MURDER CHARGE

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19164, 22 November 1927, Page 13

MURDER CHARGE

BO AKBS STANDS TRIAL. TH B CROWN CASE. »i>l of Charles William ' TW * the Christchurch taxiS 0 ***' .S 37 ye«s, who is the murder of Ellen d " rg S!ms Isobel Scarff, was comSupreme Court yesfi?AS * Honour Mr Justice Adams- „,.» interest in the case has in no Abated was shown by the large that q»- kl y fil,ecl the gallcry «« as the doors were opened. -"t Spited that the cm. will ,„de to-day, twenty-two witnesses f 7been disposed of yesterday. u A T Donnelly, Crown Prosecu.fLdneted the case for the Crown, \ \fr C S Thomas, with him as sec2'ewm.el, Mr M. J. Bnrna, appeared & the accused. The Charges. Boakes was charged that he did, on „ about June 15th, 1927, at Burwood, r Christchurch, murder Ellen Sideline Isobel Scarff, and that on „ about May 10th, 1927, at Christchaxeh, he did unlawfully .-iipply a , o iioM thing, ergot, to one Ellen Gwendoline Isobel Scarff, knowing that He same was to be unlawfully used. Prisoner pleaded not guilty to both (targes. Be'major count is being dealt -with ,1 present.

The Jury. The following common jury was cmHM ned!-Henry Bertram Blyth WilL Christie Sinclair, James Jerard, tor « Wilkinson, William Iredale, Wilta John Batstone, Claud Edward i«n William John Freeburg, Walter Oirles Pearce, Thomas James Thomp„i Ernest Stoks, and William Hinton sili; William John Freeburg was iosen foreman. The Crown challenged ten of those M and the defence two. to the application of Mr Thomas, ritnessea were ordered out of Court.

Crown Prosecutor's Address. Mr Donnelly, opening the case for the Croiro, spoke for an hour and a half. Hi laid that the accused was charged iriuYmurder—the most serious crime hom to law. The murder was a etaje and brutal one. The body was fonnd'sear the Burwood monument. The girl had been battered to death with i motor-car spanner, receiving eighteen injuries of a dreadful character. Apparently after the first blow-she raised In hands and her watch as smashed. The watch stopped at 12.27, indicating the time when the blows were struck. In spite of the injuries she lived for some tirruj afterwards. The evidence for the Crown was that it was reasoning established beyond doubt that the itemed was the perpetrator of the (rime.. A great deal had appeared in (be newspapers about the crime, matter that'in "'the fairness of the law would not be allowed to be brought hy. the Crown. The accused did not laffer-at.all from the fact that the fWi'.bejJjT.a. spectacular one, had of-discussion. He the same fairness »i anyone cha'rged with a minor oJence. titwmstantial evidence, not direct eyidenw.. Circumstantial evidence *a|- no. mystery; it was a network,j)t:fßcts round an accused per»n.->liifsetwork' might be of such pawner. ■ substance as to break at fowl, and on the other hand it might te'itrang but leave rents. The netfOfi in the case* against the ac -sed Tasubreakable. The case should be conned under three main headings: (1) m life of the girl and her relationWrjwith the accused; (2) her move«Bjli between Juno Bth and 15th, and taxations with the accused during tutperiod; (3) the movements of the JWaed after the murder. The girl was •"years of age when she died. When wtateen she had an illegitimate child. «• accused had known the girl since young. When the girl's «ua»M born, the accused was charged responsibility by the girl's nger. Accused denied the responsi-■W-wd that denial must be ac--3? v BR the '-Prl said later that she «« been in trouble, had to blame »neone, and might as well blame, the •erased.

