STAY AT FARM HOUSE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21702, 18 January 1934, Page 11

STAY AT FARM HOUSE

LITTLE GIRL'S STATEMENT THE LAKEY'S DAILY ROUND Elsio Slater, aged 11J years, said she lived at Ruawaro with her parents. She knew Mr. and Mrs. Lakey. Mr. Meredith: Did you ever stay at their house? —Yes. For how long?— Three weeks. When was that? —One week in the August term holidays, and two weeks in September. Were the Lakey's milking then? — Yes.

How many cows? —Thirty, I think. When did they begin milking?— Half-past four. When would they finish? —Seven or half-past seven. Did they have any meal before?— They would have afternoon tea in the kitchen.

Did they -wash-up after that?— No. They left the cups on the tray. Who cooked the evening meal? —Mrs. Lakey. She would put it on the stove before they went to the shed. Who generally finished first in the shed? —Mrs. Lakey. What did she do then? —She would go up to the house and finish getting the dinner ready. f Did she take anything with her? — Sometimes she would take a half kerosene tin of cream or of skim milk. She would take the cream in and then the skim milk. Gum Boots Washed In Pond

Did she do anything with her gum boots? —She would wash them in the duck pond and then put them behind the kitchen door. She would put the cream in the pantry. What room opens into the pantry? —The kitchen.

While you were there how long would it be before Mr. Lakey followed Mrs. Lakey from the cowshed? —Ten minutes.

What would he bring?—A big kerosene tin of cream and another kerosene tin of milk. Mrs. Lakey took it from him and put it in the pantry. Where did Mrs. Lakey take it from Mr. Lakey?—At the door. And where would she put it? —In the pantry. Was the eream taken out of those tins at night?—l think it was put in the can in the morning.

Did you know the dog "Smut"? — Yes.

What happened to him at night?— Mr. Lakey would tie him up in the kennel outside the door. Witness said Mr. Lakey wore gum boots at his work. They had white soles and a white band around the top. The rest was black. He, too, would wash his gum boots in the duck pond and put them behind the kitchen door. Who milked in the morning?—We all did. Do you know when the cream was taken down to the stand on the road? —Nine o'clock in the morning. The night's and morning's cream was taken down. It was put in the cans in the mornings. Was " Smut " loose during the day? —Sometimes.

Who washed the croam tins? —Mrs. Lakey. When did she wash them? —In the morning after she put the cream in the cans. What did she do with them then ? She used to hang them on> a nail outside. Mr. Lakey's Clothes What clothes did Mr. Lakey wear on the farm? —A blue jersey and trousers like dad's. Did he change on Sundays?— No. Did he have another suit when he went into Huntly?—Yes. It was a grey suit with black stripes. Did he have a good hat? —Yes, a grey one to match his suit. He had brown boots.

When did you first go to the house after Mrs. Lakey was found dead?— I'he following Friday. Do you know the okl wheels and frame.that were at Lakey's?—Yes. The Magistrate: Where were they kept?— Behind the chopping wood near the old boat cabin. Did you ever see them used?— No. Did thev have any turkeys at Lakeys' ?—Yes, they used to sleep on the wheels. When you wero at Mr. Lakey's what did he light his pipe with? —His cigarette lighter. The witness said she was not suro if Mr. Lakey's lighter was like the one produced. Mr. Meredith: Did you ever see Mr. Lakey doing anything to his lighter?— Yes.

What was that? —He was putting some new wick into it in the kitchen. Mrs. Lakev was there.

Where did he get the new wick from?— From the little table by the window in the kitchen. What was the new wick?— Some fancv-work wool.

What colour was it?— White. What did he do with it?—He twisted or plaited it and put it in his lighter. The witness recognised a wicker basket shown to her as Mrs. Lakey's, and said Mr. Lakey got the material for the wick from that basket. How many lighters had Mr. Lakey? —I saw only one.