BLAKEWAY MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1931, Page 6

BLAKEWAY MURDER

CHARGE AGAINST DECKE. FURTHER EVIDENCE. (By Telegraph—Per Pres' Association ) PALMERSTON N., November 12. The hearing of the charge of murder against Norman Robert Decke, following the finding of the body of Edwin John (Blakeway at Karere on August 24, was resumed before Mr Stout, S.M. The Court was again crow'ded. Norman Peter Hansen, salesman for a firm of ironmongers, said he*'knew accused in his business'capacity. -Witness sold him a rifle on JCtly 18th of .22 calibre, Walther automatic brand, being

a second-hand one. Accused bought two packets of cartridges the same day. The rifle would take Nobel cartridges-which were branded letter N on the base, Winchesters branded letter H, Remington

branded letter U • also Western branded Diamond. The brand marked with a diamond had a copper coating. Accused called on witness on July 27th regarding -the rifle and complained that the firing

pin was broken. A new firing pin was ordered. Two packets of .22 long rifle cartridges sold that afternoon would be Remington, Winchester or copper coated. Eric Holier, salesman for the same firm gave H evidence that he -sold two packets of .22 cartirdges on July 27th, but he could not say if he sold them to Decke No. other similar cartridges were

sold that day. -Henry William 'Smith, a farmhand, gave evidence • that previous to June he 'worked for Saunders and Fitzherbert West. .He! met the accused and occupied the same room. Accused owned a motor-cycle, the -same as he had been using lately. Once in May he went to Otaki, on it. He said he was “going to see a bloke.” To the Crown Solicitor, witness replied that accused on his return merely said he had seen the chap. Continuing, witness said on August 23rd last at 7.30 at night, accused rang him up at his residence at Mc-iKc-nzie (Settlement and said he was coming over Tor a while. He told witness if -he did not turn up for a while not- to get disgusted and go to„ bed. Accused arrived at 8.30, and said he had

a spill.. Henry Smith continuing his evidence said the accused had on overalls and a .pair of gloves. Accused went to wit-' 'ness' room, and 'took off his overalls. Accused had asked the time when he arrived and witness told him the clock u-as half an hour fast. During supper accused sat right in front of the clock Witness did not see anything attached to accused’s motor cycle. A gun could be there, without being observed. Witness did not take particular notice. Accused had,a graze on the arm when he jEhJivedjw •»

To the Crown Solicitor witness replied, tha-t accused left about 10.30. Were the tyres all right ? Witness replied.—“ Yes, I felt them.’ ■Witness did not know which way ac-

cused went. Continuing, witness said he rang the accused on the following day and asked him to go to the pictures. Accused replied that he was too tired, as he did not reach home till midnight. Accused gave no reason for being so late home. When accused left witness on the motor cycle on the Sunday night, a car from the opposite -side of the road left five minutes after. • v ) . y. To the Crown Solicitor, witness said that he met accused in town on September 26th by arrangement. He had. spme conversation with accused who had sa’.d he had been having an exciting tune. He had a'puncture when going home on August 23rd. The Magistrate: Was that the first time he mentioned itP—Yes. - Witness (continuing): “I said that the car had just left after him, and they should have seen him if be had a puncture Accused. replied that nc did not, know how they .could 7 miss seeing him.^ , The Magistrate: Where -was; tire puncture? • y • ; ' Witness: On the. Rangitika, line. Accused said that, several car s had passed while he was mending it. The Crown Solicitor: Did accused S qy anything in town about a. rifle? Witness: ' No, hut he did about shells. Accused” said that the shells he used were the same sort as -those used down at Karere.

The Orown; Solicitor, here, said that witness seemed to be trying to see how little lie could remember, and warned witness. Evidence would have to come out.

Continuing witness said the accused told him that he had been interviewed by the police about the murder but lie did not tell witness what they said.' Accused told witness that he had told the police that, he was at witness’ place that night. On October 24th. witness asked accused if the police had been interviewing him again; accused replied “no.”

