ANOTHER MAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20005, 23 November 1927, Page 9

ANOTHER MAN

THE BURWOOD MYSTERY Boy Tells Court of the Finding of the Body PILLS AND DRUGS MOEE ABOUT KING’S STATEMENT [ Per Press Association. ] CHRISTCHURCH, Nov. 22. The trial of Charles William Boakes on a charge of having murdered Ellen Gwendoline Isobei Scaiff at Burwood, was continued :iu the Supreme Court to-ckiy. The public galleries were again crowded. Eric Horace Mugford gave evidence as to the finding of the body. To Mr Thomas: After he saw the body he first saw Mrs Delamain, a storekeeper, who told him to go to the Bev. Mr Tobin. Mr Thomas: Did you find someone else at the body?—Yes at the head. You told Mr Tobin about this man? — Yes. What was the man doing?—He was kneeling at her head. You told Mr Tobin the man had his back to you?—Yes. As you came in and made a noise the man jumped to his feet and rushed off into tho broom?—Yes. I You did not sec his face?—No. i He was a smaller man than Boakcs? —Yes. Y’ou never saw him again?—No Would this man be about my build, but shorter?—Yes. You realise the tremendous importance of your evidence?—Yes. And, what you have told the jury is true?—Yes, sir. The Two Overcoats Mr Thomas asked the boy to tell him how far he was from the man and paced backwards across the Court till the boy told him to stop. The boy stopped Mr Thomas when he had gone ten or eleven feet. To Mr Donnelly, witness said he told Detective-Sergeant Young what he saw and showed him where the man went through, the scrub. The Bev. Cecil A. Tobin gave evidence of Mugford going to him and of his returning with Mugford to where the body was- It looked as if it had been moved. George Hunter McCann, staff ser-geant-major in the Defence Department said that he had examined two military overcoats produced. They w’ere the ordinary issue of overcoats. To Mr Thomas: The size and numbers of the coats were not distinguishable. They were approximately tne same size. To Mr Donnelly: An important difference between the coats was that or length. One was about four inches longer than the other. B oakes and the Girl Leslie George Mcßeth, a taxi driver said that ho had seen deceased on tho taxi stand on one occasion when she was looking for Boakcs. He had on several occasions taken telephone messages for Boakes vn the stand to ring up the house where she was employee. Mr Thomas: Why in the Lower Court did you say you took telephone messages twice or throe times? —It was more than that. You realise that this man is on trial for life?—Yes.

Then why did. you do this?—Have you any explanation? —No. George Lewis, a fruiterer and formerly a bus proprietor, said that from December 24, 1925, to October 16, 1926, Boakes drove one of his buses. Witness saw the girl Scarff in a bus on one occasion. To Mr Thomas: Boakes was t*n months in witness’ employ. He was not a hot-tempered man. Witness had never seen Boakes lose his temper and he seemed to be a kindly man. Detective Bickerdike’s Evidence Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike gave evidence of his interview with King, the chemist assistant. Witness said to King: “1 am informed you sold Boakes some drugs for abortion purposes.” King saiu: “Who told you?” Witness replied: “I’m sorry but I can’t tell you.” King said: “If I tell you the truth what is going to happen to me?” Witness said: I’m not itie boss, and can’t tell you” King said: “I’d; better tell you the trutn. 1 did sell some ergot to Boakes for a girl whom he had got into trouble. King subsequently made a statement, writing it out himself in the detective office. King was at the office about two hours. He lert about five o’clock and returned about six with samples of pills and ergot. Two days later, on July 20, King came to the detective office and said he had omitted to mention in his previous statement that he had sold two boxes of pills and not one, and he wished to re-write his statement. Statement Be-written King brought fl. sample of other pills and sat down and re-wrote the statement, this occupying about an hour. Mr Thomas: Y r ou have heard tho statement given by King to Mr Gresson. Did you bully him into making this statement to you?—No. I have never seen the man one could bully into making a false statement. Did you threaten to charge King with au offence? —No. In answer to further questions, Detective Bickerdike said it was clear that King was a liar. Detective Walsh* of Wanganui, saiid he was present when King was making his statement to Detective Bickerdiku. There was a good deal of conversation, but no bullyingThis concluded the Crown case and Mr Thomas informed the Court he would not call evidence. The Judge then adjourned the Couit until to-morrow, when counsel will address the jury.