BURWOOD MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1927, Page 3

BURWOOD MURDER

BOAKES CHARGED. (By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 29. /Muriel Uslier, recently clerk at the Federal Hotel, said that on June 9 “.Miss Armstrong” booked at the hotel. Witness could not bo sure that the taxi driver who brought her was Boalces. On June tenth, a middle aged woman called for Miss Armstrong, and they talked in the hall for some time. Both of tho women were crying as they talked. Later witness, at Miss Armstrong’s request-, rang up the Whito Diamond Taxi Stand and asked Boakes to come to the hotel. Boalces arrived shortly alter, and went to Miss Armstrong’s room. The girl left the hotel in the forenoon of June 14. . John Connelly, porter at the Federal Hotel told of the arrival of Boakes at the hotel in answer to a- telephone message. AVitness showed him to Miss Armstrong’s room. The girl was still crying when he arrived. Boalces went into her room, leaving the hotel twenty minutes later. Boakes wore n small short military overcoat, reach-

ing to liis knees. Joint Harris Prisk, the garage hand at the White Diamond garage, related the 'conversation Fie had with Boalces about 11.30 on June 10, tho morning after the murder. “1 asked Boakes what he thought of the Bunvood tragedy,” said witness, “and Boakes said it was a terrible thing. I asked him if ho knew who it was, and he said: ‘No. who is it?’ I said: “It’s someone you know and 1 know. At that moment lie was called away. When Boalces came back lie asked me who it was 1 said ’‘Gwen Scafjf.’ Boalces replied, “Go on! how did they find out ?”

Eric Horace Alugford, aged 15. gave evidence of the finding tho body of the murdered woman. Witness .summoned the Rev. C. A. Tobin, who examined the body. Cecil Alexander Tobin, Church of England Clergyman, at Bunvood, said that Mugford called on him at 1.25 p.m. on Juno 15 AVitness telephoned tho police, and went with Mugford to the scene. There were three pools of blood, indicating tho body had been moved. A I*l ue coat was spread out evenly, as if she bad been sitting on it.

Dl* Thomas Beveridge DavL said ho examined tho body at- 3 p.m. whore it was found. Rigidity was then commencing. There were eighteen wounds oil the head, the largest* Ibcing over and above the left eyebrow, where the hone laid boon broken and the brain tissue exposed. Tho wounds were such as would have been made, by a blunt instrument. He /thought death had not been instantaneous. After tho attack, the girl had possibly lived some hours. AVheu ho saw the body, the girl had boon dead about six hours.

Dr Arthur B. Pearson, Pathologist at the hospital, said he examined tho body between 5.15 p.m. and G p.m. nit Juno 15 at the hospital. Tn liis opinion, tho girl had been dead six or eight hours before ho made the post* mortem examination. Witness thought the wounds ‘on the Read would not canso immediate death, and the girl might have lived 8 to 12 hours, and possibly longer, after the wounds wero inflicted. Tho majority of tho wounds were not dangerous to life. Unit the group of four or five* wounds above the left eyebrow would prove latal. The girl was from four to five, months pregnant.

Dr R. R. (1. Milligan, of the BioChemical Department- of the Christchurch hospital, said lie had tested the stains on t-lio military overcoat found near the scene of the murder. The stains were of blood. The court adjourned until to-morrow. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 31.

AViili evidence of thirty witnesses already heard the hearing of evidenco in tho case in which Charles AYni. Boakes is charged with the* murder of Gwendoline Isobei Scarff was continued to-duv.

Felix John Theodore Grigg, Government Analyst, said on June 18 lie received from Detective Afayne, a box containing nine bottles. He made a careful examination of all the bottles but ’ ( found no trace of any' poison or any substance which could be used in abortion cases.

David Davidson evidenced re finding spanner at the scene of the murder and handing it to the police. Detective Edie said that on June 10, while clearing the scrub at the scene of the murder, a man found a spanner in the gorse. AVitness took the spannei to tho detective office. There were bloodstains on the spanner, partly dry. The spanner was sent to the Fingei Print Department in Wellington, and examined, but no finger prints wero found.

All- Thomas —To what extent was Idood bn the spanner? The whole of the spanner was covered with it, except the lower jaw. And you say there was some that was not dry? Yes.

