SUPREME COURT

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1931, Page 3

SUPREME COURT

(By Teleyraph—Per Press Association) HAAHLTON, Jim,. 9. Air H. T. Gillies. Grown Prosecutor, opening the case' against Reginald Norman Thomas Richards, for the alleged murder of Arthur Rossit e r, aged 72 years at Kaipaki, on April 12 said the accused, a Gaiiadian, came to New Zealand seven or eight veal's ago. Two years ago he became acquainted with the Rossiter family. He became friendly with Afiss Rossiter, and last August they because engaged. Owing to tile accused making no effort to get her a home she luoke of the engagement. Some time later money was stolen from the house a"d Richards was accused of taking it.

He cleared himself with the police, however. Later at Taijrnnga. accused struck Miss Rossitcr on the head with a heavy instrument. While under. arrest, for ,the pffepec he ..(Vjgajvd and it was while the police were searching for him that tli e murder was discovo red. NAPIER, June 8. At the Supreme Court, Edward Patrick Leahy and Albert Bowen were found guilty of breaking and entering (M? house of Allan Francis Cameron at Takapua, and .stealing goods valued at £8 2s (id. Mr H. B. Lusk, Crown Prosecutor, said the crime took place during the day. the accused Bowen having been found in the complainant’s house, apparently busy packing a suit case with goods. Leahy was also in the house, and they said they had seen the house was unoccupied at the time, so entered and took a few spots. /Bowen asked Cameron to let them go a*>d he refused, whereupon Boweiii made an attempt to strike the complainant, hut Leahy stepped between them. Later, Cameron attempted to ring the police, but accused prevented him. Bowen had a bottle of whip in his pocket, and Cameron lifted this bottle out and hit Bowen over the bead breaking the bottle. This appeared to have no effect on Bowen, however. Almost immediately, a neighbour. McArthur, came in and gave Cameron a hand co resist the two accused who refused to leave the house, one being armed with a rifle and one with a golf club. They also smashed the wind-screen of a motor car in the vicinity. They disappeared sometime .later, but were apprehended by the police. The jury returned a verdict of guilty without leaving the hex. A doused were, demanded for sentence.