INTEREST IN PAPERS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20784, 20 April 1939, Page 10

INTEREST IN PAPERS

PLEAS OF NOT GUILTY COUNSEL LODGES OBJECTION Formal objection to the admission [of Talbot’s written and verbal statements as evidence against McKay was once more lodged at this stage by Mr Sanderson, the objection again being noted. Milton James Everson, a schoolboy, aged 12, then went into the box and took the oath. After school, said witness. he went delivering papers in Grafton Road, anil left papers at 29 Grafton Road. Up remembered, three lor four days before February 25, that a man living at that address had bought papers from him. The man used to put his head out of the window and ask for a paper. Witness sold him about four papers before February 25. Describing the man’s face, witness •said he did not seem to have shaved for a few days, and had a dark skin. After February 25, witness delivered papers regularly to the man. When regular delivery began, the man did not say anything about paying. He jSaid his name was Bowlands. Witness supplied him with papers up to March The Final Witness The last witness to be heard was Detective-Sergeant F. N. Aplin, who went into the box at 4.i5 p.m. Witness described the search made by himself and constables at the scene of the Piha fire and produced the sieve used in gathering the materials which made up the exhibits found there. He described the. method of securing and labelling the many exhibits and the steps taken in connection with their examination. Mr Aplin told of the the finding of the ring which Talbot later identified as McKay’s. During the sieving operations, said witness, suitcase-fittings for at least two suitcases were recovered, a shoe archsupport, a burned razor, buttons, eyelets apparently from footwear, and other small objects, all enumerated by witness.

Mr Aplin also described his gather-, ing of ashes from the spot where the remains were found, his taking possession of the wire-mattress and wallboard, and other articles found at the scene of the fire and previously produced in court as exhibits. Evidence corroborative of that given by Mr Trethewcy, regarding the interviews with Talbot, was also given by Mr Aplin who described his visit with Mr Trethewey to Mrs Hearling’s home and the collection of further exhibits there. The balance of witness’ evidence was also corroborative of that given by Mr Trethewey or earlier witnesses. Committed for Trial When McKay was arrested, said witness, he had £8 8s 7d In his possession and a pair of dark horn-riin-med glasses. Witness produced copies of an Auckland evening newspaper, published a I the time when McKay was getting copies at Grafton Road, these papers containing reports of the Piha lire and one containing a photograph of Gordon Robert McKay. The newspapers produced were not found at Grafton Road, but were published at the time when McKay was receiving papers there. No submissions were made by either counsel at the completion of the police evidence and when the charge was again rpad to accused each pleaded not guilLv. The magistrate, Mr C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., then committed both accused for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court at Auckland.