FURTHER EVIDENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26996, 3 February 1949, Page 6

FURTHER EVIDENCE

HAMILTON MURDER TRIAL WITNESS CROSS-EXAMINED PA HAMILTON, Feb. 2. The trial of Cecil Robert Gurr Otto for the murder of Mrs Ruth McGregor Stone at Hamilton, on October 23, was continued before Mr Justice Hutchison in the Supreme Court at Hamilton to-day. , Cross-examined by counsel for the defence, a witness named Byrne said that he did not know of the financial struggle the accused and Mrs Stone had undergone when living as man and wife on the farm at Tauhei. Regarding attacks of blindness suffered by the accused, witness said he had been told by Mrs Stone that the accused had some form of eye trouble resulting in the loss of sight on occasions. Witness did not know that Mrs Stone had received financial assistance from the accused during the time in which he had been associated with her. A meeting with Mrs Stone on the evening of October 22, the day before the shooting, was referred to by witness under cross-examination. Witness had taken Mrs Stone from her place of employment to the Warwick hotel, Hamilton East, where she was staying.

Summarising witness’s evidence, Mr Hill said that witness had been carrying on with Mrs Stone for approximately two years, and for a portion of that period he had been on intimate terms with her. During that period witness became aware of her association with the accused. Witness knew that the accused, was pleading with Mrs Stone to return to him. In answer to the Crown Prosecutor, Mr J. F. Strang, .witness said that during the months before her death it appeared to him that Mrs Stone was trying to terminate her friendship with the accused, while the accused was trying to regain her. Mrs G. Palmer, of Hamilton, with whom Mrs Stone lived for a period, described how she and her husband, their two children and Mrs Stone occupied upstairs bedrooms. They retired about 11 p.m. on September 16 last, and some time later witness was disturbed by Mrs Stone, who entered the bedroom. Witness arose and went to the bedroom door, where the accused was standing with a gun directed at her. Mrs Stone was behind witness. Witness screamed and her husband rose and asked the accused why he had not knocked at the door. The accused said he wanted to take Mrs Stone away with him. The accused remained for three hours, eventually being persuaded by Mr Palmer to leave the house, which he did after an agreement that the matter should not be reported to the police. Her husband at one time moved his foot, whereupon the accused said “ don’t make a move; it’s loaded,” and flicked a bullet from the rifle. Before he left, the accused said that now he knew where he stood life would not be very rosy for him. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.