A MURDER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 258, 10 March 1911, Page 5

A MURDER CHARGE

THE CASIIEL STREET TRAGEDY. JACK AMD SADLER COMMITTED EUR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Asseeiatiea. Christehureh, Last Nigiit. The adjourned Police Court proceedings in connection with the Casliei Street mastery, in which Harry Alexander Jack and Walter Richard Sadler art charged with the murder of Ethel May Bradley at Christehureh on or about Tuesday, February 7th, were reßumeo before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M. Mr. T. W. Stringer, K.C., appeared for the police; Mr. S. G. Raymond, with him Mr. J. A. Cassidy, for Jack; and Mr. T. G. Russell for Sadler. >

Both accused were looking pale after their confinement, but beyond this ana seeming worried, their appearance has improved since the conclusion of the inquest.

The evidence adduced at the inquest was repeated. The police gave evidence that Ethei Bradley's body was not in the right-of-way at 2 a.m. Constable Cuddy met Jack and Sadler near Sadler's shop at 2.10 a.m. They said there were out getting fresh air. and had tried to get a drink at the Zetland Hotel.

Evidence regarding Jack's movements at the Zetland Hotel was given by various witnesses, several of whom said he met a woman in a dark dress near the hotel at 8.38 o'clock and walked towards the river with her. A witness, Philpott, said he met Price, Jack, ana another man at the Zetland Hotel at 9.20, and had a drink at Jack's invita tion.

The only new point was the fact that a hat, since identified as that belonging to Ethel Bradley, waß found on the railway line on February 8. Sadler lived a mile beyond the railway lines, and Jack 32 chains from the place where the hat was found.

Clara Annie Bradley, wife of deceased's brother, stated that the black hat produced was that worn by deceased on the Tuesday when witness saw her last. Witness knew it was her hat, becausi she had trimmed it for deceased.

Annie Murphy, wife of James Murphy, crossing-keeper at Montreat Street, said she lived on the. railway line near the crossing. One morning recently she found a woman's hat between the railway lines. The time was about halfpast six o'clock. She picked up the hat, and gave it subsequently to Detective Gibson. She did not remember the dates. To Mr. Russell: She did not hand-the hat over to the police until a long while after she found it.

Thomas Thompson, railway crossingkeeper, who relieved Murphy, the husband of the previous witness, said that on the morning of February Bbh Murphy told him about his wife finding a hat. When the case for the Crown closed, Mr. Russell formally applied for bail for Sadler, and said that as far as he could see the case against Sadler had not altered much. In opposing bail being re,-, newed,, Chief Detective Bishop had said there was further evidence against Sadler. The only fresh evidence that day had been that of a woman discovering a hat, and that hardly seemed to affect ..Sadler. As the case stood at present, the jury would not convict Sadler. Sadler was as sure of being acquitted as the sun was of rising. Sadler, if granted bail, could report himself to the police authorities every day. Mr. Raymond applied for bail for Jack, saying Mr. Russell's remarks applied to his client with equal force. Sadler's last statement may have been beneficial to Sadler or otherwise, but in any case it had nothing to do with Jack. Jack's position was equal at least to Sadler's. Bail could be made substantial, and Jack could report himself every day to the police. There was hardly a chance of conviction, and in the event of his client being found not guilty, it would cause great hardship to him if he were not allowed bail.

Mr. Stringer said that the question of hail, of course, rested with the discretion of the court. Mr. Russell, however, was lot justified in saying that as sure as the sun rose Sadler would be acqn;tted. If this were ro, His Honor might as well acquit the accused at once, otherwise he must treat the charge as a capital offence.

The court committed the accused to the Snnreme Court for trial, bail being refused.

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court commence on May 15th.