COLCHESTER MYSTERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11534, 20 November 1900, Page 5

COLCHESTER MYSTERY.

THE WITNESS FROM THE BLUFF.

[by telegraph.press association.] Wellington, Monday. Chas. Lilltwhite, alias Arthur Blatch, was again before the Magistrate's Court today, on suspicion of being concerned in the Colchester murder. Horace Atwood, who had been brought as a witness from the Bluff, said he lived at Colchester till August, 1898. Blatch was in his father's employment, and afterwards custodian of the recreation ground, and later in the service of Welch, the murdered man, as porter. Witness failed to recognise accused as Blatch. If he was Blatch he had altered materially. He was about the right height, but in conversation with him witness failed to recognise his voice. At the suggestion of the Bench, and by consent of accused, an adjournment was made, and a prolonged conversation took place between Atwood and accused. On returning to the Court Atwood stated that the more he was with accused, and the more intimate they became, the more he was inclined to think the man might be Blatch, more especially on account of his style of giving an evasive smile when asked sudden personal questions. He would not swear he was not Blatch. In cross-examination, witness said he had not known 'Blatch as a painter, musician, or amateur photographer. Accused was further remanded till the 26th inst. /

Mr. J. Hutcheson headed a deputation to the Minister for Justice this morning regarding the condition of Lilywhite. Accused suffers from diabetes and other serious affections. The deputation, in consideration of this, asked the Minister to relax the prison rules regarding the dietary scale of persons awaiting trial. The Minister promised to look into the question.