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Apparently In Trance

“I then said to Talbot,” witness continued, “ ‘ Did you know a m'an named Patrick Henry Shine? ’ He received a great shock, and was extremely dumbfounded. After about a minute he said, ‘No.’” Witness told Talbot it was believed that the bones found at Piha were those of Patrick Henry Shine. Talbot received a further great shock, and, after a long time, said he did not know anything about it. He added later that it was absurd to think the body was not McKay’s, and he sat for a time apparently- in a trance.

About 20 minutes later, witness continued, Mr. Aplin returned with a warrant for Talbot’s arrest, on the charge of interfering with Shine’s remains. Talbot received a shock. Ho slumped on his chair and said he knew nothing about it. Arrest of Bearded Man

On March 22, witness continued, he and Mr. Aplin went to a house in Grafton Road, He related the circumstances of the arrest at 10.5 p.m, of a bearded man, whom they believed was McKay,, on the charge of interfering With Shine’s remains.

The man denied he was McKay, or that he knew a man named Talbot, His beard and hair were long, and he was without teeth. Up to that time he acted sensibly, but on the way to the police station ho pretended to be silly. At the station, when the warrant was read to him, he said: “I don’t know what you mean,” but when the warrant was read a second time, he remained silent.

The next morning the detectives found a handkerchief marked “Gordon McKay” in his room, and, when arrested. McKay had in his pocket a pair of horn-rimmed spectacles, similar to those described by Shine’s son. Cross-examined by Mr. Terry, witness said that the first step he took was not the obtaining of a lengthy statement from Talbot at the police station. The first steps were to see that the debris at Piha was properly sieved, and for the exhumation of the remains of McKay, which had been buried. Mr. Terry: Then the next step was a statement on February 17, which you took from Talbot at the detective office? That is a very lengthy statement.—Yes, it covered all the questions I could think of at the time. It would be correct to say he answered freely every topic you put [c him?—Yes, but incorrectly. Police’s First Suspicion Witness said ho had had to ask Talbot about McKay’s insurance. Talbot’s statement that McKay had made inquiries about a business here were true, and so wore a number of other statements he made. Two empty .22 shells wore found in the debris at Piha, and at one lime they thought if was possibly a case of murder. That was why he asked Talbot so particularly about his rifle. Mr. Terry asked why witness had not asked Talbot straight out if lie had lie on to Avondale. Witness: I had my reasons. Ho might have left by the next boat.

You had no right to ask him a trick question.—lt was not a trick question. After asking about the custody in which the bones were kept, Mr. Terry asked if the witness had any explanation of how the bones and the box in which they were, came to be photon graphed and the picture published. Witness said he had none.

Was it not a very surprising thing?— If it was so.

Do yen not know such a photograph was published?—No. I heard something about it.

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NA19390525.2.89

Bibliographic details

Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 8

Word Count
588

Apparently In Trance Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 8

Apparently In Trance Northern Advocate, 25 May 1939, Page 8

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