THE SEVERED HAND MYSTERY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1459, 26 January 1886, Page 2

THE SEVERED HAND MYSTERY.

Howard, Mrs Howard, and the two Godfreys were brought up yesterday morning at the Police Court, Christheld, in the old Provincial Council Chamber, before R. Beetham, Esq., K.M., and Messrs Oox and Sims, J,P.’s, and charged with conspiring to defraud the Mutual Life, Government Assurance, and Accident Assurance Associations. The building was densely crowded and the street outside was thronged. Mr 3. C. Martin, Crown solicitor, conducted the prosecution. Mr Kippenberger, for Mr Joynt, appeared for Howard, Mr Stringer for Mrs Howard, and Mr Holmes for the Godfreys. Mr Kippenberger applied for an adjournment to Tuesday, as Mr Joynt was detained in the Supreme Court. Mr Martin opposed the application as forty-five witnesses were waiting, and the case had already been remanded. It was finally arranged to adjourn at 1 p.m. to Tuesday. Mr Martin addressed the Court, contending that it was not necessary to prove that defendants meant to concoct a conspiracy if it could be proved ‘ they were working with a common design towards a common object. He stated that the prosecution would show that the female prisoner was not Howard’s wife ; that Howard had met the Godfrey’s at Taylor’s Mistake on the day when the hand was found ; that when E. Godfrey met bis brother at the police station, ho said, “ Hullo, Fred. You had better make a clean breast of it.” The evidence of the first half-dozen witnessees proved that Howard took out policies in the offices named, and had transferred them to Mrs Howard, and that the money payable under them had been claimed by her. James Sheriff stated that on Dec. 16 Howard came to the Sumner baths and said that a hand bad been found at Taylor’s Mistake by the Godfreys, who had called his attention to it ; that they had asked him to telegraph to the police saying that they were coming with the band. The remainder of the evidence proved that Howard was at Sumner on Oct. 10, and the clothes were found next day.