THE BURWOOD MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20191, 31 August 1927, Page 10

THE BURWOOD MURDER

TAXI DRIVER ON TRIAL. EVIDENCE FOR THE CROWN. THIRTY WITNESSES HEARD. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH August 0. After four remands evidence in the case in which Charles William Eoakes s* ’inis charged with the Bnrwood murder was proceeded, with in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Mr E. D. Mosley. S.M., was on the bench. Evidence in both the criminal proceedings against Boakes and the nqncst on the body of the dead girl was taken simultaneously. Mr Donnelly (Crown Prosecutor) appeared for the police, and Mr Thomas, with Mr Burns, for the accused. Mr Cavell appeared on a watching brief for the relatives of Miss Scarff. As on former occasions, the appearance of Boakes in court aroused^great public interest, hut the police had made excellent arrangements for preventing aby overcrowding in the court room. The witnesses in the case occupied nearly all the space usually given over to the accommodation for the public, and the result was that few who were not concerned in the case found admittance. The charges against Boakes were: — 1. That he did on or about June 15, 1927, at Burwood, near Christcl. h, murder one Ellon Gwendoline T obol Scarff. 2. That on or about May 16, 1927, at Christchurch, he did unlawfully supply a noxious thing—to wit, ergot— 1 ) one Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff, knowing that it was intended to be unlawfully used or employed with intent to procure the miscarriage of the said Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff. There were 63 witnesses, and the day was taken up in hearing the r -idence for the Crown. Boakes stepped smartly into the dock when called, closing the door behind him. He looked spruce in a grey suit, and wore a bow tic. “You may sit down, Boakes,” the Magistrate said after the charges had been read. Boakes, his hands in his pockets, remained standing, leaning against the wall. All the witnesses were ordered out of court. Ellen Martha Scarff, wife of Walter Scarff, said that the murdered girl was her eldest child, and was 20 in January last. Her daughter had gone to work for Mrs Dcrislcy Wood, Cashmere, She used to come home two or three days a week, and on June 8, her half-holiday, she paid a visit. On June 10 witness saw her daughter for a few minutes - at the Hotel Federal about 4.30 p.m. Witness knew the accused, as he had worked for her husband two or three years ago. Since then ho had been employed by the White Diamond taxi firm. ■ Mr Donnelly: What was your daughter’s condition at the hotel when you saw her? In what frame of mind was she?— She was very upset, and she started to cry. Walter William Scarff, father of Miss Scarff, said that since she was 16J years of age she had been employed at different places —at a carriers’ stand for some time. She had been home for about three weeks before taking her last employment. She was in good health and spirits when witness last saw her, on June 4. She was quite happy at home. Four or five years ago Boakes was employed by witness. On the evening of June 15 witness identified the body of his daughter at the morgue. Jessie Glen Ross M’Clure said she was employed at Cashmere at the same placo as Mias Scarff in February. Witness noticed that Miss Scarff used the telephone a good deal. About March 10 or 11 to March 28 witness was absent from work. When she returned Miss Scarff was not looking very well. At the time she had a suspicion that Miss Scarff wao pregnant. Mr Donnelly: Did you see a parcel when it came? —No, shortly after it came. Did the girl show you a box?—Yes. What sort of a box?—A small cardboard box, black with white mountings or white with black mountings. What was in the box? —Twenty-one black pills. „ „ t j j Did you count the pills?—No, I did Had you seen her taking them?—Y r es. How many were taken? —-Twenty. You knew the purpose of these things. —Yes. That they were to bring about a miscarriage?—Yes. , Had they any effect? —They made her sick. But no other effect? —No. , Witness said that Miss Scarff had a Post Office Bank account book. On May 12 witness and Miss Scarff went into the Post Office Savings Bank, and the deceased withdrew £4. _ Mr Donnelly: When you left the lost Office where did you go?