Relationship -with Girl. wader ordinary' circumstances, if a £had made a false charge of this opportunity would not given her by the man to yt' ,milar charge later. Yet they J oeen seen together again. The girl Her. fc t° domestio servic o at CashJanuary to June Bth of this *ha,•*{* ide S Ce would be that *U £. Boakes 'B dose relationship toMßrl- Continued - Accused was. a tinnl* the Grand taxi-stand and WlpfT* d . Bhow that messages had %e tL • , im t0 rin S U P the P lace C,Z- glr l Bcarff was working. l »t«tlv«lr? BTip 8 T ip had continued peruntil June. There did not apbeen V Dy - evidcnce that the girl "hernZ *fP in g company with any ,l «w 6»„j » ay she wrote to Boakes the letter - He had ad- ■■ he had discussed with ** On \T P ° S , ltion under ,lis mother's drawn ?C t «L?", McClure t0 g° to the 7 w £.l? nd an <* talk to a taxiTv . as fair t0 infcr ™ s * *a» W t,me of her -death the from four t0 four % &n:C U ,?-\ aDd cvidence would > she h.a W . 118l lB worki *g at CashJaaenaeavl U , kon P ills and dru gs On Z Ur t0 P rocure a misear- !? •>« retnrn°, CCaS i 0n she had S° ne S« an lf ed With {t bottle con- ? n or 4ofl£ ™. of cr S ot - 0n the %*m K £ - tb the rl was fouud a„H I*' 11 *- She "covered JftffiVn UUO Bth she left her She got "P ord - of Tn ; 30 a - m -> bu t on the I «tth«T e - Bth rose earlier. >« Ba S:„ hOUBe a * about 1.30 p.m. ' SSrUT^"" B t0 anvone and \\ D "rin^fth fi Wds Sbe was m «rderPeripd 0f P r egnancy she ?* Witbif Dg " P Boakes aQ d seeing J*W.thl*'^ eek of her con versa $m onr the Libertv stand, the « and 8 0t f the bottle con"extract of ergot.

t<> Accused. S?"'j«J !i.t" 1W reeovered from its oecasinTV note t0 Eoak cs. The 3*° X „n ttan waß *»>•«> she helpP art 7 of four. The ,5 a ave\„ rOWn was t]i at accused «.m^-V eß P onsible f or her Nej h ' r »npphed the drugs, and as- &': Blai«l CaVe h j" en 'Ployment. S a anot .her attempt to V '«&« - The whole history of was such that accus-

