CROWN CASE RESUMED

Chronicle (Levin), 9 December 1949, Page 5

CROWN CASE RESUMED

Charge Of Morder Against Foxton Fiaxcutter FOXTON, Dec. 9' The Lower Court hearing of the charge against Napoleon Brown, aged 28, married, fiaxcutter, oi Foxton, of murdering Emily Chrlstina Hall, aged ,69, of Foxton, was resumed today. . Mr. J. R. Herd, S.M., presided. Mr. G. I. McGregor appeared for fche Crown and Mr. J. B. Bergin for accused, who was attired in the same clothes as on Wednesday, when the hearing opened. Iwenty-three wi'tnesses remain to be heard and the hearing is expeeted to take all day. Mrs. A. E. Wright, of Foxton, whose 'house ' is almost opposite that of Mrs. Hall. said that Mr.

Ross was a frequent visitor to 'Mrs. Hall's resi'dence, He usually went towards evening, hut on Thursday, November 4, and Friday, November 5, he called at mid-day. In reply to Mr. Bergin, witness ■ said that she was not sure when she last saw Mrs. Hall alive. Telephone Call. Miss Eileen D. Stansell, part owner of the Post Office Hotel, said that she -last saw Mrs. Hall a'bout 10.45 a.m. on the Thursday before her fcody was found. On Sunday, November 6, she received a telephone call at about 10.30 a.m. from Mrs. A. De Ridder, (Mrs. Hall's sister) , who requested her to 'do something, and as a result she and her brother-in-law, Mr. Holland, went ,to Mrs. Hall's house, where she saw all the blinds down. Mr. Flutey was standing on the path at the side of the house. Witness knocked at both back and front doors, ,and called and then tried the handles of the doors, but both were locked. They became worried, thinking that Mrs. Hall might have had a stroke. Mr. Holland went for Constable Balloch, who entered the house through a window. He later eame out the back door. Witness waited until Sergeant Cosgrove arrived and theri returned to the hotel. In reply to Mr. Bergin, witness said that -when the constable opened the door she could see Mrs. Hall lying on the floor. Trip With Accused. James McLaughlan, taxi driver, of Foxton, who has known accused for some years, said that on Wednesday, November 2, he invited accused to go to Palmerston North. They left at 1 p.m. next day and while in the city he suggested that he and Brown return in the evening to see a magician .show. They left the city at 5.30 p.m., arriving in Foxton between 6 and 6.15. He left accused in Main Street, had a meal and met accused again about 7 p.m. outside Eas'ion Park, in Main Street. They talked for a while and then accused went into Easton Park to arrange for more to make the trip. Witness said that he collected a Mrs. Murphy and then met accused outside the Police Court. This was about 7.25. They went to Palmerston Noi;th and returned to Foxton about 11.30, leaving accused at the corner of Hal. Street. He told witness he was going to Wellington next day. Next morning, continued witness, Brown offered to pay witness for a share of "the expenses. He offered £2, but witness would only accepf £1 10s. He said he had £35 on him and was _ going to purchase a suit in Wellington. He was wearing almost the same clothes as on the previous night — grey pin-striped trousers, floral jersey, fawn overcoat and brown and white shoes. The hearing is proceeding.