THE BY-FLEET MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 July 1924, Page 2

THE BY-FLEET MURDER.

LATEST CABLE NEWS

ACCUSED’S STATEAI ENT.

4USTRALIAN AND N.Z. CARLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, July 2

The trial of Vaquier for the murder of Jones, has begun at Guilford. Before it commenced, a large crowd, mostly of fashionably dressed young women, waited in a queue outside the court.

Vaquier pleaded not guilty. Sir Patrick Hastings and Sir Alatsliall Hall prosecuted. .Messrs Curtis and Bennett defended. Sir P. Hastings said that the Crown sought to prove that in the nature of the relations between the accused and Airs Jones lay the motive for the crime. She was a woman ot a type for whom no one would otherwise commit a crime. .Mrs Jones was examined for nine hours. She denied having had improper relations with A aquier, or that she had misconducted herself with her solicitor during her husband’s illness. Vaquier in a statement to the police put in at the preliminary trial, said :

"I hived Jones like a brother. Is it likely, therefore, that 1 perpetrated this cowardly crime? If the poison was not put into the glass by criminal, it was done by someone paid by it cowardly suitor of Mrs Jones, in order that (, a foreigner, might he accused of it. Among her suitors the cowardlv assassin will he found. If Airs Jones is willing to, speak, she 'could sav who wanted to he rid of Jones and myself. It is a solicitor’s clerk who knows most about Jones s death, as he was madly in love with Mrs Jones. 1 loved Airs Jones overmuch to poison Air Jones. A\ bile wo stayed at the Blue Anchor, there was nothing in my conduct calculated to

anger Jones.”