MURDER ALLEGED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 61, 3 November 1931, Page 3

MURDER ALLEGED

(Press Assn.—

KILBIRNIE TRAGEDY TRIAL OF GEORGE ERROL COATS ON CAPITAL • CHARGE PROSECUTOR OUTLINES CASE

-By Telegraph: — Cdpyright).

"WELLINGTON, Monday. The trial of George Errol Coats charged with the murder of Phillis Avis Symohs, aged 17 years, on or about June 26, was commenced in the Supreme Court, before Mr. Justice Blair, to-day. Despite the rain a Iarge crowd, including several women, gathered outside the court. They were not admitted to the body of the Court until all formalities connected with the empanelling of a jury had been gone through. The Crown Prosecutor, in opening said that accused was a widower with six children in various orphanages. He first got into touch with the dead girl when he was working on relief works in Mortimer Terrace, where the girl's parents lived. Early in March the girl left home, and went to live with Coats. It was the Crown's contention that the girl left home on account of her condition, for which it was alleged that Coats was responsible. Counsel detailed various acts and conversations which had taken place in regard to the girl's condition, and said that accused had told one witness, Glover, that if Phillis did die she could easily be buried in a gully at the Hataitai relief works, where Coats was working. Digging Operations ,The Crown Prosecutor continued that later Coats had been seen digging a hole at Hataitai, and "there will be no doubt in your minds, gentlemen, that when Coats was digging that hole he intended to murder Phillis and bury her there." Counsel referred to the incident where it was alleged that Coats had hit the girl over the head with a piece of pipe, but she had recovered. The Crown contended that Coats had made arrangements to have a shovel left out at Hataitai on the night of June 25, so that he could kill " and bury the girl that night. Unexpected visitors, however, prevented the carrying out of the plan that night, but on the following night the girl and accused were heard to leave the house where they were living. The Crown alleged that the pair walked over to Hataitai, where Coats hit the girl on the head with the shovel several times, and buried her. In answer to inquiries about the girl Coats said that she had gone home, but the girl Was not seen again. A taxi-driver named Melville had found a letter from the girl, and as a result of him sending it on to the girl's father the police had seen Coats. After a search lastihg some days the body of the girl was found at Hataitai, covered by a sack, which the Crown would definitely establish came from . the house where Coats and the girl had lived together. Counsel's address lasted nearly an hour. Victim's Mother in Box Formal evidence was given by Senior Sergeant Dinnie and a surveyor. Mary Sophia Symons, mother of the deceased girl, said that Phillis was born in Napier in December, 1913. The girl was backward and implored her father to let her leave school, which she did at the age of 14. Oth erwise Phillis was normally healthy. About September 1930, witness met Coats when he was working on relief works in Mortimer Terrace. Phillis first introduced her to Coats one Sunday early in March. There was a slight difference between them but it was really nothing. After a bit of a row, Phillis slipped out without witness knowing about it. Witness described the clothing the girl was wearing on the date and identified some of the clothing produeed as belonging to her daughter. On the night of July 12 she identified the body at the morgue as that of her daughter Phillis. "Phillis was a very nice little girl, quiet and well behaved," said witness. Counsel for accused then examined Mrs Symons as to whether Phillis had a cousin called Ernie. Mrs Symons said that there was no cousin by the name of Ernie, but later she said that she herself had a brother named Ernie who was an organist and choirmaster in Napier. Communist Meetings Counsel questioned her concerning her attendance at Communist meetings in Garrett Street. She said she had never attended these meetings with Phillis or Ernie, who would not have gone. "He was a university man." Counsel questioned Mrs Symons closely concerning her dislike for Coats, His Honour remarked : "What counsel is trying to find out is what was your attitude towards Coats before all the trouble, before Phillis went away. "Well," said Mrs Symons, "she was always deceiving me and telling me lies." Looking towards the prisoner "He knows all about it." Counsel suggested that she had had a quarrel with Phillis and had struck her and there had been a stand-up fight between the girl's brothers. "Nothing of the sort," replied witness. "Where have you been getting all this from? More of his lies?" His Honour directed Mrs Symons at this Stage that she must simply answer questions without introducing irrelevant observations. Counsel for accused to witness: "Was there a stand-up fight and you ordered Phillis out of the house?" Witness: "Certainly not." George Henry Symons, father of the dead girl, detailed events leading up to the handing of a letter to the police. Counsel for accused asked if the relief workers had left a fairly steep cliff on the roadside near their house. Witness answered "Yes." Witness said that he did not know Phillis was going away to live with Coats. The Crown Prosecutor asked to be allowed to refer to witness's previous depositions. His Honour decided to ad journ the Court and hear argument in chambers and the Court adjonrne'd till 10 o'clock to-morrow,