MURDER OF CARRON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 254, 18 June 1932, Page 2

MURDER OF CARRON

ROWLES DENIES GU1LT CONDEMNED MAN TELLS STRANGE TALE BEFORE EXECUTION. POISONED BY BUTTER. PERTH, Monday. Extfaordinary composure was shown j by "Showy" Rowles during his nine 1 weeks in the condemned cell in FreUlantle Gaol awaiting exeeution for the murder of Louis Carron, but he broke down under the strain of interviews with his father and mother and relatives. Rowles' solieifor, Mr. Curran, went to the gaol to get the final version of the tragedy from the condemned man, who made a remarkable statement regarding the death of Carron. Rowles was unwilling.. at first to make a statement, saying he "preferred to go to the gallows rather than fight further." He said he had not told the truth before hecause he knew nobody would believe the story of a eonvicted criminal, who admittedly cashed the dead man's cheque. "Carron and me," said Rowles, "were together. It was true we camped at Old Windemurrie Station. "We were; getting short of stores, ; and Carron asked me to slip into Paynesville and cash his cheque." Mr. Curran: He didn't sign it? Rowles: No; we hadn't any pens or ink. "Carron said to me, 'You can sign it,' and I did," continued Rowles. "When I got hack," Rowles went on, "I found Carron dead, poisoned. He had apparently eaten, by mistake, some of our poisoned butter pats, which we had for poisoning foxes. "His body was in a terrible condition. The crows had eaten most of his face and hands away. "We had two lots of butter pats. We didn't use meat for bait, because foxes would travel a long way afteb taking such a bait. "With the butter pats, the butter would melt quickly, and you'd get them close to where you laid the bait. "I was in a rotten position. I had just come hack from eashing Carron's cheque. I had a record, and was an escaped prisoner. "My first impudse was to go in and tell the police, but I knew for a certainty they would not believe me, and would put me in, so I decided to do away with the body and say nothing about it." "The Gospel Truth." "Is that the truth?" asked Mr. Curran. "It's the Gospel!" replied Rowles. "Snowy, Snowy," Mr. Curran ejaculated, "why didn't you tell me all this before? Why, man,. on that you are absolutely innocent. Rowles: Yes, but who'd believe it? "But, God, 'Snowy,' old man," expostulated Mr. Curran, "It doesn't matter 'who would or would not believe it. If it's the truth, that's all that matters. Why, if we had told that to the jury, no jury could have eonvicted you." "Oh, well, I am not whining," repeated Rowles. "I reckoned nobody would believe me then, and I reckon nobody will believe me now. '11 admit I thought it a bit thick when the jury eonvicted me. I thought I had done the best thing. I don't care now what happehs."