SYMONS MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1931, Page 6

SYMONS MURDER

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 13.

At the hearing of Coats’s case continuing his evidence when the CCui t resumed, the witness Gyde said th t Goats .was not carrying, a shovel when he met him. One Saturday nigh., about a week later, witness met the accused, who asked for the use of his motor-cycle. The machine,; , however, was under repair, and witness told Coats so. Witness did not know any crevices in the bank in which ac cased might have hidden the shove on the 26th June. James Vivian Morris said that he had been working on the relief we at Mataitai since the Ist May. 0 Friday, 26th June, he was workin , with a man named Skilling on the lower tip. He commenced work at eight o’clock. A little later on he noticed two shovels stuck in the side of the tram line. -Witness pointed out the place on a photograph. Thi was about 10 o’clock. . The shovel were standing up in the ground about four chains away from where witness was standing. There were no workmen in the vicinity of the shovel at the time. ,

Janies Skilling, a relief worker, als gave evidence about seeing two shovels between the bank and the truck line on the morning of 26th June. He agreed with the previouwitness that there were no workmen in the vicinity of the shovels at that time. The same afternoon a man cam’ up to witness and his companion. 0;i leaving, he picked up one of the two shovels, and disappeared round a bend Cross-examined by Mr James, witnes said that he made no effort to prevent the man from taking the shot el, and h ■ did not mention the matter to the foreman. He might have mentioned ,it V> his mates. where the body was found. WELLINGTON, August 13. At the hearing of the Coats murder charge, other relief workers gave ‘evidence concerning Coats’s mo' meats. Charles Idrys Kiclson, Engineer-'n Charge of the Hataitai relief works described the p’ans for filling in .the hollow to make a new recreation ground. Two tips were being used The deepest point would be at the junction between the two tips, about forty feet below the higher level. Tli was very near the position where tin girl’s body had been later found. COATS’ STATEMENT. Alan Campbell Melville, taxi-driver, said that lie had known Coats for more than 18 months. He knew he wakeeping company with a . girl name Phyllis, and be had often driven then in his car. The accused had his mai' addressed care of witness, and had often played cards with him and othei friends. The accused to’d him th ■ the girl had run away fr m home When the couple moved to Adelaid Road, the accused told witness ti the girl was pregnant, and he w going to try and get rid of the child. He said that pills were a failure. There was mention of a crochet needle. Questioned furjther, Meivil'e said that the accused had once said sonieing about “giving her a crack.’' Melville remembered Glover coming t him with a letter that he had found n Tuesday, the last day in June. On the fol lowing Satin day night, Jut fourth, Melville told the father - f ih girl about it. Witness knew that - .; a the result of the letter ft '•pmp . niiit was made to the police.

Cross-examined by Mi' Treadwell Me’vilie said that the month when Coats spoke of the girl being in th family way was about May. W, tncs, was in the cab office when Gl ver ;howOil hi in the letter, and he was with Glover when he showed it to Symons They gave it to Symons next morning a Sunday. Symons read part of i l out. “lie was pretty cut up,” sail witness.

The Court adjourned until' to-morrow morning.