MURDER CHARGE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1933, Page 6

MURDER CHARGE

ACCUSED CKOSS-EXAMINED

(Per Press Association- — Copyright. t

Wellington, November is

The iOvQw.n prosecutor cross examined James 'in the witness box for over an hour this morning. James at times became very excitable and voluble. James said that from May 15th he only earned 16s. On May 24 he sold a*machine on Mrs Smith’s behalf for £4, and subsequently borrowed £l2 for the furniture. Mrs Smith received that money. After Mrs Smith read a letter from Jowett and found there w a s nothing coming to him from his late wifes ■estate they agreed to carry on a s they were. She did not tell him- she was going to part from him, because he said he decided to leave her. < •_ Mr Macassey proceeded to deal with ev.ents leading up to the tragedy. He asked James wh a t staged the argument with Mrs Smith, and James replied tlr.t she .started it about money. She saicl he had led her to 'believe that he had money, when he didn’t. She said she was going down to see Jowett again to see how they stood. Her idea was that House w a s concealing the true position of the estate.

James disclaimed knowledge of what Happened after they began to struggle. He repeated several times that he did not remember anything till lie _eame to in the hospital. Mr Macassey produced a letter found with James’ .coat and Hat on the wharf and asked if he meant the jury to believe that he did not remember writing the letter, J allies said lie did not recollect writing it. Before his Maker, names declared he denied having made a certain statement attributed to him -in the record of the interview produced by Detective Sergeant Jari'old.