CRUMBLES MURDER TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 21 July 1924, Page 3

CRUMBLES MURDER TRIAL

MAHON COLLAPSES. lUBTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, July 17. A feature of to-day’s evidence at the Mohan trial was a statement by Ethel Duncan, one of the principal witnesses for the prosecution, who was recalled and cross-examined, said she observed heavy bruises on .Mahon’s shoulders pud arms when she was living with him at> Crumbles, a couple of days after the murder had supposed to have been committed. Sir Bernard Spilsburv, Home Office Pathologist gave evidence that lie was unable to assign the definite cause of dentil, hut it could not have been the result of Miss Kaye falling and striking her head on a coal scuttle.

Mahon gave evidence which was mainly a- recapitulation of the statements to the police, and said the deceased was passionately in love with him. and wanted him to leave his wife. She gave him a number of hundred pound sterling notes in payment of her share in a joint speculation in francs. He castled these under a false name because ho believed the transaction in his own name would compromise him with his wife, and force their separation. While explaining the quarrel at Crumbles, which led to Kaye’s death, Mahon collapsed in the dock, and it was some minutes before he revived.

•MAHON FOUNT) GUILTY

LONDON, July 1.8

Alter live anil a half hours in the box, during three of which he was subjected to the severest cross-examin-ation. Million completed his evidence ie tin* C’riiiuLtos murder ease, in wliich lie is accused of murdering Miss Kayo and of mutilating the body. The accused in his evidence, frequently broke down and cried loudly. At the finish accused was in a state of collapse. Million’s evidence was

practically a recapitulation of his statement to the police, but lie admitted that lie bought a knife and saw previous to Miss Kaye’s death, and not subsequently, as he had hitherto affirmed. After counsel’s addresses, the judge announced that he would sum up tomorrow. Mahon was found guilty, and was sentenced to death. MAHON’S CAREER. (Received this day at 9 a.m.) LONDON, July 20. Justice Averv in sentencing Mahon to death, said flic jury bail arrived at the oiilv proper conclusion of evidence, not knowing you hail already served penal servitude for a crime ol violence. There is no question, you deliberately designed the death id this woman. The newspapers publish the. life slot'v of Mahon showing la* belongs to a humble respectable Liverpool family. .Million for niiii.v years was a Sunday school teacher, lie committed his first crime in 1911, aged 22. when lie was bound over on a charge ol forging his employer’s cheque. In the following year In* was sentenced to twelvemonths for forging and uttering and filially in 1910 he was sentenced tu five years' penal servitued for wounding a servant girl who surprised him attempting a burglary at a bank. Million is of attractive personality, a good conversationalist and salesman. For years Mahon carried on many affairs with women "itli whom lie stayed at most expensive hotels. Hi* was a voracious reader of French novels. The lile of Laiiilru was found in Crumbles bungalow where Emily Kaye died. There is a suggestion that Mahon was tiding to imitate Landru's methods.