the shed. He said that tho men had refused to give him a shovel. Coats said that ho had picked a shovel up, but did not say what he had done with it.or where he had put it. He then went up towards the mouth of the new tunnel, and witness drove down to where the other men were working. Continuing his evidence, when the Court resumed after lunch, Gyde said that Coats was not carrying a shovel when he met him. Ono Saturday night about a week later witness met the accused, who asked for the use of his motor cycle. The machine, however, was under repair and witness told Coats so. Witness did not know of any crevices in the bank in which the accused might have hidden a shovel on Juno 26th.

James Vivian Morris, a single man, residing in Tasman street, said lie had bcon working on the relict' works at Hataitai sinco May Ist. On Jfriday, June 26th last, he was working with a man named Skilling on the lower tip. He commenced work at 8 o’clock. A little later on he noticed two shovels stuck in the side of the tram line. Witness pointed out tho place on a photograph. This was about 10 o’clock. Tho shovels were standing up in the ground about four chains away from where witness was standing. There were no workmen in tho vicinity of the shovels at the time. Later on tho same day a man camo up. Mr. Treadwell objected to the conversation between the man and the witness going in as evidence. The Magistrate said he had no doubt

that the conversation was admissible, but in order not to prejudice the accused he directed the Press not to publish it., Continuing his evidence, witness said that after the man left him and went around the bend tho witness Gyde

came up. James Skilling, relief worker, also gave evidence about seeing two shovels, between the bank and the truck line, on the morning of Juno 26th. He agreed with the previous witness that there were no workmen in the vicinity of the shovels at that time. The same afternoon a man came up to witness and his companion. On leaving he picked up one of the two shovels and disappeared round the bend. • Cross-examined by Mr. James, witness said that ho made no effort to prevent the man from taking the shovel, and he did not mention tho matter to the foreman. He might have mentioned it to his mates.

Other Telief workers gave evidence concerning Coats’s movements. Charles Idrys Kidson, engineer in charge of the Hataitai relief works, described the plans for filling the hollow to make a new recreation ground. Two tips were being used, the deepest point would be at the junction between the two tips, about forty feet below the higher level. This was very near the position where the girl’s body had later been found. “Giving Her a Crack.”

Alan Campbell Melville, taxi driver, said he had known Coats more than 18 months. He knew he was keeping company with a girl named Phillis, and had often driven them in his car. Accused had his mail addressed care of witness, and often played cards with him and other friends. Accused, told him the girl had run away from home. When the couple moved to Adelaide road accused told witness the girl was pregnant and he was going to try to get rid of tho child. Pills were a, failure and there was mention of a crochet needle.

Questioned further, Melville said accused had once said something about “giving her a crack.” Melville remembered Glover coming to him with a letter he’d found on Tuesday, the last day in June. On the following Saturday night. July 4th, Melville told the father of the girl about it. Witness knew that as> a result of the letter a complaint was made to tho police. Cross-examined by Mr. Treadwell, Melville said the month when Coats spoke of the girl being in the family way was about May. Witness was in the cab office when Glover showed him the letter and he was with Glover when he showed it to Symons. They gave it to Symons the next morning (Sunday.) Symons read part of it out. “Ho was pretty cut up.” The Court adjourned until to-morrow morning.