IMPRESSIONS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1932, Page 7

IMPRESSIONS

OF MURDER TRIAL. ■HAMILTON’, April 11. Interesting impressions ol the roeen sensational murder trial in Pei/;h, Wes Australia, were given by Mr A. V Sims, a Hamilton dentist, who lias jus returned to New Zealand. Mr Sim was on.e of the principal witnesses a the trial, which culminated in (he con viction for murder of John Thom:.. Smith, alias ‘‘Snowy” Howies. Ti: Crown proved that Bowles had mur dered Louis Carron, known in Ham I '' ton, New Zealand, where he lived for some time, as Leslie George Brown. Mr Sims waa taken to Que, a.' '520 miles inland, for the inquest am preliminary hearing. Here he saw tht charred remains which had been we! sieved by Ithe police and every artificial tootli hut one recovered, Dentures and teeth were found which corresponde with the records taken by Mr Sims t< Ihe tria),

CLEVER, SHREWD M A X. “Howies is a fine, well set-up nnv* of 27, and the last one would take 1 be a criminal," said Mr Sims, referring to the trial, which lasted ten days. "I is, however, a very clever and shiv man, and it is said he has no nerves He is the reckless type who would done well in the Foreign Legion. In the district where he worked he was most popular, but it was recognised that la laid a mania for killing. It is doubtfu whether he would have distinguishes much Jbetweeu animals a-nd human beings when it came to removing then from his path/" Bes'/K- 'being a triumph for tin. police the ease would go down in lega Id-story as unique, added Mr Sim There were fifty witnesses for tli Crown and five for the defence. Bowie, never turned a hair during his tnu and expressed .the- hope that the jur\ would either hang or acquit him. Hi had no desire for a lifetime in gaol. Several times before the trial Rowle; attempted to take his own life. Mr Sims examined 500 aborigine teeth in the Perth Museum during his visj: in order to distinguish between native and .'European tooth. He war able to give it a.s his definite opinior that the t-eeth found in the ashes wen not those of a najtive.