—I , tween Warner’s Hotel and the Cathedral, and Miss Scarff went to a_ taxi. What happened? —The taxi driver came out of his car while she was going over. When the taxi driver met her what happened? —They went into the back ot the taxi. , „ T * What did they do there? —I did not SC H O w long were they there?—Perhaps 10 minutes, ... „ Did you know the taxi driver. —-No. What was his general appearance.— Tall and well built and clean shaved. On her return on the night of i-»»y 16 did she have anything with her?— Yes. a small bottle. What shape was it?—A round, long, thin, small bottle. Had it an label? —No. What was the colour of the stuff? — Pale ruddv brown. , How fall was the bottle?— About half full. . . Were thorp any written directions with the bottle? —No. Did the girl take any of it on mat night?—She did not. On May 19 you went to her room with a nip of tea?—-Yes. In the morning what was the first duty the girl had to do?—She bad to go for the paper and take it to her employer. When you went to the girl’s room what was her condition?—She was verv sick and appeared to ho dazed. Was she asleep or awake?—Asleep. What did yon do when vou went in?I shook her gently to wake her. What happened then ?—She could only mumble. Was there anythin" else about her appearance?—She was frothing at the month. Was there anything about the bed?—Siie had been shk over it. Could she speak "roperly?—Not for a time. Did you toko her a cup of tea?—Yes. She v. ~3 unable, of course, to take the

paper, and you did so and reported to Mrs Wood? —Y T cs. Later, said the Witness, Mrs Wood came down and Miss Scarff, who was very sick for the rest of the day, sat in the sitting room. Mr Donnelly asked witness to repeat what she remembered of a letter she saw. It was: Dear Charlie,—You will be surprised to know that the stuff has not done mo any good. Seeing you forgot to ring I am writing to you. All I can suggest now is that you make a clean breast of it to your wife. When this becomes known I will be barred from my home, and I, the mother of your second child, will be stranded. Stick to me and help me all you can. Witness also gave evidence that Miss Scarff’s bed had not been slept in on the night of June 8. Amy Isobel Wood, in wtiosc employ the murdered girl was, said that on June 9 several telephone rings came inquiring for Miss Scarff. Sydney Charles King, a chemist’s assistant, employed by J. A. Coltart, said he knew a taxi-driver named Brown. Brown introduced witness to Boakes four or five months ago, Boakes asked him to get something for a girl friend of his. Witness said he would, and later gave him some pills. About a week or 10 days later witness saw Boakes again in Cathedral square. He said that the pills had not done any good, and inquired if witness had anything else he could give him. Witness then gave him some capsules. A week or more later witness again saw Boakes, who said that these pills had had no effect either. Witness told him there was nothing else ho could give him. He gave him some liquid. Mr Donnelly: Was this stuff likely to have any effect on a woman taking it?— Yes. What was the object of giving Boakes this stuff? Was it to bring about a miscarriage ';—Y es. Apart from a miscarriage did you tell him of any other, effect that was likely ? —I told him it was likely to affect the legs and might affect the head, too. It always affects the lower limbs. Did Boakes tell you anything else about the matter?—No, he said no more about it. Leonard Victor Allan Lilley, tram conductor, said he saw Boakes on June 8 on the 10.31 p.m. trip from Burwood. ( Ho got on at the Burwood church, about a couple of hundred yards from the monument. Boakes had been sitting in the shelter waiting for the car. Boakes was alone. Nobody else got on the oar there. Witness spoke to Boakes on the trip. Thomas Morton, night porter, and Lynda Mandlc Coleman, maid, at the Federal Hotel, gave evidence of a man corresponding to Boakes calling to see Miss Scarff there. The last they saw of him was at lunch on June 14. She was there under the name of “Armstrong.” On Juno 10 a middle-aged wdrain called for Miss Armstrong. Both women began to cry in the passage. Boakes arrived later, os the result of a telephone message. On June 14 she was taken away in a car driven by a man named Neate. John Hains Frisk, garage hand at the White Diamond Garage, said that Boakes had told