ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 280, 26 November 1932, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

TARRANT TRIAL CONTINUED [ Per Press Association.! BLENHEIM, Nov. 25. The Flood murder ease was resumed this morning. Evidence up to luncheon was a dreary reiteration of the transactions in which witnesses, mostly tradesmen or salesmen, deposed as to accused cashing notes of large denominations and an old issue, some of them having rusty marks and pinmarks upon them, similar to the notes allegedly stolen from deceased when he was murdered. The Crown brought lengthy evidence traversing three transactions and also traced back for a number of years amounts paid to accused for work done by him and the denominations of notes paid to him when the cheques were cashed. The Crown endeavoured to prove accused’s sudden accession to wealth after the murder of Flood. A string of witnesses stated that on divers dates between March and June of this year the prisoner cashed tn Blenheim shops £5 and £2O notes and eleven £lO notes. Mr. Parry, for the prisoner, said that the defence would not deny that accused had cashed the notes and these particular witnesses would not be crossexamined. The defence would explain later how accused came into possession of the notes. Late in the afternoon the Crown Prosecutor announced that the next Crown witness was the-first of two new witnesses who had not been heard m the Lower Court. Mr. Parry objected to the introduction of new witnesses at this stage and quoted section 366 of the Crimes Act in support of his contention. Mr. Macassey said that due notice had been given of intention to cull these witnesses and a copy of the depositions had been forwarded to the defence. After hearing argument in chain bers, the Judge ruled that the evidence was admissablc. The Crown then called Jack McDonald, a farmer. His evidence was that he saw an old man, who was after wards pointed out as Janies Flood, in the Post Office. He saw him take a wallet from an inside pocket, abstract from it a large roll of notes and pay some of it to a postal clerk. The other new witness corroborated the evidence of McDonald. Detective Hall told of an intensive search of the fences and hedges around the Pieton croquet lawn where the key to Flood’s cottage was found. He found no wallet. He also detailed a search of Tarrant’s house, where nothing of any moment was discoveredHe was looking for a xffapon. The Court adjourned.