BURNED MOTOR MYSTERY

Taranaki Daily News, 31 January 1931, Page 5

BURNED MOTOR MYSTERY

TRIAL OF WILLIAM ROUSE

HIS INNOCENCE PROTESTED BREAKDOWN IN THE BOX ACCUSED TELLS HIS STORY By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. London, Jan. 29. In the burned car murder trial William Rouse, the accused, during a fourhour ordeal in the witness-box, detailed how he had picked up the unknown man who asked for a lift. He then stopped to fill his petrol tank, which the passenger offered to fill. Rouse walked a little way down the road and later saw the blaze. He then ran back.

Rouse then broke down completely and his wife, who was watching, wept bitterly. Accused, when he recovered, proceeded: “When I reached the car I could not approach it owing to the high flames and intense heat. Panic-stricken, I ran towards the village.” Rouse stated that he turned round and ran again towards the car, but could not see the man. He was terrified at the sight and again ran down the road. Accused appeared to shudder as he gave the evidence. He said he saw two men approaching. His fifst thoughts were to ask for help. He did not know why he did not speak to them and could not account for it. He thought he shouted out something, but did not know what. “I ran this way and that. I lost my head entirely. I remember trying to stop a lorry. Another arrived, which I stopped.” He added that he was driven to London, where he alighted and went home, where he stayed for a quarter of an hour and then caught a coach to Wales to see friends. Rouse recollected giving some explanation to these people, which he now admitted was untrue and foolish of him. During the cross-examination Rouse admitted a number of falsehoods, accounting for them by his panic. Pressed for ah answer why he did not attempt to rescue the man, he answered: "I did not gee him in the car.”

Mr. Birkett: “You swear that?” Rouse stood erect, looked at the judge, and said, “I swear it.”

He frequently replied to Mr. Birkett: “I cannot' remember,” explaining that his memory was affected by a war wound in the head. He emphatically protested his innocence.