Harold Jones’ Confessions

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1921, Page 4

Harold Jones’ Confessions

MURDER OF TWO GIRLS

JUDGE AND BOY’S VANITY

I, ON DON. November 2. When llsuolcl Jones the In-year-old Aborlillwy boy,, appeared for lus trial at Momnonh Assizes yesterday on a charge of murdering Florence Little, an 11 year old schoolgirl, on July 9tli be pleaded guilty. lie also confessed to the munior of Freda Burnell, aged 8 years, who was found strangled in a Iniie ai Abertillery on February 6th., and for which crime lie had been tried and acquitted m Juno. Jones was ordered to be detained during liis Majesty’s pleasure. After Jones bad pleaded, Mr Justice Riclio pointed out to Mr St. John 0. Mieklethewait, bis counsel, that it was very unusual to allow such a plea on a capital charge. Mr Micklethwait, in asking his lordship to accept the plea, explained that Jones’s ago was 15, and his birthday was on January 11. The only senonoc which his Lordship could pass now was that Jones should lie detained during his Majesty’s pleasure. On the other hand, if the trial went on over January another course must ensue.

The boy fully appreciated the matter and wished to enter the plea. Cl! LM F DESCRIBED.

Mr Justice Roche accepted the plea and a confession made by Jones to the Chaplain of Usk Prison was read by Mr C. F. Vacholl T\.C. counsel for the prosecution as follows: “f Harold Jones confess T did wilfully and deliberately murder Flora Little on the Bth. of July, causing her to die without preparation to meet her C.od, the reason for so doing being (lie desire to kill. “Flora was about to leave the bouse when 1 got bold of her, seized her throat, and cut. her throat with a knife in the back kitchen, putting her bead over the hosb (sink). I then went into the front room, leaving Flora’s body in the liosli. I went to the kitchen bringing a shirt, which T wrapped round her head. 1 carried the body upstairs, brought a little table out of the room, put the body on the table, and then got on tlte table. 1 look the body in my arms and, tried to jnish it up into the garret. 1 then replaced the body on the table, went downstairs to get a rope from outside in the backyard. I 10returned upstairs and tied the lope to the body. I got on the' table and dragged myself through the manhole with the end of the hope in my bauds. Then, finding the ro|ie not long enough, to enable me to get the ro|ie through the manhole I got back on (lie table tied my handkerchief to tin’ rope., clambered up through the manhole, and dragged the body up to the loft. “After getting bark to the table I re- ! placed th<' cover on the manhole, teplaced the table in my room, and went downstairs to get a bowl ot water ami a cloth. 1 took it upstairs to We h • T :!»' stains of blond on tie wall--, the lending, end U-- mb!- t w.-m : itrq fo I*-it h it set 1 t... ttvl lin.ll’.-t tu.> , i ! .tb.iai'i | v. ashed t hem off. I then vet iinsiaiis. linin'. ing the water out ■ • -ire i mil ill).I the 'la,Ml.' “Just as I was having a bath Mrs Little came to the door just as 1 was ashing my bead and h sly. I denied Flora was in the house and went back ami finished my bath. "I hereby declare the above stateteeni to lie true. Dated September 17th. 15)21.” After souieiieo bad been passed , the following confession was also read by .Mr Vacholl. counsel for the prosecution : "!. Harold Jones, wilfully and delibcriitolv murdered Freda Purnell in Mr Mortimer’s wasb-bou.se on the oth I'obrunry.” Mr Justice Roche observed: “Among tli*. motives which emitrihufe'! ’o Ft' second crime was overweening vanity and a desire to be in ihc public eye, which could not lint have been fed by the unseemlv and unnatural demonstrations which I understand took place on that former occasion.-’'