AMAZING MYSTERY

NZ Truth, Issue 1168, 19 April 1928, Page 5

AMAZING MYSTERY

Spanish Woman Holds That Griffiths Was A Girl FOSTER-SISTER AGREES

If II 5S = s E: 5 = § = EH

II Wrapped m a grim death struggle, two forms fought frenziedly m U 1| a little stable. Then a revolver shot — the fourth — barbed sharply, if |1 and the smaller, frailer form, sagged heavily to the straw-littered || || floor. His life-blood trickled out upon a sheaf of hay and the beauti- || 1 1 ful peacock on the homestead scuttled away m sudden fright. U || The life of Stanley Griffiths flickered and went out, and by his ff f| death has ended one of the strangest associations that ever endured f f I! between two young men — an association of two sweethearts based ff H upon a foundation that should only have its being between sex || I! opposites. II

to take my life and he never threatened me with violence.

VERY forceful shafts of pointed cross-examination were levelled at young Charles Hando at the inquest, and he shuffled uneasily m the box, his whole attitude being > one of reluctant defiance and sullenness. Protected by the ruling of the coroner and the close guardianship of his counsel from having to answer certain pertinent queries, Hando yet burst forth m a moment of stress:- "I will not answer on the grounds that my answer might incriminate me." It was a motley crowd of farming folk and local business men that foregathered m the driving rain at the little court house of Peak Hill to attend the inquest on the death of Stanley Griffiths, boy cook and wearer of dainty feminine apparel beneath his outer masculine garments. Last December the preliminary hearing was adjourned because young Hando, the man lover of the boy cook, had been lying m hospital and was unable to furnish evidence. The court was packed to overflowing and rows of curious faces even lined the windows, where men, unable to secure entrance to the court, craned inquisitive necks from where they stood m the paths of the little garden. Tall and aged, the Peak Hill coroner took his seat on the bench. Lawyer W. P. Kelly, of Wellington, rose and announced that he was appearing on behalf of Charles Hando. "I am very glad to have you here," announced the coroner. "And I am appearing on behalf or

Have you any idea what his reason was for trying to murder you? — No. He never demanded money from you? —No. You can really form no idea of the reason for the assault? — No. None whatever? — No. To Sergeant McLean, Hando yaid Griffiths was employed by his father for eight or nine months and had then been discharged. The Coroner: Plad you received any notification that he was returning? Had you any correspondence with him?— No. Then Hando turned to face the ques-

Defiant Witness

tions of Counsel Abigail. His hands tightened on the edge of the witnessbox and the onlookers m the gallery leaned forward, a tense silence falling on the court. "How old are you?" asked counsel abruptly. "Twenty-two," replied Hando. i Have you lived all' your life m the country? — Yes. Spent any time away from your father's farm? — No. So that when deceased came to your home he was a stranger to you, but you became great friends? — Yes. There was a pause, and then Hando made a dramatic outburst from the box. "I decline to answer anything," he said. The atmosphere had become very tense. Hando looked from his counsel back to the coroner, and then stared back defiantly at Lawyer Abigail. The Sydney solicitor leaned forward and broke the impressive silence. "What did you say that for?" he asked smoothly. 'T am not going to answer anyf.hing," eaid Hando. Again there was a silence. "What did you think my question tended to?'' nsked Lawyer Abigail. He received no answer. One of Hando's hands played with the rail of the witness-box as he stared sullenly back at the solicitor. "Did you shoot Griffiths?" The question was shot sharply at Hando. "No," was the reply. Counsel: You told the coroner that he said "Ha" and fired at you point blank? How far away were you from nim? — I was about two yards away. Have you ever -been m court before? —No. The coroner interrupted that Lawyer Abigail's questions 'had been irrelevant. "I want you to hear me, your worship," replied the solicitor. "I am appearing on behalf of the deceased boy's parents, and the deceased himself is not here to speak. My instructions are that he believed he was a girl and that this belief had some bearing on the cause of his death. I intend to show a possibility that there was a very big reason why this witness, fearful of certain consequences, might wish for the destruction of the deceased. Lawyer Abigail then turned again to Hando. Do you know of any reason why Griffiths should commit the assault upon you? — No. I caught him round the wrist of his firing hand. I don't remomber whether I twisted it, and I

On Christmas Eve

don't know what I did with my other hand. •• There was no reason why he should have inflicted injury on you? — No. A.nd no reaßon why you should have inflicted injury on him? — No. "In fact, it was quite the other way about?" Lawyer Kelly objected and Hando replied that ho did not understand. ! "I say that, on the other hand, there was every reason why you should not have inflicted injury upon him,"' repeated Lawyer Abigail. "Did he ever write you affectionate letters?' 1 Lawyer Kelly leapt from his seat and objected strongly, while the coroner frowned. "I take great exception to your attitude, Mr. Abigail," he remonstrated. "My attitude, your worship?" retorted counsel, questioningly. "My attitude. Am I not respectful? I would remind your worship that for over thirty years I have appeared m courts and that my attitude has always been that of respect — has never been questioned before." "Yes, yes," replied the coroner quickly. "I did not mean it that way, Mr. Abigail. I was referring to your questions." ' "Thank you," replied the solicitor and once more turned to Hando. "Did you tell the sergeant of police that you and Griffiths had slept together? 1 ' he asked. The question was immediately objected to and at once disallowed. Counsel selected a bundle of letters from among the depositions and had. them handed to Hando by Sergeant McLean. Again the coroner interrupted. "They are not letters, Mr. Abigail," he said. "They are only copies. I will not even permit them to .be an exhibit m the hearing." "Will you say whether they are copies of your letters or not?' 1 asked counsel of Hando. The answer of the young man m the box was pregnant with revelation of his associations with the boy whose life had ebbed away m the shed on the McPhail farm last Xmas Eve. "I decline to answer on the grounds that my answer might incriminate me," he said sullenly.