THE PERRY MURDER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 144850, 30 November 1915, Page 7

THE PERRY MURDER.

MBS. PERRY ON TRIAL. EVIDENCE OP GUN EXPERT. Pill PRESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, Nov. 30. At the trial of Amelia Perry on a charge of the murder of her husband to-day, Colonel Hazard, who had fifteen years’ experience as a gunmaker, deposed that he had mado experiments in the room where the tragedy occurred, and concluded that the gun must have been fired downwards at Perry’s nead while he lay on the bed. He did nob consider the fatal shot could have been fired through the window. Replying to the Judge, he said he was assuming the window was open only at the bottom two inches. It would need a very tall man to make the wound he saw. Witness produced a sheet of cardboard at which he had fired the gun in Perry's house at various distances. He considered the mark made when the muzzle of the gnn was two feet from the card corresponded best with the serrated edge of the wound in Perry’s head, though the mark made at three feet was much similar. He believed that the gun found in the house had been fired between twelve to eighteen hours before he Inspected it on September 25. Gordon M'Dowell, labourer, showed reluctance to answer questions with regard to his relations with Perry and his wife. The Crown Prosecutor suggested that M'Dowell might be treated as a hostile witness. His Honour said witness was in a peculiar position and entitled to claim She privilege of a. man in that position. Witness continued to answer questions in a guarded way. M'Dowell. declined to answer questions whether he cohabited with Mrs. Perry and as to whether accused had spoken to him about one of her children. Witness said that on the night before the murder he was working on Sutton’s farm and went to bed between nine and ten. He slept in the same room as Sutton and did not leave the honse all night. Cross-examined, he said accused had never had anything to hope from him the way of marriage if she were free. ~ illiam (Button corroborated M’Dowell’s evidence. Chief-Detective MacMahon said accused was arrested after she hr.d told a number of lies about M'Dowell. The Superintendent of Police was present and they were satisfied beyond doubt that M'Dowell had nothing to do with the murder. The case for the Crown was concluded.