THE TIMARU MURDER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 48, 20 November 1920, Page 10

THE TIMARU MURDER

MATTHEWS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL EVIDENCE OP POLICE WITNESSES By Telegraph—Press Association. Tiniaru, November 19. The trial of liegiuaid AlalUiows for tho murder of Ulurcnuo iidward Wagstaff at Seaview Terrace, Timuru, ou October i"t, was resumed at tho Magistrate's Court to-day, wiien further evidence for the prosecution was called. Seuior-lJetcclivo' Cameron gave (jviaciico 1U) to the identification investigations. No fenialo witness identified any other thau accused, though Ivuapp could not identify- accused, because Jio could not say wnat the mau who fired looked like. Letters addressed to "13. Irving," "13. E. Irving," and "E. Laxedo," care s.a. Waipori," were given witness by Detective (Juarterniain, also one parcel-post counterfoil address, "Mrs. C. Ilall, cure Whitehouse, Taihape/" and seven postal nolo counterfoils signed "11. It. Irving." The date stampod waa "Auckland, June 12, at 1 p.m" . ~ , . , Detective Quartormain 6aid ho sound the letters in a box belonging to accused at Phillipson's house, in Christchurch. lis also received it bundle of letters from Rose Phillipson, 'and a torn photograph of accused. • , . Constable Templetou, who assisted in the arrest of Matthews at Lyttelton, 6aid accused did'not turn and firo when runnin" from the nolieej ho fired when wit-' ness was holding him down, the bullet penetrating thp right knee above tho

Selective Sheelian said that when he was in cabin. B on tho Maori with Detcctivo Lo Suer lie saw accused standing in tho doorway. Witness stepped towards accused, who drew an automatic nistol and said, "I'll shoot you, you -—. Witness diwv his revolver and chased accused along the upper dcck Accused threatened to shoot soveral times and then clambered down the side to tho lower deck, and ran down tho gangway. Detective BickQrdike fired twice at acCU Dete>-.tive Bade said he forund on accused 31 cartridges Jn a small and five wrapped in a piece of . nCT I?„ also a scrap of paper bearing the in"Youn" Brown, retired banEMM** srgsf sw' ™ Cl Ee"ardin C accused's belongings, and his visi?s° to Phillipson'«, at Sydcnhninho tnld them that ho was going io Timar i. nn is return on October 28 he told them he had been there. The murder was mentioned to him, * nd JVat sort a\a not take any interest in tnac of thill". He !m<l lioard or read sometins about it, adding that they would was a copy of the Timaru "Hernia ol October 28, containing an account of tho murder, and a box of rubber type, from which the stamp previously mentions had been made «p. To the Phi lipsons mother and daughter accused had always «ecnW normal and cheerful, and romped with the children after hisi return from Timaru. One of the girls said he was known as IteginaldJrv>n A Timaru Postal official recognised a parcel-post counterfoil in tho lmn, ° ol Keg. Irving, sent to Mrs. Davey, at Dunedin. Witness-lived next cor to afrstaff, nnd was aroused by the shots. Ho went over and saw Constable Palmer pick up a parcels receipt torin with a Wellington postmark on it. "Mrs. Davey, of Dunedin, ..paid she liatf known accused for six or seven "Tabbv She knew that his initial* was On October 2d she received from him from.Timaru a box ot chocolates for the children. About two years a&o he asked her to write, to mm \s. Irving." • ' L. A". Lodge, of the National Bank, and F H Lindop, of the Bank of New Zealand, as experts, gnve evidence on the likeness of the writing on the counterfoil and accused's letter to. Roso PlillUpI) A. 0. Holdgate, gunsmith, testified that the bullet extracted from deceased was exactly similar to another fired from accused's pistol into Eoap so that it could be recovered. The rifling had peculiarities easily identified. He did not know the make of the pistol< Tliero were words on it, "Jlade in Spain,' but not the. maker's mark. Evidence was concluded at G pjn. Asked if lie had anything to* say, accused replied: "Not at present, thank you. My counsel will do work for me." Mr. Thomas asked that the trial -be held at some other centre than Timaru. The tragedy had moved tho people of Timaru "tremendously, and it was doubtfill if accused would receive a fair trial •hero. He suggested Christchurch, and as Mr. Donnelly had no objection, His Worship concurred, and accordingly committed accused for trial at Christchurch on February G, 1921.