GUTTERIDGE MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1928, Page 3

GUTTERIDGE MURDER

TWO MEN ACCUSED. (Auntru.liau Press Association.) LONDON. April 27,. The Dutleridge murder ease has been resumed. The men Kennedy and Brown were charged with the crime, and at Old Bailey counsel for the prisoners applied for separate trials, hut Mr .Justice Avery refused these. the Solicitor-Oeneral, for the prosecution, opposed the applications, urging the accused were commonly engaged in a joint purpose which led to the murder. At to-day’s hearing the sensation of the day was Browne’s appearance in the witness box, followed by Mis /, Jirowne, who swore that her husband was with her on the night of the murder, he coming in about niim in llm evening. The prosecution's case closed with the Chief Inspector of Smalls Arms Factory at Enfield producing a microin- „ scope demonstrating to the jury that the cartridge ease found in the doctor’s yard was definitely lired Irom a revol-

ver in Browne’s possession, two indentations in (lie, cartridge precisely corresponding with the markings upon the revolver breech shield. The prisoner Browne’s entry to tlulu i x caused a scene, lie was handed ti card on which the oath was printed. He hesitated and turned to the Judge, saying: " 1 can’t take this oath 1 1 shall never know the whole truth. How etui I swear?”

The Judge: " Aon must make up your mind whether you will take the oath in proper form or not al all.’

Only after discussion was Urowne persuaded to rend tire oatli. lie then did so in a faltering voice. lie once evidence denying that he was ever at the scene of the murder, lie said that Kennedy’s story was a lairy tale Iroin beginning to end. lie helieved that the reason lor Kennedy's statement was that Kennedy was a .habitual drunkard.

Browne declared that the revotver found in his possession originally belonged to Kennedy. It was in Kennedy’s possession ijii the 2(>th ol Kepteinher, 1927. The judge reminded Urowne that tic had said himself that he bought the revolver from a sailor at Tilbury docks somewhere in April, ldii. lirowne (.excitedly i : " Vm are twisting me round." Mr .Justice Avor.v (sharply): " Don’t, talk to me about twisting. 1 have taken down what you said.’ Cross-examined by the XoiicitorCoueral, Urowne admitted that when his wife visited the prison on the K'th April of this year that he wrote something in invisible ink oil the hack ol a certain envelope and addressed it to Sheffield. Further cross-examined. Urowne admitted that the invisible writing read: “ Can von tell me the date that Kennedy and I divided a lot of jewellery I tossed which should take one lot am. one the other. It was then that I exchanged revolvers with Kennedy, after ],e nmy have shot the policemaiL Justnote the date by return.—Died. ’’ KENNEDY'S At CCS AT I ON. (Received this day at 42.25 p.m.) I .ON DON. April -G. A climax in the Outteridge ease was reached when Kennedy, speaking troi.'t the dock in a clear, firm voice, accused Urowne of the murder, amplily mg the statement cabled on -’lst February. He Sl ,id: “ I had not the slightest idea on the night of the murder that Urowne was carrying a revolver. Ihe hist knew of it was when two shots were fired when Outteridge was questioning us. 1 said: "My Ood wlmt have you

done?” lirowne replied: ” Cot out of the ear.” 1 helped to pull the policeman to the hedge and before I could get lirowne away a second two shots were tired. 1 was terrified, lirowne was in an absolute mail frenzy. Do was ill such a state of mental agitation that lie did not really know what lie was doing. The automatic found in my possession was given me by lirowne. I intended to go to Africa, where the revolver would he useful in the wild.-.. On the night of the arrest at Liverpool! 1 intended to Hake the revolver ami lose it in fear my wife might become implicated. ft was in an overcoat pocket when Mnttenson seif'ed me I rout behind. There was a click but it was made by the muzzle striking on a buo ton. It was only intended to bluff him.”

T never said • Stand back U.li I'll shoot." f can c.nly express the deeoest regret to Mistress G.iue.'idge that I Should have been in the- car on the night of the murder.” lirowne did not remove his from Kennedy throughout the statement. . Urowne s counsel addressing Hie jury described Kennedy's statenient as an hysterical romance and Kennedv as a liar. The Judge will sum up to-morrow.