GRUESOME EXHIBIT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 388, 24 November 1932, Page 5

GRUESOME EXHIBIT

VBress. Assn.-

HEARING OF CHARGE AGAINST EDWARD TARRANT CONTINUED ■ NEPHEWS GIVE EVIDENCE

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

. Blenheim, Wednesday. The trial of Edward Tarrant, who is charged with the murder, at Picton, on November 3, 1931, of James Flood, an old man, was resumed in the Supreme Court to-day. James Flood, nephew of deceased, gave evidence regarding deceased's investments and jnode of Iiving. The beneficiaries under the will were himself, two sisters, and three cousins. Under cross-examination witness denied that he had borrowed money in anticipation of a legacy under his uncle's will. Witness was questioned closely concerning his whereabouts at the. time of the murder. He denied that he did not get on with his uncle. On the night of the alleged murder witness was on tlie foreshore till about eight o'clock, when he returned home with a friend. Two other nephews deposed as to the reluctance of deceased to lend money. Medica! Evidence Dr- E. W. Smyth detailed minutely the results of examinations of the body of deceased, including injuries and two ncck wounds, which could only have been caused by a heavy, sharp instrument, used with cousiderable force. He concluded that deceased had been struck a violent blow on the back of the head from behind by a left-handed man. The axe produced could have caused the injuries. Cross-examined, witness said if deceas.ed tuined as the blow was struck in a right-handed manner it was possible that the injuries could have been received. Dr. Philip Lynch, pathologist, explained that one of his specialities was deducing cause and means of death by post-mortem. He detailed at length the results of his conclusions by post-mortem on deceased's body. The back of the axe would produce the wounds in the head, and the neck wounds would result from a blow from an axe.