“I PLEAD GUILTY"

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11654, 19 October 1923, Page 5

“I PLEAD GUILTY"

OTAKI SENSATION INVESTIGATED GIRL CHLOROFORMED IN BEACH KIOSK STRANGE STORY ABOUT WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY “ NOT IN MY RIGHT MIND” Three remarkable documents, one a confession of guilt, were put in at the Otaki Police Court yesterday, when George Ayre, a motor-mechanic and taxi-driver, of Otaki, who is also well-known in Wellington, was brought up on a charge of administering chloroform to Margaret Parata, a girl of about 19 years of age; with breaking and entering the Kiosk at Otaki beach, with intent to commit a crime; and with assaulting Maud Cotterell in the early hours of the morning of October gth.

Ihe prosecution sought to show that Ayre had been engaged to Miss Cotterell, but the engagement was broken off in August, and they parted on good terms. Later he obtained some chloroform from the local chemist on the plea that he had gone in for “wireless,” and wanted it for dissolving or combining with other chemicals.

On the night of October Bth, or the morning of the pth, he is alleged to have entered the Kiosk through the fanlight of the room in which the girls -were sleeping, administered what the doctor described as a “fair dose” of chloroform to Miss Parata, and then assaulted Miss Cotterell. She struggled out of bed and called out, accused made his escape by the verandah.

When the police came on the scene he denied having purchased chloroform, but subsequently wrote out and signed a confession of his guilt in the matter.

At the end of the prosecution he pleaded guilty to the charges, and was committed in custody to the Supreme Court for sentence.

CASE FOR PROSECUTION r TWO GIRLS’ EVIDENCE L1 AYRE FOUND OUT IN “SOME TERRIBLE LIES.” e COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE. s The sensational charge against the 0 .voting Otaki taxi-driver and motor me- - j chanic, George Ayre, aged 23, 'were [proceeded with at- the little Otaki •> ; Police Court yesterday, when the small - 'amount of room available for the pub*[lsc was taxed to its uttermost-. The f i magistrates were Mr J. R. Bills and M. H. Nicolson, J.P.’s. Detective-Ser-geant Quirke conducted the prosecution. and Mr W. B. Brown, solicitor, Wellington, appeared for the accused. THREE CHARGES. Three charges were brought against the accused : (1) That, on October 9th. at Otaki. he did break and enter by night the dwellinghouse of Charles Cotterell, known as “The Kiosk,” at Otaki beach, with intent to commit a crime. (2) That he did, with intent to facilitate the commission of a crime, cause Margaret Parata to be affected jwith chloroform, at the same time and place; and (3) with assaulting Maud ; ! Cotterell. * Accused was suffering from an injured ankle, and was allowed to be seated. , AT DEAD OF NIGHT | ROUSED BY HIS DAUGHTER. i Charles Everitt Cotterell, proprietor i of the tea kiosk, said he resided there -‘ with his family and others. ' Maud j Cotterell was his daughter, and Mar- ; garet Parata one of the.staff. On the ! night of October Bth the two young j ladies occupied room 15 on the ground j floor. The casement windows were se- j cured, but the fanlight was usually \ left partly open, secured by the ad- j justment. About 2.30 a.ni. on the j morning of October 9th he was aroused j by the appearance of his daughter in his bedroom. On getting up he found her in a very excited state, as was Miss Parata, who was in another lodger's room. On examining their room he found sand on a stool and on the curtains. The fanlight was pushed right out and unfastened. THEY, WERE ENGAGED. Accused was well known to him. He knew the building, as he had stayed with them for several months. Ayr© had been keeping company, with Iris daughter for some years, and an engagement existed between them, but wa6 broken off six weeks .prior to this

