ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 88, 14 April 1938, Page 8

ALLEGED MURDER

BOY OF NINETEEN CHARGED

TWENTY WITNESSES TO BE CALLED

[ Per Press Association. ] AUCKLAND, April 13.

Wearing a striped blazer and light trousers and looking younger than his 19 years, Francis Borgia Spensley, farm labourer, sat in the Police Cour: to-day while evidence was given against him of murdering his father, Robert Fitzroy Spensley, aged 60, on or about February 7. The body was found under a covering of hay near Spensley’s three-roomed shack on a farm at Swanson on Sunday, March 13. It was partly decomposed, with a bullet wound in the head. Mr. V. R. Meredith, Crown Prosecutor, conducted the case for the police and Mr. G. Bloomfield appeared for Spensley. The charge was heard before Magistriate F. K. Hunt. It is understood that more than 20 witnesses are to be called. A police witness produced photographs and a lands and survey draughtsman a plan of the house and farm. Pathologist’s Evidence. Dr. Waller Gilmour, pathologist at the Auckland Hospital, said he examined the body of deceased. It was covered with three cow-covers made of sacking. The head was wrapped m what had the appearance of having been a curtain. A blanket was round the body securely sewn with twine. Under this was a sheet. Two bullet holes were found in the skull, one immediately above the level of the eyebrows and just to the right of the middle line. This must have been formed by a bullet striking at right angles to the skull. The second hole was three-quarters of an inch above the first, just to the left of the middle line. It was slightdly oval and in this case also the bullet had come from straight in front, but had passed through the skull in a slightly upward direction. Dr. Gilmour said that two bullets were found inside the skull. These were produced as exhibits.

In witness’ opinion death was due to bullet-wounds of the brain. The presence of two bullet-wounds indicated that they could not both have been self-inflicted. Death had taken place lour or five weeks’ previously. Mrs Sarah Agnes lima Pender, ol Parnell, married, said deceased was her lather. Accused was her stepbrother and the only child ol deceased’s second marriage. On February 12 witness and her sister, Mrs Frederickson, went to deceased’s farm to see him. There was nobody at the house. The back door was unlocked but the door leading out of the kitche was locked and it was impossible to enter the bedroom. She visited Swanson later in February and accused said deceased had gone to Tc Aroha.

Witness collapsed when nearing the conclusion of her evidence and was carried from the witness box. At this stage it was decided to adjourn the hearing until to-morrow.