Ed was the only one with the interest the motive and the opportunity to com! nutthe crime. The Crown's'case was that accused had taken away h er 11 gage from her place of employment on the morn.ng of June Bth. He had ad mi ted making a trip to Cashmerethat daj I, one of his statement, Boakes had declared that he had received aJele phone ring to pick up a man on Cash more, and he had motored up for him The man was unknown to him, wore a brown overcoat, and had no luggage ML ha LarS° Ved u anj ' lU^ffor nbVrf htl T 6 m,lkm an who supplied her employer had seen a Whi c Diamond taxi pull U p at the gate on S.«H?T\ ng ° f JunC Sth - Thc girl h.arff had come out and spoken to the driver. The latter must have been Zl U lf ''u 'Iu Uld be proved bv th e callWvp r\ ' ° thCr White Diil ™ nd h -p \ n m , USt I,ave been the «« ) f y f, oak<?S - T, ' erC Was no otlrer timer for the company on the hill that raonnng, the girl got up earlv, and she was seen going out to the taxi, ibere was an erasure in accused's running sheet, but the trip was recorded, although he must have put the fare in himself. The girl called at her people's place during the afternoon of June Bth, but did not say she was leaving her employment. She went to the Federal Hotel that night with a tall man, and took a room, and Boakes was seen boarding the 10.30 p.m. tram at Burwood near the scene of the murder. Altered Duty Sheets. The girl was booked up at the federal Hotel under the name of Miss Armstrong. On the next day she had a long conversation with a woman named Watts on the river-bank, and at about 3 p.m. Boakes was seen to pick her up and take her away in his car. His running sheet for that day showed a trip from the "graveyard" in the Square to Mount Magdala, and in the afternoon a 121 miles trip in the direction of Sumner. His sheet was again altered on this occasion. It was peculiar that his sheets were altered on both the occasions when he was known to have seen the girl Scarff. No other sheets appeared to be altered. On June 10th Mrs Scarff had called and seen her daught •, and after the mother had left the girl had telephoned for Boakes. 7 T e had gone round to the Federal Hotel and stayed there for about twenty minutes. He was seen to be wearing a short coat, not the same as the one he was wearing after the murder. At about 4 p.m. on the following day the girl had called at the White Diamond garage, and had seen Boakes. That was the last occasion she was seen with Boakes. On the Sunday she spent the day with a friend, Monday she spent at the hotel, and on the morning of the next day her luggage was taken away to the tram shelter in the Square by a taxi driver named Neate. On that evening she was seen by Arps in. the Square. The relationship was so long between Boakes and the girl, so exclusive, that accused must have been the man who had killed her. He was responsible for her leaving her employment, and her being at the Federal Hotel under an assumed name. It was only a port of call, and it was plain she. could not have stayed there long. If the jury was satisfied that accused's connexion with the girl was closely established, they must conclude that it was Boakes who had killed her in this dreadful way. It was not known where the girl had gone after 5.45 p.m. on the evening before she was murdered, but she had left thc / hotel, having paid her account. Boakes' must have known where she was going to. Was the relationship suddenly cut off, at June 11th, and did Boakes know nothing further about her? If they thought there was a reasonable doubt about the accused's connexion with the. matter, in any essential feature, then Boakes must be acquitted. He did not want to put the case in any degree stronger than the 'facts warranted. When the : girl left the Federal she was going elsewhere, and it was a fair inference that he knew where she was going, went with her, and then killed her. A New Development. In the Lower Court a chemist's assistant named King had given evidence that he had sold accused drugs for the purpose of procuring a miscarriage. He had given his evidence freely and frankly. Within the past week King went to a solicitor and had gone completely back on his evidence. His action was, of course, wrong in supplying the drugs, but there was no difference in the way he had given the evidenco from that of any of the other witnesses. King had declared that the whole of his evidence was untrue, and that he had never supplied Boakes with the stuff. All he- knew about him was that he had a drink with him in the Masonic Hotel. The reason he had given for the false evidence was that he had been bullied or persuaded into doing so by Detcctive-ber-geant Bickerdike, who denied this statement. The speaker had not seen him nor had any police officer seen him since King had given evidence in the Lower Court. It was to be presumed that he would stick to his last statement. In considering King's evidence thev would have to bear this m mind. In "cases of this kind it was the practice of the police to go round and see people who could throw any fresh hght on the case. A detective or police officer called and took a note of the information, which was afterwards signed by the person giving it, or sometimes the latter wrote out the particulars himself In this case King's evidence had been taken in the regular way of enauirv. He went round to the Police Station and was seen by Detective-Ser-geant Bickerdike. King wrote o . the statement himself, and went away, returning with samples of the stuff he Sstfted he had given Boakes These were kept by the.police. A couple of davs later he had wanted to amend Statement, ancl had returned to he Police Station and rewritten it. King wasseen'by the police on July 18 hj, and on the second occasion on tht. -Utn. Hearing in Lower Court. The case against Boakes.was.taken iu the Lower Court six weeks afterwards. Detecth-e Sergeant Young had called on Kng before Augnrt 30th to give hjn £lr3ihis g S s^Xof s ! S^r^c^rr^t thP Sice From then until -Novemto anyone, but cany in (^vheu hid made the last statement w ncu "u S. King you will remember the statement taken in the■ ordinrv.ay^ of time to amend his statement. Statements of Accused. i „a-. Mir,'f statements. When a question was put to «£•««», ed and he made a denial that. a. the nd of it. The. spanner wih winch the murder was committed wa, found, .but Z. finger-prints, the *«»»£ d stained overcoat. But the suggestion was That the accused had two mil,tary overcoats. Parents' Evidence. Ellen Martha Scarff, mother of the mnril«ed ffirl, "ill ,hat on J,lne 10th ' Tt4 30 p.m, S he saw the girl at the

Federal Hotel.. The interview wai a painful one.