happening. On September 30th, about 10.30 p.m., his daughter made a complaint to him. She had been to'the pictures. In consequence he examined the lighting cf her room, and found the -switch had been disconnected by a piece of paper having been put behind it, thus cutting off light from the room. “THE GREAT WRONG I HAVE DONE/* Witness knew accused was a motor mechanic, and knew something of electricity, as he had fixed up the lights before. Witness also knew Ayre’s handwriting, and the letter produced was received by his daughter. He opened and read it, and handed it to the police. “ONLY A LUMP OF DIRT.** Tho letter, which was addressed to Miss M. Cotterell, Box 26, Otaki, was as follows; “H.M, Prison, Wellington, 15-10-’ 23. Maud; No doubt you will be surprised to hear from me | after what has happened. .1 am very sorry to think our friendship has ended as it has done, and only hope that some day I will be able to make up for the great wrong I have done. I swear I wasn’t in my right state of mind when it happened. Maud, I am not asking leniency for my own sake, but for my parent* have a heart, Maud, and please don’t make it any harder than you can help. 1 know lam only a lump of dirt, always have been, but never mind, not for always. Well, I have you and Matfgie are all right. So good-by Mawl, and God ble?s you. —George Ayrc. ’ ’ Replying to Mr Brown, witness said ho slept at tho extreme of the quadrangle of the Kiosk, about two chains from room 15. After being roused he did not search for accused or anyone who might have entered the house. Von didn’t inform anyone that it wan only a lover’s quarrel ?-—No, I didn’t Acting-Hcrgcnnt Quinkc: How far is it from your residence to the accused's? — About a mile and a half.

A DESPERATE STRUGGLE ‘‘FUNNY SMELL ON THE SHEETS.” Fanny Maud Cotterell, who appeared very distressed and was accommodated with a seat in court, eaid she was 24 years of age, and lived with her parents. On the evening of October Btli she went to bed about 11.45. Margaret I Parata occupied the room with her. The | door was locked, but the fanlight of j the window was open. Some time in •the night she was awakened. It would !be about- 2.30 a.m. The girl who was : deeping with her was making a ter- . rible noise. She was not breathing as • she should, about three times as quick, | and there was a funny smell on the :sheets. (“SOMETHING ACROSS MY FACE.” I Witness called to the girl, but could not make her answer. “I tried to get out of bed to put on the light to see what ; was wrong, but 1 didn’t have strength .to do it. I didn’t think anyone could ' have got in a-s we were all locked in. Something went across my face and I | grabbed it. and I felt it was a man’s ja-rm. I was then grasped round, tlio throat by a hand. As pressure was ! put on I struggled out of bed on to j tho floor, and then crawled underneath : the bed. I then heard footsteps of someone running out of doors along the verandah. I then crawled along to the lights, nnd switched them on. j BROKE OFF ENGAGEMENT, j “Miss Parata was still in .bed, and | ! although I kept on calling to her sho j j did not answer. I opened! the door i and called Mrs Drake, and then corn- I , plained to my father.” j Detective-Sergeant Quirke: You know ; the accused?—Yes. And for some years you have been | keeping company with him, being enj gaged for some months? —Yes*, j About August 2nd you broke off the engagement?—Yes. On September 2nd he came to see ! you at the kiosk, and yo utold him the * engagement was off? —Yes. i And you parted, on good terms; you I were friends?—Yes. Fie &nw you again on September 9th, and you had a talk about presents?— Yes. WOULD' BE GOOD FRIENDS. Continuing, witness said she went to the theatre on September l6t with her i parents, and returned to her room about 10.30 p.m. She found she could not switch tiie light on, and told her father about it. On October Ist she again saw accused at the kiosk to say good-bye to him, as he was leaving for v> eltin-gton. Accused said that on the , previous Saturday night he did not go out, retiring to bed at a quarter co eight. They parted again on perfectly friendly terms, and she- remarked that

