BURWOOD MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 30 August 1927, Page 3

BURWOOD MURDER

BOAKES CHARGED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 29. After four remands, the ca.se in which Charles William Boakes stands charged with the Bur wood murder is proceeding to-day before. Air I’.. I). Alosley, S.M. Criminal proceedings, anil the inquest on the body of the dead girl were taken simultaneously. Afr Donnelly (Crown Prosecutor) appeared for the police and Afr Thomas and with him Afr Burns appeared for Boakes and Air Cavell for the relatives of Miss Scnrff.

As on former occasions the appear

.mice of Boakes in the Court aroused great public interest, hut tho police had made excellent arrangements for preventing any overcrowding in the Court room. Witnesses in this ease occupied nearly all tho space usually given over to accommodation for the public and tho result was that few who were not concerned in the ease found admittance. The Alngistrate read the depositions already taken at the opening of the inquest when Air Searff gave a formal evidence of identification.

Boakes stepped smartly into the box when called, closing the door behind him. lie looked spruce in a grey suit and wore a how tie. "You can sit down Boakes.'’ said the Magistrate. After the charges had been read Boakes. his hands in his pockets, remained standing leaning against the wall.

The. charges were that Boakes did on or about June 15th. 1927, at Burwood. near Christchurch, murder Ellen Gwendoline Lsobel Searff, and that on or about Alay 10th. 1927. at Christchurch, he did unlawfully .supply a noxious thing, ergot, to Ellen Gwendoline Lsobel Scnrff, knowing that the same was to he unlawfully used. All witnesses were ordered out of Court.

Ellen Alartha. Searff, of Cashmere, said that the dead girl was her oldest child, aged 20 years. She saw her daughter for a. few minutes at the Hofei Federal at about 4.30 I'.m. A\ itnoss knew accused. 110 had worked for her husband 2 or 3 years ago. AA hen witness saw her daughter a,t the hotel the girl was upset and began to cry.

Jessie Glen AlcCluro who had been employed at the same house as Aliss Scarf! said about Alarch 28th she suspected the girl was pregnant. Sometime after the girl got [fills through the post. 'I ho pills wore to bring about a miscarriage. Witness remembered seeing Aliss Searff go to a White Diamond Taxi in Cathedral Square on Ala.v 12. The driver was tall and well built. AVitness did not know him. On Alay Kith the girl went out and returned with a small bottle of istuff which was for the same purpose as the pills. Later on the girl was sick and apparently dazed. Continuing witness said she remembered the girl writing a letter addressed ‘‘Mr Charles Boakes, Grand Taxi Stand, Christchurch.” AVitness had read the letter throe times. She repeated what she could remember of the letter as follows:

“Dear Charlie, you will he surprised to know the stuff has not done me any good. Seeing you forgot to ring. I am writing to you. All I can suggest now is that you make a clean breast of ia to your wife. When this becomes known f will lie barred trom my home and I. tie* mother ot your second child, will he stranded. Stick to me ?aml help me all you can.

Air Thomas put in a formal objection to this evidence. Amv Isabel Wood, residing at AlaeAlillan Avenue, Cashmere said that Aliss Searff had been in her employ from January last to June 9th. She was tho onlv person in the house who slept downstairs, ft was the. gir! s first duty in the morning to toke a paper to witness in her bedroom, she remembered that sellout May 19th Alias Searff failed to do this. Mrs McClure spoke to witness, and she went to sec Aliss Searff in a sitting room. She looked very ill and when witness spoke to her she spoke in reply, but her speech was not clear. She bad a half holiday on June Bt!i. '1 he following morning witness went to tho girl’s bedroom and found that she bad leit and bad taken her things with her. AVitness bad occasionally answered telephone rings for Aliss Seal'll. Air Donnelly: Was it a man or a woman asking for her ? Sometimes a woman, mostly a man.

William Densely Wood, son ot the giiTs employer, said he remcmbeied clearing letters for tho post and they included one addressed to a taxi stand in Christchurch. Sydney Charles King, a chemist’s assistant said he sold pills to Boakes „„ „„e occasion and later supplied ergot pills. Later Boakes said they had had no effect. Leonard Victor Allan Lilly, a tram conductor, said he saw Boakes on Juno Xth on the 10.3 p.m. trip from Hu., wood. He got on at Burwood Church. Ifc- was alone. Thomas Morton, a night porter at the Federal Hotel, said about 11.30 p.m. on June Bth, a man and woman came to the front door. The man asked for a room for the woman, who gave her name as Miss Armstrong. The man was about six feet in height. Witness had been to see Boakes twice but ho could not, positively say he was the man, though lie was very like liiai. Amelia- Watts, a married woman, said on June 9th. while sitting on the river bank about 3 p.m. she saw Mis* Scar If nicked up by a White Diamond car. No. 22. The driver was Boakes, whom she recognised. The Court then adjourned till 2.10 p.m.

New crepe do chines just opened up New colour shades. Prices 7s 6d, 8s lid, and 11s 6cl a yard.—McKay s, Hokitika. —Advt.