William Walter Prudhoe Scarff, carrier, of 1 Thorrington street, Cashmere, father of the deceased, said he last saw his daughter on June 4th, when she was in good health and spirits. On the night of June 14th he attended a meeting of the Veterans' Association, staying there until midnight. Worked With Miss Scarff. Jessie Glen Boss McClure, a married woman, employed by Mrs Wood at Cashmere, said that the "girl Scarff had been employed as a housemaid and witness as a general. Witness went there on January 17th. In February witness noticed that Scarff used the telephone a great deal. A little after March 28th the girl received a parcel through the post and later witness saw the girl with a small bos of pills. She saw the deceased take some of the pills which had the effect of making her sick. On May 12th witness and the deceased visited the Post Office, the latter withdrawing £4 from her bank account and adding another pound to it. Afterwards the girl walked over to a White Diamond taxi, staying there talking to the driver for from 10 to 15 minutes. The man was clean-shaven and tall. After May 12th, one night the girl put a coat over her working clothes and went out for about an hour, and on returning had a small bottle containing a liquid of a ruddy brown colour. The bottle was about half full. On May 18th witness and the girl went to a Lodge meeting. The following day Scarff was very ill. Witness took her a cup of tea at 6.30 a.m. and found her dazed and foaming at the mouth. She could not speakonly mumble. The girl was very ill all day. On the following Friday Scarff wrote to someone, the address" on the letter being "Mr Charles Boakes, Grand taxi-stand, Christchurch." The word "Urgent" was on the envelope. Witness saw the girl write the letter, seal the envelope, and put it on a brass tray in the hall. On the Saturday Scarff •improved. On June Bth the girl left the house and that was the iast witness saw of her. On the morning of June Oth witness found, on going into her room, that her bed had not been occupiod. All her luggage had gone. Previously she had had a "clean-up," burning old papers, etc. Thomas had no questions to ask. Evidence was given of the deceased's term of employment, illness, and departure, by her employer, Mrs Amy Isabel Wood, who resides at Macmillan avenue, Cashmere. She said a man rang up the girl Scarff occasionally. To Mr Thomas: It would be possible for the girl Scarff to come in at night without waking the rest of the house: William Derisley Wood, son of the previous witness, related how he had posted a letter for Miss Scarff, who had given it to him in the hall. The address was some taxi-stand in the Square. He posted the letter at the General Post Office, before 9 a.m. She was near the tray when she handed him the letter. William Scars, postman employed at the Chie* Post Office, Christchurch, said he delivered letters in the area in which the Grand taxi-stand was. He gave particulars of the deliveries. A letter posted about 9 a.m. would be delivered at the taxi-stand about 11.20 a.m. Taxi's Early Trip. Robert Lambert Eickerby, of 106 Barrington street, said he owned a milk round, and in June was delivering milk at Wood's house. He knew the girl Scarff, and on the morning of June Bth he saw her and walked from the house to the gate with her. A White Diamond taxi pulled up, and the girl walked towards it. He could not see whether there was anybody else but the driver in the car. Later, about five minutes afterwards, the taxi passed him again going back. It was dark, the taxi had its lights on, and he did not see the number. 'No questions were asked by Mr Thomas. Charles Lester Brown, taxi-driver employed by Mr Dickinson at Papanui, said.he knew King, the chemist's assistant, and had known him for some time. He had introduced Boakes to him and they went into the Masonic Hotel together, one evening in April or May. There was mention of a trip to the West Coast in the conversation. To Mr Thomas: He had heard no suggestion of obtaining drugs for procuring abortion in the conversation. If you heard anything like that it would" have stuck in your mind?— Absolutely.

Boakes was a kindly natured sort of man? —Yes, he. always did ray work for me when I could not do it myself. I have known Boakes for about two years. Leonard Victor Alan Lilley, tramway conductor, said that on June Bth Boakes got on his tram at Burwood at 10.31 p.m. and travelled to the Square. Accused was sitting in the tram shelter at Burwood when the car pulled up. Mr Thomas: There was no one with Boakes? —No.. Edward Albert Armstrong, tramway motorman on the tram referred to, corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. The Chemist's Assistant. Sydney Charles King, Chemist's assistant, of Christchurch, said that he knew Brown, tho taxi-driver, and remembered Brown introducing him to Boakes about twelve months ago. They had a drink in the Masonic Hotel. He met Boakes again on one or two afternoons in Cathedral square. They just passed the time of day. Mr Donnelly: You re-member giving evidence in the Lower Court?— Yes.' Did you mako a statement to Mr Gresson in his office on November 4th! —Yes. Which is true; that made to Mr Gresson or that made in the Lower Court? — That made to Mr Gresson in his office. Mr Donnelly: Your Honour, in the statement which I put in, I submit I am entitled to treat King as a hostile, witness and cross-examine him. His Honour: That is so. Mr Donnelly: Do you remember your Lower Court evidence? —Yes. The statement was altogether untrue.' —Yes. Why did you give evidence before the Magistrate which you now say is false? —I was bullied into it by DetectiveSergeant Bickerdike. In the statement you say that on July ISth Bickerdike got you into the Police Station and bullied it out of you ?—Yes. Ou July ISth you wrote out at the Police Station a statement substantially the same in effect as the one you gave in the Lower Court?— Yes. Where did you get the information from to put in the statement? —Detec-tive-Sergeant Bickerdike made me write the statement. How did he make you write it? —He threatened that he had a charge against me. After writing it you left the Police Station and went away?— Yes. On the following day you brought back to the detective samples of the drugs you said you had sold to Boakes?—Yes, the Detective-Sergeant asked, mc to bring the samples. Why, then, did you bring the stuff back if you knew the statement was untrue?—He practically ordered me to bring it back. But if it was not true why did you not tell your employer?—Bickerdike told me to say nothing. You knew it was very wrong to make the statement if it was not true, didn't you?— Yes, I do now. If you were frightened into it at the Police Station why did you not tell your employer?—Bickerdike'told me to" say

nothing and if he asked any queetions to refer him to Bickerdike.