if they parted as they were then they would be good friends. Proceeding to the morning of October 9th, witness said her neck was sore as a result of what was done by someone entering her room about 2.30 a.m. Under cross-examination by Mr Brown, Miss CotterclL said she slept in the double bed by the door. Has accused ever been in your bedroom ?—Yes. Would he know which bed you Blept in ?—Yes. ‘Maggie Parata had slept there for three weeks, and prior to that my sister,“ added witness. “He has never at any time made any threat against me.” “AWFUL NOISE MAGGIE MADE.” What caused you to awaken on this night?—Tho awful noise Maggie Parata was making. Did you scream?—No, not when I was casing her. I tried to awaken her. Had you any idea who was grasp- j ing you, or who was in your room?— No. When did you first meet accused?— Over four years ago. Did you know him intimately?— Later on. Did he tell you all liis secrets, and did you tell him yours?—Wc used to talk together. Did you ever know him to have any criminal motives during that period?— No. Did he drink or gamble?—No, Was he working hard always?—Yes. Wa* he saving up to get married?— \e,s. You knew of his bankruptcy, didn’t you ?—Yes. Right up to the last lie behaved well towards you?—Yes. 'Why did you break off the engagement? —He deceived me bv telling me so many lies.' Had he ever lied to you prior to that?—l found out that ho had. He was not in the habit of telling lieft.-’—l found hirn out in soinc terrible ones. During the period of loving you, was ho always attentive ?—Yes.

! THE CHLOROFORMED GIRL | THEN SHE WOKE UP. Margaret Parata. who appeared to be four or five years younger than the last witness, also gave her evidence under great stress of nervousness. She occupied another bed in the room with Miss Cotterell; she did not hear the disturbance but when she woke up the lights were on. The bed clothes were tucked tightly round her body so that she could not get out. She did not usually sleep like that. She telt ill on waking up, and there wa.« a funny smell in the room, caused hy chloru form. 'When she got up she staggered and fell ever, and one of the boarders came and took her to a bed in another room. Later she was viaited by Dr. Sharp and was under his cate for two days. WAS A KINDLY BOV.

Replying to Mr Brown witness said they went to bed at 11.45 p.m. on the evening of October Bth. She did not sleep straight away, having a feeling that she could not go to'sleep. She made the beds at the ktosk hut did not tuck the sheets under. Two years ago she suffered from nervous shock. She had known accused three years. How. long have you been with Mr ; Ccitterell ?—Over two years. You saw a lot of accused? —'Yes. "Was he a kindly boy?—Yes. THE DOCTOR ARRIVES. Dr. George Stanley Sharp deposed to visiting the kiosk at 8.45 a.m. on October 9th, where he saw the two girls, who were suffering from fright and shock Miss Parata was vomiting and there was a slight trace of chloroform of breath. Miss Cotterell bad also been affected by chloroform. There were bruise marks on the right side of Maud Cotterell’s neck, such as might have been caused by the pressure of finger?. Prior to this event they were normally healthy git Is. A FAIR DOSE OF CHLOROFORM. Cross-examined, witness said it would not have taken a great amount of violence to make the marks on Miss Ootterell’s neck. Could yeu he nuo it wo* chloroform Miss Parata had?—No, it might hove been ether. Would you say much chloroform hod been used?—l should say Miss Parata had a fair dose. Would it require much chloroform pieced on a pillow to send a person off?—No. The girls were suffering more from shock than anything else?—Yes. WHY HE WANTED CHLOROFORM. Albert Edward Ernest Dunn, chemist, Mill road, Otnki, said that, on September 2oth, he received the following letter from the accused: “Dear Friend,- —Just a few lines hoping this finds you and the business O.K. Well, Mr Dunn, I want you to do me a favour. I have taken on wireless telegraphy, and to test out the positive and negative leads wo have to use different acids, and. by a fluke, we hit on chloroform, and found it to be tho best of the lot for the job. So I want you, if you will be kind enough, to get me 6s worth of the strongest chloroform you can get, and I will be up and call into your shop for it on Saturday night next, and if I shouldn’t come in this Saturday, I will be in the following Saturday. We have a terrible job to get it down hero. Can only get Is at a time, and not very strong at that. Well, Mr Dunn, hope you win oblige me by getting that for me, so will say good-night. . A PREVIOUS CHLOROFORM PURCHASE.

