LENT ACCUSED A RIFLE

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1948, Page 7

LENT ACCUSED A RIFLE

Hamilton Murd^r Hearing Continues , HAMILTON-, Dec. 9, When the case ih 'which Cecjl Rohert Gurr Otto, aged 38, is charged^with the murder of Mrs. Ruth McGregor Stone on October 23, was resumed today, David John Edhouse gave evidence that he lent accused a rifie on September 16 for deer stalking. Witness had to ask accused for "the rifle . back several times, -and eventually received it about October 5. At 4.40" p.m. on October 22, continued Edhouse, accused again asked .witness for the rifle, biit witness-' refused. Accused: said he wanted the rifle ' to shoot "a wild bufl on his brother's prop'erty ' at Putaruru. Witness .introduced a man named; Charles A^thur Tribshoe. ' • - ; ' • Tribshoe, in evidence, stated that he lent accused a rifle on condition that he got a permit, and that he returned' it by 7.30 next day. Tribshoe said that he suggested to accused that he take- a shotgun, but accused said that the -bull was too dangerous. Twice Divorced Duncan Gurr Otto, farmer, of Putaruru, brother of accused, said that accused was born in India about 1903. He, was married to Phyilis Walker, but this marriage ended in a divoree, and he was then married about the time war broke out to Edna Fil, This marriage also ended in a divoree. Witness said . he kpew the deeeased as Miss Simpsoh and later lmew her as Mrs. Stone. Deceased and accused were lhdng, , as man and wife when witness returned from overseas. This was'at"T'aunei, Morrinsville, where "accused had a rehabiiitation farm. Accused told witness in July that deceased was mixed up wirh some men in Hamilton and liad broken all rela- ' tions with him. Witness did not have a wild bull on his farm that required shooting. Wedding Cancelled The next witness, .Nancy Gibhs, aged 21, single, ' of Te Awamutu, oaid shp met accused in July. At that time Otto was keeping comjiany with a girl to whom he *was engaged. They were to have been married on August 11. At this time accused was a tram conductor in Auckland and she was living at Henderson. On August 9 accused eame to her house and talked for :hree hours, telling witness of his association with deceased and saymg he did not know what to do .about the girl he was engaged to. It was decided' that she and accused should ,go to Wellington, said witness, and that his wedding would be cancelled. The pair left for Wellington on August 11 and stayed there for ten days. While there, accused wrote to the girl he was engaged to and apologised for not going on with the wedding On leaving Wellington, witness and accused came to Hamilton, where they stayed for a week. Witness met deceased, who told witness that she was no longer interested in what accused did. The case is proceeding. [Evidence heard late yesterday afternoon appears on Page 10.]