ON MURDER CHARGE.

Thames Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 20288, 13 April 1938, Page 3

ON MURDER CHARGE.

SPENSLEY BEFORE COURT.

Body Found At Swanson.

POLICE CASE OPENS.

MANY WITNESSES LIKELY.

[By Telegraph. —Press Association.! AUCKLAND, April 1?.

Wearing a striped blazer and light trousers, and looking younger than his 19 years, Francis Borgia Spensley, a farm labourer, sat in tlfe Police Court to-day while evidence was given in the charge against him of murdering his father, Robert Fitzroy Spensley, agde 60, on or about February 7. The body was found under a covering of hay near Spenslcy’s three-roomed shack on the farm at Swanson on Sunday, March 6. It was partly decomposed, with a bullet wound in the head. Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the case for the police, and Mr. G. Bloomfield appeared for Spensley. The charge was heard be fore Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M. It is understood more than 20 witnesses are to be called.The police witness produced photographs, and the Lands and Survey Department’s draughtsman a plan of the house and farm. Wiidoiw’s Evidence. Selina Winslow, a widow, of Swanson, gave evidence that accused was a friend of some of her boys and came to stay at her house early in February last. He did not tell witness at first where liis father was, but when asked said his father had gone away on a holiday for a fortnight. Accused brought his bedclothes and clothing with him, sharing a tent with one of witness’s

sons. He did not bring any guns at first, but she noticed later there were two firearms in Die tent.

Accused used to go to his father’s farm to milk the cows. When a cheque arrived by mail he signed it and witness asked: “Is it right for you to sign that cheque?” He replied that his father had told him to sign cheques, as he was away in the backblocks and they might not reach him. Spending Money Freely.

Accused seemed to be spending money very freely on chocolates, soft drinks, gramophone records and groceries. Witness said if he was spending the money he could afford to pay his board. He gave witness’s niece £1 and said it was part of his wages. After lie had been there a few days he stopped going to milk his father’s cows. In reply to . her, he said the cows were dry. and said he had a letter from his father telling him to sell the dry stock. Accused used his father’s car a few times, but it broke down. ,

A Rental Car.

When witness was iii town lie callci

for her in a rental car which was driven back to Swanson by her sor Alfred. “They told me they were go ing to Rotorua for the week-end,” said witness, “but I wouldn’t let my son go.”

On Sunday, March 13, witness asked accused what he had done with the two guns she had asked him to take away. He said: “All right, I will go and get them.” He then went into witness’s son’s bedroom and took the two guns away from the house. Later witness found two shotgun cartridges in the drawer in one of her boy’s bedroom. Some pea-rifle cartridges were on the floor and more in a box in the washhouse. Schoolboy’s Evidence. Sidney Keith Winslow, a schoolboy, said accused told him his father was away for two weeks at Wailii goldfields prospecting. Witness identified the shotgun and pea-rifle which accused brought to their home. He had two or three pea-rifle bullets, but got more ammunition later. They did some shooting together.

Accused told witness he was going to sell the cows at Henderson and later that lie had sold all but one. He was spending money at this time on clothing, chocolates, etc. lie said if his father got a good job he would ‘stay there for good.” What They Found. Witness described a visit to Spoilslev’s farm one Sunday. Accused had gone to Auckland the night before with his sisters. Witness and another boy saw a heap of hay at tho side of the house between 3ft and 4ft high, and about 7ft long. They noticed a bad odour, which became worse when they lifted the sacking a little. They did not look further, but told witness’s father. Sydney John Hammond, a schoolboy, residing at his father’s farm near tho Spensley farm, corrobSratcd the previous witness. Saw Human Bones. Sydnoy Arthur Henry Hammond, a farmer, described the finding of tlio body after his son had told him of the discovery. Under the hay and sacking fie saw human bones but could not tell from the bead whose body it was at that time. Tie reported the matter to the police and later a truck arrived containing two married daughters of Spensley, also a son-in-law, and accused. “A Foolish Fellow.” Witness heard a constable say to accused: “You Alive been $ foolish fellow. You have been selling' stock and (Continued at foot of next column).

have, wasted the money.” AVitncss heard Frank Spensley say: “1 shot him

with a pea-rifle.” Mr. Meredith: Did you hear Constable Norton warn him? Witness said ho heard the constablo say -something to the effect that anything accused said might be taken down and used against him. Then accused’s brother-in-law came up and told him not to say anything until lie had seen a lawyer.