Crown's Case In Wellington Railway Station Murder Trial Expected To End Today

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 November 1950, Page 6

Crown's Case In Wellington Railway Station Murder Trial Expected To End Today

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). —Eleven Crown witnesses were heard in the Supreme Court, Wellington, today on the second day of the trial of Leo Sylvester Hannan, labourer, aged 50, on a charge of murdering Frederick Andrew Stade, night-watch-man. at Wellington, on August 10. Stade’s body was found at the railway station soon after 1.18 a.m. on August 10.

The last two Crown witnesses aill be heard tomorrow. Banian’s counsel. Mr. G. I. Joseph, is expected to call evidence for the defence. The Chief Justice (Sir Humphrey O’Leary) is presiding. The Crown’s case is being directed by the Crown Prosecutor at Wellington. Mr. W. H. Cunningham, with him Mr. W. H. Birks. With Mr. Joseph is Mr. D. S. Castle. Clement Walter Free, guard of the 1.15 a.m. train to Johnson* ille on August 10, gave details of a conversation he had with a man whom he had later identified as the accused. Free said that the accused and Stade were the only people on the number two platform when the train left at 1.15 a.m. To Mr G. I. Joseph, counsel for accused, witness said that there could have been anothei* person elsewhere on the station. Witness said just before the train left he spoke to a stranger on the platform ana this man had told him he wanted to go <o the lavatory and that the main one was locked. Witness said that at this stage he noticed the nightwatchman standing outside the grille gates of number two platform near the public lavatory. Later witness had identified the man he had spoken to as the accused. TOOK NO NOTICE. “As I was talking to this nMi Stade, who was still outside the grille, called out something—l think to the man—l did not take any notice,” said witness, who added there was nobody else on the platiorm but Stade and the accused when the train left at 1.15 a m. He had known Stade for about three years, said Free under cross-examina-tion by Mr Joseph. Counsel: What kind’ of temper did Stade have? Witness: If there had been anybody about the station he would have told them to get out. He had a job and was very conscientious. Counsel: Was the man you were speaking to carrying anything in his hands?—l did not see it. Counsel: You would have fisen that bar had he been carrying it?—He could have had it his side as he walked along. I tocZ; no notice of his hands. Counsel; Did you, hear any sound or noise when he w/lked?—No. Counsel: Did tZe man have a shuffling walk or a limp?—l did not notice. Counsel: There could have been aomeone else on the concourse or station ?—Yes. John O’Connell, driver of the locomotive on the 1.15 a.m. Johnsonville train, said that about 1.9 a.m. on the r.i,"** of Stade’s death, Stade had been talking to a man at the foreman’s office. There had appeared to be some altercation between Stade and a man. The man had been about sft. lOin. in height, 10 or 11 stone weight and dressed in dark clothes and hat. O’Connell said he had known Stade for six or seven years. Stade had not been involved in any fights as far as the witness knew, though he had had a number of arguments. Stade had never used his hands to make anyone leave the station. Sergeant Cyril Scanlon said at 4.36 a.m. he saw a man on the south side of Manners Street, he raised no objection when asked to go in the police car. The man was the accused. To Mr Joseph the sergeant said a man who was not the accused was taken to the police station from a night cafe. This man had blood on his clothes. He did not know of a third man being picked up who had blood on his clothes. Detective-Sergeant Burton Bernara Bevege said he had questioned Hannan when the accused was brought in to the central police station. Hannan had said he had been walking about “all over the place” since 7 p.m. the previous night. Witness’ attention had been drawn to the fac* of the accused, where he had observed what he was certain was blood. On the inside of th? right trouser leg there was a small piece of fleshy matter. MADE SKETCH OF FACE The witness had made a rough sketch of the accused’s face showing the approximate location of the blood spots. There were 18 there, and four on the left hand were also skeatched. They appeared to be fresh. The accused had said that the blood spots on his hands were caused by his nose bleeding for four days, but the witness had examined his nose and found no signs of recent haemorrhage. The nose had not been examined by one of the doctors. In the witness’ opinion it was not necessary, as there was no blood in Hannans nostrils. There was no blood on the accused’s right hand, nor under the fingernails of either hand.