him that the girl Scarff was going to the North Island. Mr Donnelly: Do you remember speaking to Boakes on June 18, the day after the murder? Witness: Yes, I asked him what ho thought of the Burwood tragedy, and said it was an awful thing. I asked him if he know who it was, and he said lie did not. I said to him: “It was somebody you know, and somebody I know.” With that Boakes was called away on a job. When ho came back ho canic over to me and asked me who it was. I said it was Gwennic Scarff, and he said “ Go on; how did they find out?” Mrs Alice Parr, storekeeper at Beckenham, said that the girl visited her on Sunday, June 12. She had known the girl for throe years. Mr Donnelly; “Did she have a watch.” —Yes, a wristlet watch. Was it going?—Y'os. I saw her looking at it several times. Sydney Ernest Neate, taxi-driver for the White Diamond Company, said that on June 14 ho received a call from the Federal Hotel. A woman met him there with two suitcases. He drove her to Cathedral Square. Mr Donnelly : Did you know the girl ? No. You left her in the square?—Yes. I put her luggage in the “ left luggage ” office, according to instructions. Thomas George Lewis, proprietor of the Federal Hotel, said that Miss Scarff paid her account on June 14, tcridoring a £5 note. The next day he identified her body at the morgue. Leslie James Arps, taxi-driver, said that Boakes introduced him to the girl last Christmas. He had since seen her around the stand about once a week. When he saw Iter she was talking to Boakes. On the first occasion witness met her he wont out with Bo.ikes, Miss Scarff, and another girl in a car to Dalliugton. They separated there, the girl Scarff staying with him and Boakes going away with the other girl. On the night before the girl was killed he saw her at the stand about 6 o’clock. Mr Thomas: You and the girl Scarff did not leave the ear on the night in question? —No. Eric Horace Mugford, aged 15, the boy who found the body, said that about 1.30 p.m. on Juno 15 he was driving several cows along the road, and some went into the broom. Ho went after them a few yards, when he saw a human body. He went and got the Rev. C. A. Tobin, who came back with him later on. Mr Thomas: Did Mr Tobin do anything to the girl’s hands or fingers?—Yes, he pushed back her sleeve and felt her arm. Did you notice whether he did anything to the fingers to see whether they were stiff ?t-No. Was there a tuft of hair on the ground while you were there?—No. Was the blood wet? —I did not look. What was the condition of the Ijlood before you went and got Mr Tobin?— Bright red. , Cecil Alexander Tobin, clergyman, said that at 1.25 on June 15 the boy Mugford called on him explaining what ho had found. Witness rang up the police, and went to the scene. There he found the girl’s body in a small open space. Mr Donnelly: Was the blood congealed?—Yes, practically three pools of it with none between them, indicating that the girl had been moved. Was the ground frosty?—Yes. The girl's shoes and stockings wore not dirty. Her dress was pulled up to the knees. Her hat was lying to the right, and a blue coat’ was spread out evenly, ns if she had been sitting on it. A parcel and an attache case nearby were free of blood. Constable Henry Henderaon, who was among the first on the scene, said that the deceased was lying on her hack. Her left arm was outstretched, and the right was lying by her side. Thomas Beveridge Davis, medical practitioner, said lie examined the body about 3 o'clock, when it was superficially cold. The hands were covered with gloves, which were sodden with blood. The number of wounds on the head was 18 in all. A portion of tbe brain stood exposed over the loft eye. Mr Donnelly: What kind of instrument do you think was used? —A blunt instrument. Had the girl died at the time of the attack? —I should think that death was not instantaneous. She had possibly lived for some hours. How long had she been dead?—About six hours. Arthur B, Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Hospital, gave evidence that on June 16, by direction of the coroner, ho made a post-mortem examination, and found that death was duo to concussion associated with htemorrhage and fractures oi the skull. The girl might have lived eight or 10 hours after the wound was inflicted. To the Magistrate: The majority of the wounds on the head were not dan-