ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 181, 5 August 1935, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER

THE BLACKBALL CASE DETECTIVE’S EVIDENCE [ Per Tress Association. ] GREY MOUTH, Aug. 3. The hearing oi the charge of murder against John t’kikeithorp 1 age, a miner, 3b years of age, single, a native ot England, was resumed in the Magistrate’s Court before Mr. H. Morgan, S M., this morning. Page was charged that on September 24, at Blackball, he did murder Margaret May Smith; also that on September 22, at Blackball, he attempetd to murder Jean Kennedy Clark and Ethel Annie Bragg.

Detective-Sergeant Holmes gave evi deuce of his inquiries and examination of the vifious exhibits, and his interviews with the previous witnesses. With Detective Knight on October 6 witness was shown some bloek-piint-ing over the accused’s signature. At a later search of Swann’s hut he found several bottles but no strychnine, and a piece of brown paper. Page’s hut at Roaring Meg River was also searched. Inquiries were subsequently made as to the movements of the accused, who was interviewed at Barry town. The accused denied that he was in the habit of block-printing, but gave samples of his writing. He misspelt Ngahere three ways. Page admitted that the envelope sent to the postmaster was in his writing, done carelessly. He said that the anonymous letter addressed to the schooln.aster at Atarau containing a reference to the character of the postmistress was due to his ill-feeling against her. Page was evasive in answering questions regarding his movements at Blackball. He admitted prowling around at nights to try to establish the identity of a “Peeping Tom.” Witness took a signed statement from Page on October 11. The police told the accused they were not sa t i sfi c dv