GRUESOME CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 311, 26 August 1932, Page 5

GRUESOME CASE

(Press. Assn.—

BLENHEIM MURDER PROPOSAL TO EXHIBIT SKULL TO THE COURT ALMOST DECAPITATED

-By Telegraph— Copyright).

Blenheim, Thursday. The trial of Edward Tarrant, aged 58 for the alleged murder of James Flood, aged 76 years, was continued to-day. Medieal evidence was ealled, which went into gruesome details of the results of the post-mortem examination of deceased's body. Dr. Smyfche said deceased had been dead at least six bours when the body was seen by him. From an examination of the wounds he thought deceased had been struck a violent blow from behind with some blunt instrument, used by a left-handed person, and the throat cut while deceased was lying unconscious on the floor. Dr. Lynch, pathologist, detailed results of an examination of the body after exhumation. Deceased had been praetically decapitated. Witness considered that the wounds had been inflicted with a sharp axe, and great violence must have been used. A neighbour, Mrs Pratt, deposed to noticing burning rags and other ruhbish in Tarrant's waslihouSe on the morning of November 4. The rest of the afternoon session J was taken up with hearing evidence I and identifying £10 and £20 notes alleged to have been cashed in various shops by accused.' It was proposed to exhibit the skull of the deceased in court, but counsel for the prosecution ohjected at that stage, and the diffieulty was got over by counsel and the Magistrate, examining the gruesome relic in chambers.

A typical case amongst many was the evidence of Clifford McKaV, mercer, of Blenheim. Accused bought goods valued at 15/and tendered a £10 note in payment. Witness gave accused change and remarked to accused that there were not many £10 notes abcut. Accused replied that there was still one or two about. Later accused again called and purchased . goods, again tendering a £10 note. Accused came on a third occasion, also tendering a £10 note. All the notes bore brownish rusty marks. Sergeant Peterson detailed the j steps taken by the police to \>btain ! possession of the notes cashed by 1 accused. Some of the notes were very | soft. The signatures on two had i quite disappeared, and on others, they | were nearly gone. The notes apJ peared mildewed or damp. Detective Jarrold gave evidence as to interviewing accused regarding money transactions with deceased and as to his movements on the night of November 3. Accused denied be- | ing anywhere near deceased's home on that night. He said that Mr. Blizzard's statement that he called on accused on the night of November 2 was untrue. When accused was asked why he did not pay Blizzard from the £30 borrowed from Flood, he trembled and got excited. When witness with other detectives searched accused's house, accused in the back yard demonstrated his skill with an axe, splitting a block of wood with one blow by the left hand. The axe had a very sharp edge. After the arrest, witness secured the axe, which then liad a new handle and the edge was blunt. On June 18, accused was interviewed at the Blenheim police station. Sub-Inspector Ward §aid it had come to the knowledge of the police that accused had been cashing £10 and £20 notes. Accused had admitted cashing- stained notes and said he had been saving them for years. He said he had hidden them in a chocolate box under the kitchen floor, and that perhaps accounted for the stains. At this stage witness was feeling the strain and was ailowed to stand down until the moriling. The Court adjourned.