Why did you bring back the drugs?— I didn't do it voluntarily.

Bickerdike was not in the shop when you took the drugs from the shelves, was he?—Xo.

You came back to the Station and said: 'Here are the pills and ergot I sold Boakes'? —Yes. In the statement did you tell Mr Gresson all you knew? —Yes. When you' went to Mr Gresson he told you to tell all you knew, and vou did so? —Yes. Why did you not tell Mr Gresson that you had made two statements instead of one?—l did. „.

It's not in vour statement, Mr King. It's a fact, is it not, that you made another statement in your own handwriting? —Yes. What was the difference between the statements?— The difference was in the order of the goods. How did vou come to make a second statement?—lf one was getting the goods one would try the pills first and the ergot afterwards. When you went to Mr Gresson you knew vour position was difficult?— ics. Why did vou not tell him that you had been to the Police Station twice , It's' not in your statement Mr King?-I told him, but he left it out I'm bound to put it to you that that is unlikely?— Yes, but I told him to put it in. ~ .. . You stick to it that you said that to Mr Gresson ?—Yes. Bickerdike and Walsh will say you wanted to alter and correct your statement?— Yes, just the order on which the goods were obtained. Was anv pressure put on you to make the second statement?—lt s practicallv the same as the first. You were asked to go round?—ies. How did vou come to make your second statement?— They read it through to me on the evening of the 20th. lney had told me to come round. I pointed out the wrong order of the goods. From July 20th to August 30th did vou see Bickerdike or any other police officer, except Detective-Sergeant Young?— No. You simplv turned' up at the Lower Court, went into the box, and made this statement? —Yes. If vour statement is true, you knew you were doing a dreadful thing by lving?— T do know now. Whv did vou not speak to somebody about'it?—There was nobody to speakto. Held Ba«k by Fear.

Why did you not say yon would not stand'up to"the statement? You were still afraid, were you?— Yes. You did nothing again until November 2nd?— No. You spoke to somebody then.'—ies, a traveller called Miller. You told him everything?—les; it was some time in October. Yon then went home to your people in Timaru?—Yes, my father was up on holiday, and I went back with him. Mr Thomas asked you in Timaru it your story was true or not? —Yes, ana l told him it was not true. Wh* did you not see me?—Bickerdike had bullied me so much I was afraid to. Mv nerve was gone. Did it not'require some nerve to take the ftuff round to the Station f —They told me to bring it round to them. Beyond seeing you on these two occasions, Bickerdike never saw you.'— You saw Bickerdike outside the Lower Court? —Yes. He did not speak to you?— No. Why did you not tell some responsible "person.*of your position?— There was no one I could tell. Why did vou not tell Mr Coltart your -employer?—He had asked no questions. If Mr Thomas had not seen you in Timaru what would you have done?— I would have seen a solicitor in any case. I had decided to do so in OctoTo Mr Thortias: Your father took you back to Timaru?—Yes Before this you had decided to tell me the position?— Yes. ' You had told Miller this?—les. Why did you tell Miller ?-We were talking it over. . Mr Thomas said he proposed to reaa the statement, and if there was anything in it witness objected to, Jving could stop him. The Third Statement. The statement was as follows: On Monday, July 17th, I think, Detective Bickerdike came to the shop. He asked if Mr Coltart was m, I said that he was not. He asked when ne would be in, and said ho would, call back to see him. He went away ana came back in about a quarter of an hour. Mr Coltart was in. Mr Coltart called me and said: "fins gentleman wants to see you." I .went into the shop and Bickerdike asked -if my name was King. I said: "Yes." He said: "I want you to come with me for a little while." We then went to the Police Station. On the way, Bickerdike asked me if I knew who he was. I said: "No." Pie said that he was Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike, ana that he was conducting enquiries regarding the Burwood murder. He asked me how long I had been in the profession, and whether I was qualified or not. I told him that I had been m the profession for about sis or seven years, and was not qualified.. A\e_then got to the Station and he said: Come upstairs/' It was between two-thirty and a quarter to three. Bickerdike aria myself were the only people in tne room. He asked me if I knew an} taxi-drivers in the Square. I said. "Yes." He then asked me which ones I knew. I told him I knew Halligan, Brown, and Boakes. He then said: "There is onlv one man I wish to question vou about, and that is Boakes. He then asked me how long I na,a known Boakes. I said: "About twelve months." I said that he had been introduced to me by Brown. He saia: •'Three or four months ago you were in the Masonic Hotel with Brown and Boakes one Saturday afternoon? " said- "Yes." He then asked me what conversation we had while wo were there. I said I did not remember He then said: "Did Boakes ask you if vou could do anvthing for him, as he had a girl in trouble? ' I said: "No. He said- "You did agree to do something for him. W'e have other evidence from the hotel that vou did." I denied it again. He said: "It's no use denying it," and kept on at me a long time. He told me all my history, and where ] had come from. He said that he had no wish to get me into any trouble, and that I had a good reputation tor mv work, and that he was there to help me. I didn't say anything to that. He then asked me if I had at anv time supplied Boakes with pills. I said: "No." He said: "If you did,, don't trv to cover it up and keep it to vourself." I said: "I didn't " He said • "You quite understand. I would not be callina round to see you unless I had something to go on. \Ve know Boakes got the pills from you. 1 said- "He didn't get pills from me. He said: "You have some pennyroyal and steel pills round there." I said: Ho «aid, "Two boxes of pills and a small bottle of liquid have been found in the girl's belongings. He then asked me if Boakes had obtained anv black pills from me. I said. "No. He said. "We know that you did supply them, and. for your own sake, yon should admit it." I said 1 hadn't supplied either of them, tte kept at me, saying that I had supplied them, and that I knew I had supplied them. I could only keep on denying it. He kept at me all the time, and put the wind up me at the finish. He said, "If you don t admit that vou supplied th?se things, we II have "a more serious charge against vou " He did not say what the charge was. He told me that Brown P nd Boakes had put their heads together to get the pills from me, and

