DEATH OF A CHILD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21666, 9 June 1932, Page 8

DEATH OF A CHILD

LIVERMORE ON TRIAL ACCUSED’S STRANGE BEHAVIOUR (Per United Press Association.) WELLINGTON, June 8. The preliminary hearing of the evidence in the murder charge against Horace Frank Livermore in connection Avith the death of Vera Margaret Forster at Upper Hutt on April 15 avus proceeded Avith before Mr E. Page, S.M., to-day. A plan of the vicinity and photographs of the spot Avhere the body Avas found were put in, . In the course of her evidence the child s mother said that the deceased Avas four and a-hnlf years oicl. At the end of September the accused fell off a horizontal bar and injured bis back, and Avas unable to do any heavy work around the farm. Witness kneAV that the accused’s father had loft him some money, and it was arranged that the accused should not do any Avork, but should stay on at Forster’s and pay 15s n Aveek for his board. He got on fairly Avell Avith the children, but said Vera Avas a bit of a nuisance to him, and that she Avas ahvays folloAving him about. About a week before her deatli lie remarked at the tea table that she avouKl be better off dead, and Avhon witness remonstrated Avith him he said it Avas one less to keep anyAvay. On another occasion he remarked he Avonld pay half of Vera’s funeral expenses. Witness did not take much notice of these remarks at the time, because he often used to make remarks like that. He used to get very depressed at times.

Mrs Forster, in reply to a question, said that the accused had not been Avorking and had been behaving rather strangely, and had-not been treating her too Avell. The next day the accused told her he had been listening. She said she had not said anything very, bad about him. He replied: “ No. I don’t say you did. but it’s nice to knoAv Avhat your landlady knoAvs about you.” Witness detailed the movements of the accused, herself, and the child on the" day the child disappeared. The last she saAv of the child Avas with the accused at mid-day Avhen she fed the foAvls. Witness went on to speak of becoming uneasy Avhen she could not see the child. Several times the accused Avas questioned, and once he replied that he did not take her about in his pocket. At her request ho Avent to several houses loqking for her. After the accused had dinner and witness had returned from another look outside, the accused asked if they Avere not going to have a drink of tea. She said they would have it later, and he asked: “Is the finding of the child of more consequence than my tea?” Hoavever, he Avent out to find Mr Forster, avlio returned while ho Avas away, Later, when witness said to the accused that he Jiad not been searching like the rest, he replied that he had clone ns much as anyone, and told her the last he had seen of the girl Avas in the duck pen.

Witness learned about 9 o’clock that night that the body had been found. Witness said that in the preceding three Aveeks the accused' had been depressed, but she had put it doAvn to his back. He Avas also Avorrying about getting a lease of a duck farm. He was always worrying because he could not get a iob. Mr Forster also gave evidence. He said he had not noticed anything peculiar about the accused during the time he was at Avitness’s house. He did not see much of the accused.' Further evidence Avas given by Henry Johnson Morris Hazehvood, motor driver. Lionel William Hobbs, gardener, and Stephen Thomas Bason, driver of a baker’s van.

Frank lan Jones, sawmill-hand, Upper Hutt, who took part in the search, said that the body was found lying oft' the track, and on a slight incline, with the head facing downhill, There was a deep gash on the head, and blood on the side of the face and the back of the neck.

James Yeth, apprentice carpenter, who gave similar evidence, said that he found a piece of piping near the body. Constable Stewart, Upper Hutt, said that Wyett told him he had found the body and had removed it to the top of the bank. Constable Joss said ho took Livermore to his whare, where he told him he was suspected of having murdered the girl Forster. The accused said, “Me? What would I murder her for? I thought she had fallen over a bank.” Witness told him he would he detained until the arrival of Detective M'Lennan. He asked If he could change his clothes, saying he would look more respectable. His trousers were wet. Witness told him to leave his clothing as it was. Witness asked him to show him his boots. Livermore then inquired, “ Have you got footprints? ” He added, “ Those are not the boots I had on to-day.” Witness asked him why he had changed his boots, and he replied that they were wet. The accused produced a pair of wet shoes. He was taken to the Upper Hutt Police Station.

Dr P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Public Hospital, said that as a result of his examination he had formed the conclusion that death was due to blows from a blunt instrument on the back of the head. A double scalp wound and multiple blood collections indicated that more than one blow had been struck. He did not think these injuries could have been caused by a fall. There was nothing in the condition or the appearance of the genital organs to indicate that the child had beep indecently assaulted. Dr M. B. M. Tweed said he agreed with the findings and the conclusions of Dr Lynch. The court adjourned until 10.30 tomorrow morning.

With a wound on the back of her head, the child was found murdered in a dump of scrub. The body was discovered 100 yards from her parents’ home. A piece of stout iron piping stained with blood was' found lying near the body.