GRUESOME EXHIBIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17945, 24 November 1932, Page 4

GRUESOME EXHIBIT

PICTON MURDER CASE DECEASED’S SKULL IN COURT CHARGE AGAINST TARRANT (Pur Press Association.) BLENHEIM, last night. The trial of Edward Tarrant, who is charged with the murder at Picton, on November 3, 1931, of an old man named James Flood, was continued to-day. Dr. Lynch continued Ids evidence, detailing the results of the post-mortem. A gasp ran round the court when the witness nonchalently produced a series of line drawings showing the extent of the injuries in soft parts of the seat of the skull fracture. He also brought forth from a little trunk the dead man’s skull, and taking it to the jury-box, demonstrated the locality of tiie injuries, showing that the skulfhad been split in many directions by the blow and also demonstrating the locality of the severance of tho neck bones. The grisly relic was neatly mounted on a stand, the cap of the skull having been sawn through, 'so that it could bo removed like the lid of some grotesque tobacco jar, and the interior thus inspected. The jawbone with the • teeth complete was held in position by a couple of small springs. The witness said ho believed the wounds were caused by an axe, because they were- short, clean-cut and bit right through all structures. The weapon must have been both sharp and heavy. He could not think of any other weapon but an axe. . The injuries to the head, in witness’ opinion, were struck with violence and with skill by a left-handed man. BANKING TRANSACTIONS Cross-examined by Mr. Parry, the witness admitted that if the deceased had turned his head suddenly just as the blow was struck, it was possible that the blow might have been a right-handed one. Witness’ theory was that the deceased was struck on the head and toppled into the fireplace in a- crumpled condition. The murderer then would have to straighten him out for the purpose of robbing him, and witness believed the victim was pulled on to his hack. Then he probably breathed stertoriously, and the murderer struck him in the throat with the axe.

A bank teller at Picton, James Fuller, detailed tho deceased’s accounts at the bank, showing the amounts of interest and the denominations of the notes paid him. Witness also produced cheques drawn in favor of “E. Tarrant,” ‘ C. Tarrant” and “Tarrant.” The accused’s son was also named “E. Variant..” Detective'Sinclair’s evidence was mninlv on the lines of that given in the lower court. He was present in the courthouse when the accused reported to Constable Condon that lie had borrowed £3O from the deceased in six £5 notes.

Flapett Pratt, who resides next door to tho Tnrrants, said she was in bed ill on November 4. 'She saw through her bedroom window at a nuarter-pnst seven dirty black smoko coming from the window of the Tarrant’s washhouse. It was not their usual washday. Witness went to Wellington on November 7. and after her return she told detectives of smoke coming from the Tarrants’ wash-house. The court adjourned at 5.10'