ALLEGED MURDER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 205, 24 August 1932, Page 3

ALLEGED MURDER

Of James Flood CHARGE AGAINST TARRANT YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS (Per Press Association) BLENHEIM, Last Night. Police Court proceedings against Edward Tarrant, who is charged with murdering James Flood at Picton on November 3, 1931, were continued yesterday before Mr T. E. Maunsell, S.M. to-day. Accused was arrested on June 18. It is understood some 54 witnesses are to be called for the prosecution and the proceedings are likely to be protracted. The Court sat until 10 o’clock in the evening, and adjourned till to-day. Constable’s Evidence Thomas Marton Gouda, constable, continuing his evidence, stated that he found a pen-knife in the fireplace with the blade open. The handle was slightly charred. Witness had a conversation with Tarrant on' November 8. He said that he had borrowed some money from deceased, and thought it was his duty to know to whom he was to pay the money back. He mentioned the sum was £3O. Tarrant admitted that he knew deceased carried a wallet. Deceased had paid him the money in six £5 notes. Witness produced a civil records book and road from it a statement of judgment obtained against Tarrant. Cross-examined, witness said that none of the furniture in the room was disarranged. Witness judged the amount of money in the wallet by the size of the wad. Half would be in £lO notes and half in £2O notes. Ho actually saw only two £2O notes. Notes in Wallet Witness was cross-examined at some length regarding how many times he had seen the wallet in deceased ’s possession. He said ho had seen it half a dozen times in the last three years. ■ Counsel: When deceased paid you money he drew it from the wallet. What did he then do with it?—- “He placed the wad on the table and then lifted the £lO notes into or. A pile. ” How many notes were in L > £lO bundle? —“I didn’t count them, but there appeared to be about a dozen.” Ho paid you with a £2O note? — ‘‘ Yes. ’ ’ Where did he take it from? —“From the wad of £2O notes.” Were there only £2i' notes in that bundle? —“I know the next one to it was a £2O note and 1 saw that the bottom one was a £2O note, so I assumed that the others were also £2O notes.” Ilf Nephew Testifies Were there many of them? —“Thereappeared to be 12 of 15 of them.” James Thomas Tetley Flood, builder, of Picton, gave evidence that he urns a nephew of deceased. About 1908 deceased was taken to the mental hospital in Nelson, where he remained about four months. The Public Trustee took over deceased’s farm property, but witness’s father looked after it. A few months after James Flood’s discharge from the mental hospital he leased the farm to witness and his two brothers. The lease was for 20 years at £lOO a year. Counsel for the Defence: What does it matter? The Crown Prosecutor: It proves the source of the money we say he had. Witness said he saw his uncle frequently. He was of quiet disposition and very thrifty. Witness had never known anyone borrowing money from him. Witness built the cottage in which, his uncle lived and was paid £lBl and some shillings in July, 1930. The money was paid in notes. Witness could not remember how the amount was made up. There would be some single notes. Later witness built a wood shod for his undo and was paid with a £5 note, a £1 note and some silver. Coming to the night of the tragedy, witness said that about 9 p.m. on November 5, as the result of a message he went to his uncle’s house. Here he met Constable Condon, and they proceeded to the cottage, where the constable got through a window. Forced Door Open Witness said that on Constable Condon’s request he and Mr Esson forced the, door open, and witness saw his uncle’s body lying on its back in front of the fireplace. Witness described the injuries and said the right side of deceased’s coat was open. The coat had blood on it and the pocket appeared to be quite flat. Beneficiaries

under deceased’s will were witness, his two brothers and two sisters, and three cousins. Never Known to Lend Money Cecil Godfrey Flood, labourer, a nephew of deceased, said he saw deceased about once a month. Ho had known him lend money on one or two occasions. Arthur Lionel Flood, also a nephew said ho had never known deceased lend money. John Thomas Hoborlcy, sheepfarmer, said he had known Flood all his life. Ho was careful in money matters, never lending. Witness described deceased’s wallet, which was actually a lady’s handbag. Denomination of Notes James Alexander Fuller, bank toller, of Picton said deceased at his death had two fixed deposits—£224 and £lO9. He produced a statement showing the denominations of the notes issued to deceased on account of interest since January 8. There were eight £2O notes, 96 £lO notes, 42 £5 notes and single notes. They wore Bank of New Zealand notes. From 1915 to 1931, deceased received interest totalling £2761. Witness then detailed the various interest payments. When deceased lifted the interest he put the money in a wallet which he took from his inside coat pocket. It was a brown wallet, but very dirty and had a rubber band round it. The money in it was wrapped in a bundle; deposit receipts were also in the wallet. The money was in notes; he saw one £2O note in the bottom. “The money I gave him he wrapped round in a bundle,” said witness. “I estimated there was between £2OO and £3OO in the bundle. Deceased occasionally changes notes in the bank, but not many £2O notes —three as far as I remember. ’ ’ IVitncss corrected his statement regarding the interest paid to deceased from 1915 to 1931. The correct calculation was £2233 8/9. Deceased had had no current account. Witness then detailed at length particulars regarding cheques paid to E. Tarrant by certain firms and the denominations of notes in payment. This was wearisome but necessary evidence it being explained that accused had accounted for the possession of certain notes he had cashed by a statement that these particular firms had paid amounts to him and ho had received specified notes in payment from the bank. Four £lO notes had been paid but no £2O notes.

Cross-examined, witness said he did not know if the wallet had any other fastener than the rubber band. The amounts paid from January 8, 1931, to deceased wore eight £2O notes, 96 £lO notes, and 42 £5 notes.

Witness produced bank notes of the denomination of six £2O notes and ten £lO notes. These notes were paid to deceased on interest coupons. Detective Gives Details Detective Frank Sinclair described the position of deceased’s body when it was found in his cottage, and detailed the wounds which caused death. On November 6 the caretaker of the croquet lawn gave witness a key which fitted the lock of the entrance door of deceased’s house. Witness from deceased’s clothing a rubber flap (produced). It was sewn above the inside pocket; it had a buttonhole which fitted a button below the pocket of the coat. Witness said he saw accused on November 8 at the Pieton police station. Accused called to report having borrowed £3O from deceased and to inquire to whom he should pay it back. Accused made a statement, which he signed. In this he said he called on deceased regarding some fencing posts. He asked deceased for a loan of £3O, and deceased gave it to him without demur. He took it out of a wallet. That was on the Saturday before Labour Day. When examining the cottage when the body was there Detective Sinclair said he found the poker produced. It had blood on it. He searched for the wallet and the door key, but could not find cither. Cross-examined, witness said the first intimation he had about deceased’s money came from accused himself. The Court rose at about 10 p.m. There are still a large number of witnesses to bo called, and the proceedings threaten to be protracted.