were now trying to shift it on to me. He said, "You see how unscrupulous they are?" He suggested that Boakes got introduced to me for that purpose. He said that, he wouldn't believe that I hadn't sold them. He said, "If you don't admit it, you'll see that I've got something else up my sleeve, and you'll be in a serious position. If yo'u do admit it, you've -rot nothing to worry about." He finally said, "You might as well admit it and be finished with it." and I said "Yes." I said "Yes." Iwcause ho had frightened me so that my nerve was all gone. I was so bad that I had to go down to the ChiefDetective's office and sit in front of the fire for half an hour. I had been shivering all over for about half an hour, and Bickerdike suggested that I should go and warm mvself. The statement that I sold the pills to Boakes was untrue, and I maKe this statement now knowing that I have sworn an untrue statement in theLower Court. After I went up to the room again, Bickerdike said that Boakes had obtained a bottle of liquid from me. I denied that, but I wasn't feeling much better, and eventually L ?fr T r] " Yps " to thnt - Bickerdike said. How do you wrap up your bottles?" I told him that we didn't use sealing wax, but used string, tying the bottles round the neck. He then said that the bottle which was found in the girl's belongings was wrapped and tied in such a manner. "This bottle contained orgot, did ib not?" This was referring to the bottle which Boakes was supposed to have. got. Thev produced an unlatalled bottle, which I recognised as ergot Detective Walsh had come in by then, and Bickerdike went right through it all again. This time I admitted everything as they went along. Bickerdike suggested making a statement. They dictated it and I wrote it out. When finished, they read it through and I signed it. They said that T was to keep quiet and not to say anything to Mr Coltart or anyone, and if he said anything to refer him to Bickerdikp. They said T could go then. I had been at the Station from a quarter to three until a quarter-past five. "Very Much Worried." I was very much worried at the time, and never slept that night nor the night after. I resided with two old ladies about seventy, and there was no one I could confide in. On the morning that Boakes was arrested, Bickerdike sent a car up for me and I went to the Station. He said, "We've got Boakes upstairs, and he has asked to see you." I went upstairs and Bickerdike shut the door. . Boikes was sitting on a chair. Bickerdike said. "Do yon know this man?" I said, "Yes, ho is Boakes." Bickerdike said, "This is the man you supplied the pills and ergot to?" 1 said, "Yes." Boakes jumped up and said, "That is a lie." Bickerdike turned to me and told me to go downstairs. I felt pretty bad when confronted with Boakes, but I couldn't see any way out of it, as Bickerdike had always told me to stick to_ my story and say nothing to anyone.' Until the trial I never said a word to anyone about the case. At the trial I gave evidence in accordance with'my statement. After the trial, a few clays, I was talking to a friend of mine called Miller. He said, "You're a silly ass; you should have sat tight and said nothing." I said, "If you had been round at the Station all the afternoon, you'd have done the same as I did." I said that Bickerdike had told me that if I didn't make a statement they had something else to bring against me. I saw Miller again some time later. Ho started talking about it again. I told him the whole position, and that I had not sold anything to the man. He said that the best thing to do was to see Mr Thomas and have a talk with