“BARES IN THE WOOD” MURDER

Chronicle (Levin), 6 September 1947, Page 3

“BARES IN THE WOOD” MURDER

LONDQN, Sept. 4. The hearing has takcn plaee at Guild ford of what is known as the "Babea in the Wood" rnurdcr case, in which Fredericlc Alf red Smith, aged . 21, a window-cleaner, is charged with inurdering Leslie Gaff, agcd 9, and hia sister, Eileen Gaff, aged 7,, in Mano; Woods, Guildford, on July 25 or 26. The prosecutor, Mr. E. C. Itobey, saitf a scarch party found- the two children in the woods. Leslie was dead, having been killed by a riffe bullet fired from behind, while Eileen, seriously injured was lying a few feet away. She died in hospital as a result of extensive injuries to the head. The inferenee wai that she had been bludgeoned by tho butt of a service rifle.. The . evidencfwould show that aceused possessed sueli a rifle. The prosecutor said that Smith, in a statement at the poliee station after his arrest,- described how lic flrst met the children on July 27 and they agreed to go shoot-ing later with him. Smith said the affair was an accident. As they were waiking through the woods, he stumbled and the Tifl-e went off. "The boy fell forward and tho girl startcd sereaming, " he said. "I don't rcmeinber what happened after that. I must have had a black-out or something. Tho next thing'I knew I saw them both lying on the ground. I hurried away, pushed the gun in the bushes, got iny bieycle and ladder, and went and elcaned the windows of a house. ' ' Mr. Eobey said the alleged statement Avas negatived by a number of points. The rifle was u6t liable to accidental discliarge, and the cartridge, after shootjng tlux boy.dh tilugh thel head, was ejected from thG rifle by pulling back the bolt and a ffesh cartridge was put iuto flring position. The prosecutor added that there was no motive for murder. There was no evidence of a sexual . assault ,on cither the boy ofj the !girl[;: ■' ■ • j . Smith rescrvod hi's i defehcei and was committed for triabat.the hbxt Assizes.