TIMARU MURDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18016, 3 November 1920, Page 5

TIMARU MURDER.

MATTHEWS BEFORE THE COURT. (Per United Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, No. 2. Matthews, charged with the Timaru murder, was quiet and calm when he appeared at the Court this morning. He was not represented by counsel. When asked if he had anything to say he replied, ‘‘Just to say that I am not guilty.” The Magistrate said the question of providing counsel for the defence was a matter for further consideration. r Constable Templeton is progressing satisfactorily. An operation was performed to open up the flesh wound about his knee for irrigation purposes, and the wound is expected to heal rapidly. Matthews was boatswain on the Waipori, and bore a good record. He made the voyage to Melbourne in her. MATTHEWS’ RECENT MOVEMENTS. CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 2. Mrs James Phillipson, of Harper Street, Sydenham, states that Matthews paid frequent visits to her house recently, having some time ago boarded with her. Since he was paid off the Waipori a month ago she saw a good deal of him. He went about the city quite openly. She says Matthews left for Timaru on Wednesday, October 2 oth, and returned eight days afterwards. He did not show any signs oi worry, and romped with the children as usual, but he professed an anxiety to leave Christchurch. MATTHEWS WANTED BY WELLINGTON POLICE. SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS. WELLINGTON, Nov. 2. The Wellington police have been seeking Matthews for some time for .apart from his being “wanted” on a charge of escaping from custody, the man was suspected of having committed an indecent assault upon a little girl nine years of age in the vicnity of the Terrace, and also of having obscenely exposed himself in the same locality, both offences having been committed about the middle of September. Following the second offence, Constable Brown, acting upon a description furnished by a resident of Kelburn, proceeded up Glencoe Terrace, and there met a man who tallied with the description. The suspect turned tail and the constable gave chase. When near Talavera Terrace the man turned and produced a revolver, threatening to shoot if the constable came on. Constable Brown continued up the mound on which the man was standing, but for some reason the revolver either misfired or the trigger was not pulled, for the man again turned and ran and succeeded in eluding the constable. The Wellington police have reason to believe that Matthews has spent a considerable amount of his time since his escape from custody on steamers engaged in the coastal or intercolonial trade.