THE BURWOOD TRAGEDY

Otago Witness, Issue 3830, 9 August 1927, Page 50

THE BURWOOD TRAGEDY

MORBID PUBLIC CURIOSITY. CHRISTCHURCH, August 4. Extraordinary evidence of the inorbia curiosity of the public was afforded at the Magistrate’s Court to-day by hundreds of men and women who waited, struggled, and pressed to catch a glimpse of Charles William Boakes, the taxi driver who is charged with murder. Boakes was remanded till Friday, August 12, on the following charges : — (1) That on or about June 15, at Burwood, near Christchurch, he murdered Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff. (2) That at Christchurch, on or about May 16, 1927, he unlawfully supplied a noxious drug—to wit, ergot—to Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff, knowing that the drug is intended to be unlawfully used.

Mr A. W. Brown, for the Crown, intimated that a further remand would be asked for on Friday. The scenes inside and outside the court were remarkable. Long before the court was due to sit over 100 persons, including a large percentage of young women, waited at the door, and there was about the same number at the courtyard gateway. Close up against the door were several women, the first arrivals. At 10 a.m. the door was opened, and a rush took place, the public seething down the darkened passage-way, jostling and noisy. Two constables held the courtroom door, and admitted only as many curious specta tors as would occupv the seating accommodation. The constables stayed on guard throughout the proceedings. The doors were closely shut, but the passage was crowded, and the doors yielded slightly to the pressure at times. The arrival of Boakes was dramatic. The police car passed quickly through the gates into the courtyard, and none of the crowd saw’ Boakes, as he was lying down on the back seat between two constables. When Boakes’s name was called a murmur went round the crowded court, and men and women rose in their seats at the back to see the accused. Then there was silence. Boakes walked quietly into the dock. He was dressed in grev suit and did not wear a collar His eyes surveyed the crowd with an expression of quizzical humour. He clasped his hands on the dock rail, and listened to the charges with his gaze fixed on the magistrate. On being remanded he left the deck quietly, and turned to recognise some of his friends at the rear of the court as he passed from view. The proceedings occupied but two minutes. Then the court emptied almost as quickly as it had filled, and the curious rushed round to the gateway of the courtvardu There were several hundreds present, and the traffic was blocked. Three constables had to use pressure ‘o clear a way for the police car, which moved smartly out on to the street and speeded off. The car was hooded and side-curtained. Boakes crouched down out of sight, and the crowd- again “drew a blank.’’