About four days later accused called at the shop, and said, “I have oome up for that chloroform.” He added t J 'at he was going to combine it with nectie acid. Witness supplied him with three ounces in a bottle, and accused paid 6f>. H<v bought eome chloroform ' n few months previously from witness, ' which he 6aid he wanted as an anaesthetic for a dog which had been ripped up while pig-buntingi Cross-examined,' lie had found accused of good character and truthful. When he had wanted chemicals he always explained why he wanted them. When lie bought the first lot of chloroform witness explained the use of the drug to him. ALL OF GOOD‘CHARACTER.

Constable Harry Cole stated that be r>aw the two girts on the morning of October 9th, and Miss Cotterell ' had marks on her neck. Later, lie and Detective Holme® saw accused about the chloroform, and ho said he knew nothing at all about it. Next morning at tlv* police station accused admitted a purchase of chloroform some months before to treat a dog. He knew Maud Cotterell and Margaret Parata. They were girls of high respectability, and there was nothing against their characters. Mr Brown: Do you know’ accused? Witness: I do. I think he is a \erv fine boy, and there woe nothing against him prior to this charge. EVIDENCE OF DETECTIVES “HIS WORD AGAINST MINE.” Detective Thomas Edward Holmes, of Palmerston North, gave evidence as to the inquiries he made regarding the assault alleged to have been made. On examining the room he found some person had climbed through the fanlight in bare feet. Later in the day ho saw accused in bed. when he denied knowledge of the chloroform. He saw him again next day when accused made a statement still denyiug purchase of chloroform, except for the dog some months previously. • Witness told him he was investigating a sserious crime in which chloroform had boon used and had particulars which pointed to him. that lie had purchased chloroform at a local chemist's. Accused replied: “It is only his word against mine.” Later accused wrote another statement which he signed- Four of them next went to the Kiosk, and on the way accused pointed out where he took his boots off, and how he gained entrance to the room where Miss Cotterell and Miss Parata wore sleeping. The bottle which had contained the chloroform was recovered from a clump of grass. When charged with the offence accused replied “All right.” Ows-examined. accused said he had boon drinking the previous night, hut did not snv he committed the offence under the inilucuco of drink. A CONFESSION ACCT’SED’S STATEMENT. Detective-Sergeant Qnirkc said that accused admitted the charges to him, and the purchase of the chloroform. He then made and signed the following statement:*T, George Ayrc. hereby confess Inlying from the chemist a bottle of chloroform while in a depressed fdate of mind. I had a lot of financial worry and business trouble, and had the misfortune of losing the girl I was engaged to after going with her for six years, and giving up all my own enjoyment

for her sake: that when T know about it l took to drink and gambling. a thing 1 never ever did before. and while in this state of half-insanity I went to the kiosk to see my old girl, but had no intention of doing anybody any harm. I had the chloroform with me, and when I got in the room I found there wore two girls in the room. 1 was only going to say good-bye, when something came over me, and I went mad and did what I have. I put some chloroform on the girl's pillow, and she went to sleep, and I didn't know what to do, no 1 was going to kiss my old girl good-bye and go, and she woke up, and not knowing what to do I rushed out end left them, but I awear I had no intention of doing any actual bodily harm or crime. I went in through tlie window and came out by tno door. I have told Detective Quirko everything mentioned in this paper which is a voluntary statement to help the police and make the matter clear. I swear it is the truth. I had some drink and a bottle of whisky on the afternoon of the incident.” Witness added that lie believed a small quantity of drink would affect him. as he was not of a verv robust build. This concluded the prosecution. GUILTY TO ALL CHARGES. Accused was then formally charged and cautioned, and on being asked to plead, pleaded guilty to all three charges. Jle was committed to the Supremo Court for sentence.