Mr. Joseph: After the accused had been charged, did you make inquiries as to another suspect? Witness: There was no direct evidence of any further suspect Any matter tnat came in for inquiry was checked

Were you in Court when the police were asked to continue their inquiries about another suspect? Nothing has been found that would substantiate the accused’s request for further investigation. Have you been able to find where this turnkey came from? We have made fairly wide inquiries, but we have not been able to ascertain where it came from.

The witness said inquiries had been made from the City Council and the Wellington Gas Company. In further cross-examination Detect ive-Sergt. Bevege said that Hannan’s fellow-lodger, a man named Price, was sft. Ilin, in height, weghing 11-12 stone, and suffering at the time of Stade’s death from a leg injury’. Counsel commented that Price was a former employee of the Wellington Gas Company. Mr. Joseph: I put it to you that after you arrested Hannan all further

inquiries ceased except for the weapon.—No. What other inquiries were made?—All information that came into the detective office was investigated no matter what its nature. Elizabeth Forbes, proprietress of a bed-and-breakfast house at 1 Vivian Street, told Mr. Joseph, under crossexamination. that a man named Price brought “Bluey" Hannan to the house on July 30, though Hannan was not living at the house at the time of the murder. The witness, who was called by the Crown, said Price paid Hannan's board after Hannan came to the House on July 30. Hannan left the following Saturday. August 5, at her request. He was in a different room from Price. early-morning washing w • e .-. said price worked at the gasworks, and vias aged 50 to 55, or more. Witness told Mr. Joseph that Price did his washing from 2 to 4 in the morning on August 10. She told him he had no business *n the washhouse at that time. Mr. Joseph: Did he tell you why he did it at that rather strange early hour?—He was a bit peculiar. Did you tell the police about this washing of clothes about an hour after a murder?—Yes. She did not remember if there were trousers in the washing. There were light and dark shirts. Mr. Price limped, witness said, questioned further. He had. a sore leg and was off work at the time. He had used crutches, but did not have them then. He had a stick. Re-examined by Mr. W. Cunningham. Crown Prosecutor, witness said she knew nothing about the washing of the clothes till 6 o’clock next morning. Earlier she was told about it by another boarder. Mr. Cunningham: Had Price made any preparation for washing?—He had it soaking in two tubs the day before. Price was on crutches when he left the house, and she saw him on crutches in the street after that.

PIECE OF HUMAN SCALF. To Mr. Joseph, Detective-Sergeant Scott said that when Hannan was charged the police had the evidence of Fred Beatty O'Connell and Dr. Lynch —Dr Lynch had identified the piece of fleshy matter as a piece of human scalp several hours earlier. Accused was not limping when taken into custoc I .'. He had a sort of shuffling gait. The police had been unable to establish where the iron bar came from. The photographs put in yesterday were given to the jury. Witness said the wounds on the head could not have gone any deeper. He said there was moist blood on accused's clothes when he was interviewed at 5 a.m. He agreed moist spots on the face would smear if they were rubbed. He saw no smears. Arthur Walter Baker, detective, described finding the metal bar produced in Court in the harbour. Victor Coveny, constable of the wharf Police Station, said ne saw accused pass the Wharf Police Station on the morning of August 10. He first saw him approaching from the north at 1.28 a.m. They exchanged a greeting. Later he identified Hannan at a parade. When seen on the wharf accused had nothing in his hands. James Gibson, chief detective at the Central Police Station, gave details or identification parades held. To Mr. Joseph witness said that before the second identification parade accused had been twice in the dock in the Magistrate’s Court. Witness told His Honour, the Chief Justice Sir Humphrey O’Leary, that the parades were held according to Instructions.

* The tearing will continue tomorrow morning.