READING MYSTERY MERDER

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1929, Page 9

READING MYSTERY MERDER

CONCLUSION OF INQUEST LONG EXAMINATION OF DREW ‘MERELY THE PRELIMINARY’ By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian Press Association. United Service. London, Oct. 9. The coroner will sum up in the morning the evidence given in the inquest into the death of Alfred Oliver, aged 60, a tobacconist of Cross Street, Reading, who was found mortally wounded in his shop on June 22. The former actor, Philip Yale Drew, who was questioned for 80 minutes yesterday, was to-day subjected to a long examination by the coroner. Drew agreed that he might have had a few drinks on the night of June 22. It had happened more than once,’but he had not been drunk. Asked why he left the theatre so late on the night of the murder Drew answered that so great was his love of the theatre that he often stayed late to see the" scenery moved. Often he sat in the darkened theatre in the day time because he loved its atmosphere. The questions put to him by the foreman of the jury, like those of the coroner, concerned many and diverse things. One was .about an occasion when he was supposed to have rushed from a house because a doctor was called in. He agreed that it might have been a strange performance, but, added Drew, “I am a strange man.”

Lindo, joint proprietor of the Monster Company, gave evidence that he knew no man in the profession more honoured, loved or respected than Drew. Mr. Whittinstall, appearing in Drew’s interest, produced a new witness who in evidence said he saw a strange man in the neighbourhood of the crime. It was not Drew. He made a statement regarding this to the police at the time.

The coroner for the statement, which after a search was produced. The coroner will sum up to-morrow.