MURDER TRIAL WITNESS

Chronicle (Levin), 2 March 1948, Page 7

MURDER TRIAL WITNESS

Press Assoeiation )

"Have ToM The Whoie Darn Truth," Says Rix

(Per

AUCKLAND, Mar, 1. Wh-en the trial of Mrs. Pansy Louise Frances Haskell, charged witli the murder of Mrs. Gladys Ruth' Rusden, was resum'ed today, counsel for accused, ' Mr. M. Robinson, cross-examined Detec- ' ctive-Sergeant Jarn-es Baiy McLean concerning the position of the Window blinds at the liouse at Horotutu Road, One Tree Hill, where Mrs. Rusden's body was found. • Witness said that when. lie examined ' the house he did not realise the importanee of the blinds. He saw that tlie blinds were haifway down. Before any pliotograph was taken of the house tlie iiosition of the blinds was disturbed,, witness stated. Dr. Walter . Gilmour, patliologist, testilied. that Mrs. Rusden's head in- : juries inust have been eaused by a heavy blunt weapon. The blows were struck from bebind and the blows on the f'orehead could have been . inflieted while deceased was lying down. He considered Mrs. Rusden survived for at least an hour after the blows were slruck. Death most lilcely occurred botween 11 a.m. and noon. That slie saw deceased 's husband, Rusden, board the brevvery bus at the Ilarp of Erin corner on his .way to work about 7.25 a.m. on June 5, was given by Mrs. Beatrice Maud Bernard, tlien a nurse. Cliiford Cave Whatford Way, works manager at the brewery, produeed a lime card showing Rusden liad clocked

in at 6.34 a.m. He said this should rcad 7.34 a.m. or thereabouts as the •electric clock had stopped and run slow because of power stoppages. His I-Ionour: In other words it is no rccord at all. Fdvvard Walter Rix said he met accused at Liberty House, Upper Queen Wtreet, about Januarv, 1946. She learned he had a police record and off'ored him £200 to "hump off" Mrs. Rusden. Ile thought to himself that if she wanted to throw mOnev awav he vvould take it from lier but he had no int^ntion of doing anything for her. Hlie .said she was madly in love with Rusden. Early one morning in Marcii witness and accused drove out to the One Tree Hill district and changed into military clothes. After accused had got out of the car in Wheturangi Read, he drove to the Rusden house,. told Mrs. Rusden her husband had- been hurt in the military camp, and brouglit her back. The car stallod on - the corner of Wheturangi Road and as he was getting out to crank it he saw accused out of the corner of his eye getting into the back seat. She had her right arm raised as if she was going to hit Mrs. Rusden who was in'frout, on the head. Witness throw his arm up and pushed

.Mrs. Rusden, who tell out of the car on to the road, screarning. After thev hp.d dri ven' off accused •isked him why he had stopped her as slie would not get "a ^olden opportunity like that again. " Fvidence of later propositions ac cused niado, to him to kill Mrs. Rusden was given by witness. He said sbe liad ofl'ered . liim £590 biif latef thd pYiee' was "down to £30." On April 2 of last yeaj' he met her at Ferry Building in response to an advertisement. She said he would have to do the. "job ' ' as the police were on the verge of fmding who was iniplicated in the previ'ous as ault on Mrs. Rusden and that before deceased could give further evidence of identification, slie would have to be "lnimped off." IIc did not carrv out

accused 's instructions but when he later met accused he "put on a bit of an act" and .told her he had done the job. She was to meet l.im at Vulcan hnne with sufficieut money for hiin to get out of Auckland, - but she did not •ome. When witness heard about tlie murder lie went to tbe police and told tliem about tbe earlier assault on Mrs. Rusden. ' , Cross-examined by l\Tr. Robinson. witness said he married a few days after tlie hearing of the ease iii the Magistrate's Court. To a suggestion that at tliat timo tliere was a consider•vble aniount of discussion about his position in tbe ease, he said there was in the minds of some people. AI r. Robinson: IIow long had you known your wifef Witness: Eight years. Mr. Robinson: Were you liying with her before you married lier? Witness: Yes, nearly seven veai'S. DTr. Robiuson: Where did you go to liv-e after leaving 10 Hayden Street" Witness: f am not . telling you because it iniplicated other people. klr. Robinson: You are hiding sometiiing back'?

Witness: No, T am not. I think you are getting a bit personal. His Honour: I think you have to •admit that Mr. Robinson. Counsel: It is material, your Honour. When Alr. Robinson was cross-exam ining witn-ess on a conviction in 1932, Mr. MCredith intervened to say the conviction was qua^hed and counsel knew it. His Honour (to Mr. Robinson): Then you had no l'ight to mention it. Mr. Robinsen: Wrell, sir, I mentioned it in tlie last trial without any comment. Questioned about his meetings with accused after the advertisement ap peared, witness said: "The job 'was definitely to be done on tbe followine Mondav. "

Mr. Robinson: Would you be sur pris-ed to know that that. was Eastei Monday and that the day you said you bouglit overalls was Good Friday when the'shops would be shut? Witness: -1 just cannot remember dates.- I have told the w'hole darn truth iu this Court. Witness said that on the night of th assault on Mrs. Rusden he was going to drive her to the camp and e-xplain everytlling to her husband if he had known the right way. If he had nol got her out of the house accused would have. gone do'wn herself. i\sked to explain bruises oa Mrs,

Rusden's neck after the assault, wit- I ness said he had given it some thought j and had come to the conelusion that j accused might have done it. j Mr. Robinson will continue biis cross- j examination tomorrow. j