him. I didn't see Mr Thomas until Wednesday, November 2nd, because T had in the meantime gone back to Timaru to my family. I had told my mother one night last week that my statement was not true. I am making this statement after being advised by Mr Gresson that I am liable to prosecution for perjury for the evidence given in the Lower' Court, and my motive is a wisli to put right the wrong I have done. King having raised no objection to the statment, Mr Thomas resumed his cross-examination. Is that statement a true one? —It is. And you know you are making yourself liable to a term of gaol?—I do. Why did you not tell anyone? Was it becauso you had lied? —They had broken my nerve so much that I could not. A Nervy Man. Are you a nenvy sort of man ? Is it true your nerves arc not very strong?— Yes. Did you take back a round, flat cardboard "box when you took back the pills?— No. You say your second statement was no different until you pointed out the wrong order? —Yes. If the order had been left anybody would have seen it was wrong?— Yes. You were preparing against a crossexamination that was going to come? — Yes. The ergot was labelled? —Yes. Do you turn out bottles only halffull at Coltart's?—No. The sample you took round was full, with a label on it? —Yes. How long did it take Bickerdike to get the statement? —About 2£ hours. You were more or less of a dither?— Yes. Thomas Morten, night porter at the Federal Hotel, said that on the night of June Bth he admitted a man and a woman. The man stayed at the door and the woman went inside giving the name of "Miss Armstrong." The man was wearing a dark coat, but witness could not say positively that the man was the accused. He bid the woman pood-night and safd he would be back the next morning at 10 o'clock. Post-Mortem Examination. Dr. Arthur B. Pearson, pathologist at the Public Hospital, stated that he examined the girl's body on the night of June 15th between 5.15 and 6 p.m. In his opinion she had been dead from six to eight horn's. She might havo lived up to twelve hours after the murder. Death was due to concussion, associated with haemorrhage and fractures of the skull. Tlie exposure of the brain would not cause immediate death. The girl was pregnant 4 to -U months. The injuries could have been produced by a weapon like the spanner referred to. Tests established that the stains on the spanner and the overcoat were human blood. Linda Maud Coleman, waitress at the Federal Hotel, said that she took breakfast, lunch, and dinner to "Miss Armstrong" in her room on June 9th, and breakfast on the morning of June 10th. The last time witness saw the girl was on June 14th. Kiverbank Conversation. Mrs Amelia Watts-, of Kilmore street, Christcburch, said fliat on June 9th she was sitting on a seat on the riverbank. She saw the girl Searff, who was standing just beside a poplar tree. The girl came and sat beside her on the seat. They had a conversation, and the girl looked at the time: about 2.50 p.m. She saw a White Diamond taxi, No. 22, which pulled up in the vicinity. Miss Searff got up and went away in the ear. On June 10th and 11th she saw the car being driven about, and she identified the driver as the accused. John Connelly, day porter at the Federal Hotel, said that about 10 a.m. on June 9th he took some luggage up to the room occupied by Miss Armstrong. It consisted of two suitcases, one with a rug or something else wrapped round it. He knew now that the girl was Miss Searff. He gave the girl the luggage, and told her, for Miss Ussher, that her friend would meet her that dav about 2 p.m. at the corner of Colombo and Chester streets. When

