ARUNDEL CRIME

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 249, 20 October 1937, Page 8

ARUNDEL CRIME

ALLEGED MURDER WARDER’S EVIDENCE DR. HASLAM’S OBJECTION [ Per Press Association. ) TIMARU, Oct. 19. Evidence at the hearing of the Arundel murder charge agamst Randall Reginald David Smith this mornning was concentrated upon Smith’s movements. Jessie Jones, boardinghouse proprietress, Seacliff, said that accused was like a man who came to her on September 12, but she could not swear to it. He left on September 13. Gordon William McHardy, storekeeper, Seacliff, said that accused cashed a cheque which was signed by David Bell. Detectives took possession of the cheque before it was tendered to the bank. Detective J. Gibson said that the cheque was made out to and endorsed by Jack O’Brien. James Daniel McKechnie, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Geraldine, said that the cheque produced was from the cheque book purchased by Gaby on May 11. No one by the name of David Bell had an account at the bank.

When Allan Charles Herring, warder in charge of the Mt. Eden Prison bookshop, was called, Mr. Haslam objected to the nature of the evidence to be given. The matter was discussed in chambers for four minutes, after which Herring was allowed to give evidence. He described the types of bootlaces made at Mt. Eden. He knew of no other place or firm in New Zealand where laces were similarly made. As far as he knew the only place where the laces produced could have been made was at Mt. Eden, Accused had been in Mt. Eden and was discharged on August 19 last. Mr. Haslam’s objection to all of Herring’s evidence was recorded. Robert Richard Graham Lawson, Paparua, identified the lucky charm found in Gaby’s store as one which had been among accused’s possessions in August, 1935. Mrs. Olive Ibell (Christchurch) and Allan Richard Armstrong (Christchurch) said that they recognised the charm as one worn by accused in his lapel. They last saw it in August. Detective-Sergt. Bickerdike, Christchurch, said that he interviewed accused at the detective office in Christchurch and told him that he was investigating Gaby’s death. “Accused asked my reason for interviewing him on the matter. I asked him if he knew the Arundel district and he said that he knew it well and knew Gaby’s store. I told him that a cheque had been cashed at Seacliff by a man answering to his description. I told him that the cheque was from a book on issue to Gaby. After a few minutes accused said, ‘What is going to happen to me if I tell the truth?’ I said: ‘lt just depends on what your explanation is, provided you have an explanation.’ Accused said: ‘I did not intend to kill Gaby. He gave a groan as I dragged him into the kitchen.’ He said he would prefer to write his own story as he could put it in his own language.” In his statement accused said that he stayed at Mt. Somers on September 9.