BURWOOD MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 1 September 1927, Page 3

BURWOOD MURDER

BOAKES CHARGED

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 81. _ Allred Moulin, a taxi driver, said that accused used to bo on the same stand with him. He had a coii\ ei nation with accused two or three weeks after the murder. He was speaking to accused 'and said “Aon know what things tiro being said about you round the town, Charlie, that you have been going out with the girl Scarff. I He said it was not him, but some other Charlie. He also said ho was going down to Colombo Street when ho passed the place where the other Charlie worked and it brought it to his mind then that his other Charlie used to meet her at night after work and take her out. CHRISTCHURCH, Aug. 31In the Burwood murder case this afternoon. Detective-Sergeant Young gave evidence, first as to finding the bodv, and then as to statements by Boakos. He said that Boakes was interrogated at length at the Police Station. Boakes stated that he had known the girl Scarff for UTyears, since she was a child. He had carried on business for Scarff sour, who was n carrier, first while Scarff was on holiday, and then while he was absent owing to illness. He (Boakes) used to drive a motor truck, which was housed at

Scarff’s residence. He used to see Gwen Scarff, then 15 or 1G years of age, but he had no intimacy with her. After a time, Boakes stated, he left Sc arff’s employ. One day Scarff seni. came to him, saving : “-AA hat tho hell have you been doing to Gwen?” He (Boakes) had replied : “A\Tiat do you mean?” Scarff said : “She had a kiddie !” Scarf said it had died, but that it was Boakes’ child. They had discussed the matter on other occasions hut ho (Boakes) had denied point blank that tho child was his. Later, said Boakos, he saw Gwen Scarff, and ho asked her why she said the child was his. She said : “I was so damned ill, and had to blame somebody!” Ho asked whose it was, ami she said she didn’t know. During tho past eight months, while ho had been driving a taxi, Boakes said further, ho had seen the girl frequently. He had never had intercourse with the girl in his life. He last saw her on Saturday, June 11th. and on Jfriday, June lOEli. at the Federal Hotel. He did not know who had sent for him, and he had boon surprised to find her there. Sho “bawled at fop.” The girl had told him of trouble w ith" her mother and father, and had said: “AA'e- arc going up to the North Island next week!” Boakes asked, “AA’ho are we?” hut tile girl would not tell him. He did not know she "as pregnant. ITe had never held any money for her, nor had he ever procured medicine for her. Any statements the girl had made about him being unhappy at home, or as to his intention to set up a homo for her at Hastings, were damned lies. Ho had never seen,) nor had in his possession, the spanner produced.

Detective A’oung continued that on June 27th. he arrested Boakes, and charged him with the murder of tho girl Scarff. AA'licn fho charge was read lie said, “Oh!” Boakes was then locked up. Detective Sergeant Biokeridgc corribrated portions of Detective Young’s statement. After Detective A'oung had left tho office, ho said, “Boakes said to witness: “Have they found the thing that killed her?” AY it ness interviewed Boakes about his movements. Boakes denied having brought- the girl in his taxi from her employer's house in Cashmere. He had been to Cashmere on June Bth. to pick up a fare, but the fare was a man —a. stranger to him. He said lie was not at Burwood on June Bth. and had never had Gwen Scarff out- in his ear. He denied that the military overcoat found was his. Ho had once had a- Mercedes car, hut he sold it six years ago. All the tools went with the car including the spanners similar to that in the possession of the police. Tho spanner held by the police was not his. About 1910, Boakes said, he had trouble about an illcgitmate child in Auckland, of which he was not the father. He got six months for perjury over the case. After the statement had been read to him, Boakes had said: “There has been a hell of a lot of talk about me messing about with this girl. A man might have had intimacy with her, hut that is not to say I murdered her. There is another Charlie besides me, a-ml he knows her well. He does not get on well with his wife.”

Detective Bickeridge stated lie then said to Bonkes: “AA’lio is the other Charlie?” Boakes replied: “He works in a coal yard in Colombo St. near the hills.” AVitness said: “AATiat is his full name?” Boakes replied: “I don’t like dragging other people into it. hut his name is Charlie Keys.” AVitness said: “Can you give me any information that Keys knows anything about this murder?” Accused replied: “It is your duty to find out, and you know how to do it.” Boakes had denied statements by King, a chemist’s assitant, about the purchase by Boakes of pills and ergot. AA’lien King was brought to the police station and asked to repeat his earlier statement to the police in Boakes’ presence. Boakes assumed a threatening attitude, and witness interposed, as ho thought that Boakes might strike King. Boakes said to King, “You nre a liar!” Boakes denied having had letters from Scal'd, except one about four months ago.

Chari io Keys gave evidence that he knew Gwen Scarff for seven years. Ho had never taken her out on his motor cycle, or his car. He had no militarv overcoat.

This concluded the evidence. Mr Thomas submitted that there was no prima facie case against his client, Boakes. on the murder charge. On tho other chargo of supplying a noxious thing to Gwen Scarff, lie admitted a prima facie case had been established, and that Boakes would have to" go to trial on this charge. The Magistrate found that Ellon Gwendoline Tsobel Scarff died on .Tunc loth. 1927. having been murdered by some person by means of a blunt instrument. Tn regard to the charges, Boakes was committed for trial on the charge of supplying a noxious thing. He pleaded not guilty. Tho Magistrate said he would consider the evidence, and would give his decision on the other charge tomorrow.

COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. ON MURDER. CHARGE. CHRISTCHURCH. ’Spot. 1. Bonkes was committed for trial on the charge of murder.