Frank Wakefield Werry, a farmer, of McKenzie Settlement, gave evidence that he met accused on Sunday night. August 23rd. Accused left witness’ place at 10.20 p.m The car left a neighbour’s place about five minutes later.

Lucy Ann Fenwioh, residing at Palmerston North, gave evidence that, on August 23rd., with her husband and children, she went hv car to the .McKenzie Settlement. They left at 10.20 p.m. on their return journey, and travelled by tlie Rangitikei line. Just before they left, she heard a motor-cycle start when they were going out at about seven. Just before they turned up the number four line, she saw two men with a. motorcycle. which they appeared to he repairing. Witness saw no one when coming back*

The husband of the' previous witness gave similar evidence. Jens Envoldson, a f'ajmhand, of Whitmore Road, Linton, said that lie visited Miss Reid, who was employed at Saunder’s place on Sunday, August 23rd. on a push cycle, which he leit at the gate. Accused went out that night about 8.30 o’clock. Witness went into, the garage and sat in the back seat of the ear with Miss Reid after accused’s departure. Witness' did not know how long they sat there, but it was not long atfer midnight, when accused came up the drive. with the motor-cycle. Witness did no* hear the engine running, and did not know whether accused was riding it. Accused took the machine round to the woodshed and remained there for a few minutes.

The Grown Solicitor: Did you hear him doing anything? Witness: It sounded as if he had dropped something. Accused then went into the toolshed adjoining the garage and a light went on. The Crown Solicitor: Could you and Miss Reid see him?

Witness: W'e did not look, hut it would be possible to see him. The wall was of rough lining with cracks between the boards.

The Crown Solicitor: Did accused make any noise?

Witness: He made a tapping sound on the concrete for a. few seconds. It also sounded as if something had been swung on the wall. Accused was in the shed for about five minutes; and then went to’ his whare where he slept, halt he did not take the nearest route.

The Crown Solicitor ajsked if the tapping sound was consistent with tlie cleaning of a rifle.

Counsel for the accused objected to this his objection being upheld. ( Continuing, witness said that, on October 4, accused spoke to him in the cowshed, saying, “You wait till they get you at the inquest. What were you doing in the carp’’ Witness replied, “I will be there.” Accused said. “1 will see that they get you there ”

Louisa Frances Reid, a* domestic servant, employed in August bv Mr Saunders, said that she knew accused. She gave similar evidence regarding the-night of August 23. James Arthur Shannon, employed by Mr Saunders as a farmhand, gave evidence that accused occupied the whare with witness. Accucsed bad a rifle which he kept in a cupboard. On August 16th, accused practised with it, and on August 20 accused took it to the i tool shed saying that it was becoming knocked about. On August 23, lie and accused went to witness' parents’ place in town, returning to Sauuder’s farm 6 later in the day, ac-

cused leaving at 7.30 at night. Witness did hear accused return, hut the latter told him that he came 'home about .12 o’clock. Subsequently, witness, had. a conversation with ; accused who said that Miss Reid was supposed to have heard or seen him cleaning his rifle in the toolshed after he came home on August 23rd. Accused told witness that he did not clean his rifle that night . but may have gone into the toolshed and handled it, and may have cocked it. i

Continuing; the witness, Sharman, said that on September 16, accused returned from the police station and told witness that he had been qpestioned by the police, who informed hiin tilt he luicl been followed from Werryh that Sunday night, and tliar tlie people in the car said that he did not stop.

The police, on August 24, took a rifle from the toolshed, but did not get the cleaning rod hanging in' the cupboard in the whare of accused. He did not know they had not taken the rod until a few days later, when he said, “Here’s something they missed.” Accused pulled a rag off of the cleaning rod, and threw it in the* fire, saying, “That is a, bit of evidence they won’t get.”

Cross examined, witness said he had no ammunition at any time other than Nobel’s.