DEATH SENTENCE PASSED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21095, 22 July 1938, Page 5

DEATH SENTENCE PASSED

PARKS FOUND GUILTY MURDER AT HENLEY By Telegraph —Pres? Association DUNEDIN, July 21 Opening the defence of Eric Sandagger Parks, charged with the murder of Frances Amelia Lee, this morning, Mr C. J. Z. White referred to the Crown’s close examination of diaries in searching for obscure, fantastic meanings from entries made by a comparatively uneducated working man. Counsel charged the jury that although there was only one count preferred, it was open to them to find for manslaughter or not guilty. It was inconceivable that this act could have been done at all. if not in hot blood and with provocation, said Mr White. The whole thing was explained obviously. Park became madly in love with his fiancee. The jury might i ask themselves whether her conduct I and attitude in the witness box were ) what might be expected, or whether there was a flippancy in her attitude. Actually, she did not show the slightest distress, even while speaking of her dead mother. This girl was receiving not only the prisoner's Jove, but he had spent at*least £lOO on l.er, and was impoverished at the time of the tragedy. Relations Ruptured. Counsel continuing, said then came the jolt that uptured the relations of these young people. Whoever was responsible for that jolt did Parks a grave injustice. It came when the girl Frances was in hospital with a nasty allegation tha'; Parks had made certain remarks about the girl to the proprietor of the hotel where she had worked. All this time when Frances was in hospital Parks visited her, and showered presents on her. but mischief was about. Who was responsible for the mischief? The mother. It was her wicked intervention that caused the trouble between the young people In the first place, and the simple fact was she was out to break the union, working against the accused’s interests behind the scenes when Parks was not present to defend himself. The girl was influenced by her mother, and they were all against him. Whenever the girl was a wax from her mother she was keen on being married after reconciliation. Her mother found it out, and took immediate steps. The girl had promised to write Paiks but she did not. He knew she was in trouble again, and became desperate. Finally, on his birthday, a letter came shattering all the castles he had built up. Accused became very depressed, counsel suggesting that on the night before the tragedy he formed the intention of suicide, but next m irning he had reconsidered it. thinking he would make another attempt to get the girl from her mother. Counsel reviewed the prisoner’s movements before going to Henley, claiming that they were quite epen, and not those of a man intending to commit murder. The evidence showed that he was quite normal, stating at a garage that he intended picking i 3 a girl at Henley, and going on to Port Molyneux. What earned the tragedy? Deceased reviled him in terms thi.t in his state made him see red. Counsel dismissed the Crown submission that the woman was asleep, nor did he believe the room was in darkness. ReconstrucLng the circumstances Counsel said that the deceased must have been sitting up when the blow was struck. Assuming the deceased was murdered. counsel submitted his first action would be to escape, whereas he went into the girl’s room, openly disclosing himself. This proved that he was becoming his self again. Mr White p f ter speaking for three hours, was unfinished at the lunch adjournment. Mr White referred to the Crown’s attempts to construe from diaries various intentions on the part of the accused, but from beginning to end there was not the slightest suggestion of a threat against Mrs Lee. Counsel read entries to substantiate this submission. There was no evidence of premeditation, he said, and everything pointed to the fact that his purpose in going to Henley was solely to take the girl away with him to Port Molyneux. There was only one person who could refuse him this, and that person was the mother, who must therefore have been awake and provocation that must have been raised then resulted in manslaughter not murder. Verdict of Murder The jury retired at 4.50 p.m. and returned at 7.40 p.m. with a verdict that accused was guilty of murder. When asked if he had anything to say why sentence of death should not be passed, prisoner said in a low voice. "No. I have nothing to say.” Mr Justice Kennedy then donned the black cap and formally pronounced sentence of death. The prisoner maintained a calm demeanour throughout the whole of the proceedings.