the girl's mother called both were in great distress. Mrs Searff left, and the girl came back to him. He heard Miss Ussher ring up Boakes, and ask him to come round. He arrived about eight minutes later, and witness took him upstairs. He asked him whom he (Boakes) was going to see, and witness told him it was the woman in room —. When the girl came to the door, erring, Boakes said, ''Oh, it's you!" He wont in the room, and the door was closed. He stayed there for about 20 minutes. The accused wore a military overcoat reaching to about the knee. On the morning of the 14th he took the girl's luggage down to the hall.

Thomas Beveridgc Davis, medical practitioner, said he was called to Burwood about 3 p.m. on June 13th, and found the body lying in the clearing, where it was discovered. He thought the girl had lived for some time—possibly six hours —and she had been dead about the same time when he saw her. She might have lived up to twelve hours. Muriel Ussher, who was the clerk at the Federal Hotel in June, said Miss Searff was booked in by the night porter on the night of June Sth. She was in the office when her luggage was brought in on the 9th by a taxi-driver. She was told to advise Miss Searff to meet her friend at 2.30 p.m. that day at the corner of Oxford terrace and some other street. Witness told Connelly to take up the luggage and deliver the message. Witness related the details ot Mrs Searff's visit, and how she had rung for Boakes at the White Diamond office. She gavo no reason why Boakes was wanted at the hotel. While she was ringing the girl was near. Boakes was taken up by the porter. Witness was away from the hotel until Tuesday, Juno 14th. At about 10.15 a.m. that day she got n White Diamond car for the girl, who went away with her luggage. She next saw her about 2 p.m. that day. A Military Overcoat. Boakes was wearing a military overcoat when he came. It was rather tight-fitting, reached to the knee, and had a belt across the back. Some time in July she saw Boakes standing by his taxi. He wore a military coat, but it was much longer and fuller than the one he had worn when he came to the hotel. It went a good way below the knees. To Mr Thomas: The Federal was a large hotel, with probably more lodging accommodation than any other hotel in Christchurch. Probably about 150 boarders?— Yes. The taxi business is sufficient from there for you to have a private wire to the White Diamond office? —Yes. It is a busy hotel, and taxis arc round there all day?— Yes. The office is in the passage way?— Yes. When the man came for the luggage did he have leggings on?—I can't say. You went round -several times with two detectives to identify him?—Y"es. They sent you up to speak to him?— Yes. And you are unable to say whether it was Boak' s or not?— Yes. They were Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike and Detective Walsh? —Yes. Dr. R. B. ,D. Milligan, of the biochemical department at the Public Hospital, said that he had made tests of the stains on the military overcoat, and found that they were of blood. Later Dr. Pearson proved that the stains were of human blood. John Harris Prisk, garage hand at the White Diamond Garage, Gloucester street, said that he had known Searff by sight. He saw her in Gloucester, street between 4 and 4.30 p.m. on June 11th. Accused had just driven into the garage, and witness told him that Searff was outside. Accused told witness that Searff had left home and was staying at the Federal Hotel. He had asked how she managed to stay there, and she said it was all right. On June 16th witness asked accused what he thought of the Burwood mystery, and accused replied that it was an awful tjiing. He asked accused if he knew who it was. Accused said: "No, who is it?" "I replied: 'Somebody you know and somebody I know.' With that accused was called away on a job. Later, when he came back, he asked me who it was, and I replied that it was Gwen Searff. Accused said: 'Go on, how did they find out?'" Mrs Alice Parr, storekeeper, Colombo street, Beckenham, said that Searff visited her on June 12th. I A Call to Federal Hotel. Sydney Ernest Neate, taxi-driver with the White Diamond Company, said that on June 14th he received a call to the Federal Hotel, and took a lady and two suitcases to the left luggage office in the Square. On June 17th he, with the police, identified the luggage, Mr Thqmas: Is it not a fact that you told the police that on June 14th you saw Searff meet a man in front of the Federal Hotel at 2 p.m.?— Yes. Was that man Boakes? —No. What was his height?— About your stamp. About my stamp but not so goodlooking, ch?—Yes. (Laughter.) On the following day you went to the Bottle Lake Hospital?— Yes. You were near what you knew later was the scene of the murder?— Yes. Did you see anything?— Yes; I Baw a man cross the road about 400 to 500 .yards from the scene of the murder. ' This was about two hours after the discovery?— Yes. Did the man simply walk out of the broom?—No, he hesitated and walked into the broom on the other side of the road. He was in his shirt-sleeves, and it was mid-winter?— Yes. How did that man tally with the man near the Federal Hotel?—He was heavier. It's not the sort-of place where men walk for pleasure?— No. In any event it wasn't Boakes?—No. Have you never said to anyono that you thought it was the same man? —No.

That would be some hundreds of vards from the scene of the murder? — Yes.

To Mr Donnelly: He had seen Mr Thomas since the first hearing, and he had' been asked some questions. Mr Donnelly advised his Honour at 5.17 p.m. that the evidence should easily be finished to-day, and the Court was then adjourned.