BLENHEIM MURDER

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 310, 25 August 1932, Page 5

BLENHEIM MURDER

(Press. Assn,

tarrant on trial POLICE BRING EVIDENCE OF BLOOD STAINED NOTES THE ACCUSED'S FINANCE S

By Telegraph — Co pjrlght * .

Blenheim, Wednesday. The trial of Edward Tarrant on a charge of murdering James Flood, was continued to-day. John Walker Fowler gave evidence as to finding a key on the green of the Picton CroqUet Club. Henry Ruffell, a butcher, said he called at deceased's house on November 4, * about 4.30 p.m. Getting no reply to his knock he tried the door, which was locked. ' Cross-examined, witness said he cut meat up in his van, using ordinary butcher's knives and a cleaver. James Aldridge, a baker, also deposed to ealling at the cottage and finding the door locked, which was imusual. Tennyson Connolly deposed to passing the cottage on the" night of November 3. All was dark. The following morning he again passed and saw a window open. It was the first time he had seen a window open. The door was closed. Tracing of Notes General witnesses were called by the prosecution in rebuttal of the statement made by accused to the police as to his whereabouts on the night of the alleged murder. Corroborative evidence was also given as to finding of the body and its position. The prosecution used voluminous evidence to show that subsequent to the murder, accused had paid debts owed by him; more freely than before; Jabez Blizzard, agent for the owner of the house accused .occupied, said he pushed accused for arrears of rent owing. Accused did not pay when he promised on November 2. He said he would endeavour to get the money next day. On November 4, he paid £21, in notes and promised to pay the balance in instalments over a month. The evening sitting was taken up with tracing notes alleged to have been changed with business firms by accused, some of the notes being stained -with what looked like blood, and bearing greasy marks. The hearing was adjourned until to-morrow.