Detective Laugeson said on June 16 he saw the spanner. There were traces of oil in the jaws as though it had been recently used. Witness made inquiries at all engineering works, motor garages, and foundries in Christchurch and showed the spanner to a total of 1510 people. These included taxi drivers and engineers. None of these people were able to identify the spanner or say they had seen it before. H e wa s unable to find a spanner exactly like it. On July 2nd, with Detective Thomas, he searched the effects of AUss Scaiff at her home and in n locked cashbox in a ducliesse drawer found a small piece of paper on which was written tho name of “ Al. E. Boakes. Air Thomas objected to this. “ AVe do not know who wrote it, or what it is,” lie said. Tho Alagistrate—For the present i will let it go in and note the objection. It is not of the slightest evidential value. Detective Laugeson said on July ~rth Detective Gerald and witness searched accused’s homo at Windsor Terrace. In a wooden box in tho hall among other effects of accused, they found thirteen small military buttons and ten large ones. In a room upstairs in a tin box they found four small, similar buttons and three large ones (buttons were produced). Referring to the spanner, witness said it appeared as if the jaw had been slightly enlarged. The motor car that was used by accused was fitted with A.C. spark plugs and the large end of the spanner produced exactly fitted these plugs. Air Thomas—-I want to he quite clear about this. T want to understand i what your evidence has been about. Is j this the spanner that was found at tho scene of the murder?

Yes. This is the one you say was enlarged ? It gives the appearance of having been enlarged. j George Hunter AtcCann. Staff Sergt.Alajor employed hv the Defence Department, said lie had acted as Quartermaster Sergeant and had handled much military equipment. On July 20th he examined two military overcoats produced at the Detective Office. They were ordinary infantry issue overcoats. Air Donnelly—One is older looking than the other isn’t it? AVitness—Yes. What’s the date of it roughly?

November 29tfi, 1915 .is the maker's date. These military buttons; they’re just the ordinary issue buttons? Yes. How many buttons has an Infantry man’s overcoat? Five large ones in front, seven small ones and throe on the back. Alfred Edwin Smith (managing director of Smith’s Motors Ltd.) said he had had twenty-live years' experience with motor cars. The spanner produced resembled that supplied in the tool kit of F.N. make of ear, which cimo from Belgium. How do you base that opinion? From its design, and secondly because it is a metric type of spanner. Lionel James Lcversedge said that on June 25th when engaged clearing; scrub on the North Beach road, lie found the military overcoat produced.] The coat was neatly folded inside out. There were bloodstains on the coat, which he han'cled over to DetectiveSergeant Young. To Air Thomas—The coat was slight-

ly damp when witness found it. Winifred Capes said that she knew Miss Scarff and also knew Boakes. Somewhere about Christmas time last year Alins Scarff introduced witness to Boakes, and in company with a man named Arps they went to Dallingtou in Arps’ car. George Lewis, a fruiterer, said that from August, 1925, to October, 1920, lie was running two buses to Sumner. From December 2-1 tli, 1925, to October ICtli, 1920, accused drove one of the buses. During that time witness saw the girl Scarff in the bus driven by aecused. On June 17th last witness saw accused near Warner’s Hotel about 2.30 p.m. Accused went up to him and witness mentioned that he heard that accused had been detained Die previous day and that a spanner had been found. What did accused say?

Well, I had previously told him who my informant was, that it was Jim Patrick, and he said: “1 suppose ho wanted to know if you had lost a spanner ? ” What otluy conversation did yon have? He was telling mo what happened the previous day when he was detained at the Police Station.

AV as anything said about the giri’? Tie was tolling me the “ D’s ” said that lie had procured some kind of dope for the girl and lie remarked that lie did not know any chemist well enough to procure the stud' from him. Was anything else said about the girl’s condition? He said that he knew she was in trouble. Was anything else said by Boakes about the girl’s pregnancy? I asked him if she bad ever mentioned who it was, and ho said, “ No,” she had never mentioned anyone. AVitness added that he asked Boakes the reason the girl saw him, and Boakes replied that the girl used to tell linn her troubles. Me added that lie bad enough troubles of his own without bothering about Aliss Scarff’s. .Samuel Ha-lligan, a taxi-driver, said that on June 22nd be spoke to Boakes about the murder. Boakes said: “I am not worrying about it. I’vo got it on my sheet to show where I was.” Boakes used to wear a mii’itary overcoat. Air Donnelly—The sheet for Juno 14th showed that the meter was off at the end of the day. AYhnt does that mean ? Tho meter broke down at half pasttwo and lie went off at half past four. Y'ou paid him that day? A'es. The next- morning he started out as usual. The meter was off altogether that day and he worked on the speedometer. William Dickinson, son of the proprietor of the AAhite Diamond Taxis, said that Boakes had been in the employ of the firm sinco November fith, 1926. and drove one of tho White Diamond cabs at the time of the murder. His hours were from 5.30 a.m. until 4.30 p.m. In June, Boakes was the sole driver of car No. 22. Boakes’s running sheet for June Bth was produced and it showed a trip at G. 35 a.m. from Cashmere to the Square. There had apparently been an erase on the sheet and it was made out in Boakes* hand writing.