MURDER AT HUTT

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1932, Page 3

MURDER AT HUTT

TRIAL OF LIVERMORE

FURTHER EVIDENCE HEARD

(by Teteyraph — L‘tr tresi Association,

WELLINGTON, June 8. In the Upper Hutt murder ease, wherein Horace Frank Livermore m charged with murdering the child, r Forster, further, evidence was given , i by Henry Johnson -Morris Hazelwood (motor driver), Lionel William* .Hobbs (gardener) and Stephen Thomas’ Bason , (the driver of a baker’s van). , j Mrs Forster said that, one night j a man named Hobbs came to her j house, in rfiply to a question she. said that accused had 'not been working, .a.nd had been behaving rather strangely of late, and had liot been treating her too well. Next day accused tol,l her he had been listening, to which she said that sho had not said anything very had about'.him. He replied “No, I. don’t say you did, but it’s nice to know what your landlady knows about you.” Witness detailed the movements of accused, herself and the child on the day the child disappeared. The last she saw of the child was with accused at mid-day, when she fed the . fowls. Witness went cm to speak of becoming uneasy when sho could not see the child. ..Several times accused , was questioned, and once he replied |that ho did not “take her about in 1 his pocket.” At her request he went to several houses looking for her. After accused, had had dinner .and witness had returned from another look outside,' accused asked if they were mot going to have a drink iff tea. I She said they would have it later, and lie asked: “Is the finding of the child !of more cbnsequnee - thaTi my tea.” However, he went out to ’ find Mr J Forster, who returned while he was J away. Later, when witness said to [ accused that hei had not bCcn searchlike the rest, he replied that he had done as much as anyone and told her that the last that he had seen of the girl was in the duck pen. Witness learned about nine o’clock that night that the body had been found. Witness said that, in the preceding three weeks, accused got noticeably depressed, and site put it down to his hack; also, that he' was worrying about getting the lease of a duck farm. He was always worrying because ho could not get a job. Mr .Forster also gave evidence. He said that he had not noticed anything peculiar 'about accused during the time lie was at witness’ house, but he did not see much of accused.

! Frank Ivan Jones, a sawmill hand, of Upper Hutt, who took part in, the search said that the body was found lying off the track, and on a slight inc.ine, with the head facing downhill There was a deep gash on the head, and Wood on. the side of the face and the back of the heck. James Wyett, apprentice carpenter, who gave similar evidence, said that, he found a piece of water piping near the body. ... I Constable Stewart, of Upper Hutt. said that Wyett told him that he had found the body and removed it to the top of the bank. Constable Joss said he took Livermore to his whare. whore he told him that he was suspected of murdering tlie girl Forster. Witness - continued: “Tho accused 'said to me: ‘What would 1 murder her for? f thought she had fallen over the hank.” Witness told him that lie would be detained until the arrival' of -.Detective McLennan. He, asked if be could change.'his clothes, saying that ho would lopk more respectable. His trousers were wet. Witness told him to leave his clothing as it was. Witness asked-’ him to show him his hoots. Livermore, then in qHired: “Have you got footprints?’' He added : “Those are not the boots I bad on to-day.” Witness’ asked him why lie had changed his boots. He replied that they were wet. The accused produced a pair of wet shoes. He was taken to the police station.

Dr. J. P. Lynch, Pathologist at the Public Hospital, said that, as tin? result of his examination, lie had formed the conclusions that death was d'n* to blows 'from a .blunt instrument on the hack of the head. A double scalp wound and multiple blond collections indicated that more than one blow was struck. Ho did not think these injuries could have been caused h.V) fall. There was nothing in the condition or appearance of the genital organs to indicate that the child had been indecently asaulted. Dr. M. B. M. Tweed said that he agreed with the findings and conclusions of Dr. Lynch. The Court, adjourned until 10.30 tomorrow morning.