Trunk Murder Mystery

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 60, 2 June 1927, Page 9

Trunk Murder Mystery

Story of Mrs. Bonati ? s Death Accused Admits Cutting Up Body FACED with a charge of murdering Mrs. Bonati. the woman whose dismembered body was found in a trunk at Charing Cross Station, James Robinson appeared at Westminster Police Court, and an attempt on the part of his counsel, to rule out a statmen admiting his guilt, failed. s

By Cable.—Press Associutioti.—Copyright Received 12.10 p.m. LONDON, Wednesday. There were remarkable scenes in the Westminster Police Court to-day when James Robinson was charged with the murder of Mrs. Bonati. Women and girls fought for admittance. At the outset the defending counsel, Mr. Vine, objected to the admission of the alleged confession of guilt. He declared that something improper, amounting to inducements, had happened in the course of the half-hour Robinson was in the sitting-room in Scotland Yard with Sergeant Clarke. The prosecuting counsel offered to call Clarke, whereupon Mr. Vine questioned the latter at length concerning the conversation in the waiting-room. Clarke denied saying to Robinson, “You are in a serious position, but I do not believe you did it. I do not think you would do such a thing. You have seen Sir Bernard Spilbury’s theory and you ought to tell us all abut it. I will be your pal if you justify yourself and can tell that the woman died from heart failure." Mr. Vine declared that Robinson would say on oath that this conversation occurred. The magistrate ruled the admissability of the statement.—A. and N.Z.

This showed that Robinson met the woman in the street, and she suggested that she should accompany him. They went into the office, where she said she was hard up and asked for a pound. Robinson refused, and she became abusive. He lost his temper and struck her face. She fell, striking her head. He left her lying there and went home, and returning the following day was surprised to find she was still iving there. Not knowing what to do he decided to cut the body up. He bought paper, string, and a chef’s knife and finished the work as quickly as possible and wrapped the body up. After he left the office he had a drink, met his wife and went home. The next day he faced the difficultv of disposing of the body. He went to Brixton and bought a trunk and packed the remains in it. He went to an hotel and met a friend whom he asked to help him downstairs with the trunk. He took a taxi to Charing Cross and deposited the trunk. If he had not done so it would have been a life-time nuisance to him.

A typist formerly in Robinson’s employ gave evidence that a duster ■wrapped round the remains was the one used by her in Robinson’s office.— A. and N.Z.