CHARGE OF MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 112, Issue 18803, 26 November 1932, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER.

DEATH OF OLD MAN. EDWARD TARRANT IN DOCK. FURTHER EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Friday. The trial of Edward Tarrant, who is charged with the murder, at Picton, on November 3, 1931, of James Flood, an old man, was resumed in the Supreme Court to-day. After witnesses had given evidence that on.various dates between March and June of this year accused cashed in Blenheim shops five £2O notes and 11 £lO notes, Mr. Evan Parry, counsel for accused, said that the defence did not deny that accused cashed the notes, and these particular witnesses would not be cross-examined. The defence would explain later how accused came into possession of the notes.

Jack McDonald, a farmer, gave evidence that he saw an old man, who was afterwards pointed out as James Flood, In the post office. He saw him take a wallet from an inside pocket, abstract from it a large roll of notes and pay some of it to a postal clerk. Another new’ witness corroborated the evidence of McDonald.

Detective Hall gave evidence of an intensive search in fences and hedges round the Picton croquet lawn, where the key of Flood’s cottage was- found. He found no wallet. Witness also detailed a search of Tarrant's house, where nothing of any moment was discovered. TO-DAY’S PROCEEDINGS. THEORY OF THE DEFENCE. JURY TO INSPECT MURDER SCENE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) BLENHEIM, Saturday. The Flood murder case was resumed this morning. The judge referred to the arrangements for the jury to inspect the locality of the crime and this drew from Mr Parry, the defence’s theory of the crime. He said that the defence would suggest that the murderer, whoever he might have been, resided somewhere on the east side of Devon Street, and that after leaving Flood’s cottage he proceeded down Devon Street, took a short cut across a vacant section next to Pratt’s, then diagonally across the croquet lawn. The defence would suggest that he dropped the key as he went and that later he planted the wallet under the croquet lawn hedge, covering it with leaves. Here Tarrant found it early in January. It would be admitted that he had no right to retain money, but the fact that he did so did not mean he was a murderer. It would be admitted tnat he attempted to mislead the police as to his -possession of the money until he was “bowled out” when he told the truth that lie had found it. Detective Hall was cross-examined at length. Witness admitted the police had taken a pair of khaki trousers belonging to accused and a coat afterwards found to belong to his son. They had on them what appeared to be blood stains. The stain on the coat was ex-plained by the fact that the son had a wound on his arm. Detective Jarrold detailed the search for the wallet, and of accused’s house, similar to that given by him in the lower court.

The court adjourned at one o’clock to enable flic jury to visit the scene of the murder.

The trial will resume on Monday morning.