TIMARU TRAGEDY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 November 1920, Page 5

TIMARU TRAGEDY

MATTHEWS' TRIAL OPENS. THE CASE FOR THE CROWN. movements of the accused. By Teleeraph.—Prc3s Association.

Timaru, Last Xight. Reginald Matthews, charged with the murder of Clarence Edward Wagstaff at Timaru on October 27, appeared before Mr. Mosely, S.M., this morning. The flaso for the proseeution was conducted by Mr. A. T. Donnelly (Cliristcliurch), acting Crown Prosecutor. In the course of his opening statement Mr. Donnelly aaid that although the Magistrate'had presided at the inquest additional and important evidence would now be submitted. He would outline the case under several heads, as follows: (1) The movements of the accused from October sth to about 8 p.m. on October 27th., within three hours of '.he murder. (2) The committal of the murder. (3) The movements of the accused after that time until his arrest. (4) Certain documentary and other evidence tending to connect the accused with the crime. bnder the firsr head came the statements of the Phil! pson family (alceadv known). The stayed orn night at Pliiilipson's, aric 1 left a dress-baaket and a box there cn going to Timaru next cay, October 20,' taking with him a leather suit case. From Timrru he posted to a Mrs. Lavev, in Dun n dln, a box of chocolate?, and got back a receipt in the name of Irving. It would be proved that some time he'ore he had asked Mrs. Davcy to address letters in that name. This was a factor of some importance in the case.

SEEN NEAR MURDER.

Two young -women would "be milled to testify that, they were rudely tiecostcd by a man in'the street not far from the scene of the murder, and they both identified the prisoner as the man. Evidence would be called to show that the accused was found in an untenanted house belonging to Mr Robert Parr, and he was permitted to stay there on the plea that he could not get lodgings. Mr. and Mrs. Parr would identify the accused. Subsequent to his arrest some vases and signed postcards stolen from the house were found in accused's belongings. Coming to the actual crime, Mr. Donnelly said that three shots . were fired, and three empty cartridge cases were found in WagstafTs garden—one of them on the night of the murder, one next morning, and the third on November 3. There were also found three post counterfoil receipts for parcels sent from Wellington to Taihape, and on the back of each was impressed with a rubber stamp: "Young Brown, champion lightweight boxer of California, 1917-18. Born at Invercargill." Die stamp had been handmade, and set up by hand. In a search of Parr's house in the room accused had occupied four pieces of paper were found, apparently torn from a writing block, and on each of them was the . same stamped impression. THE ARREST.

The accused returned to Christchurch on Ottober 2Stli, and went to Plvllipson's, where the murder was mentioned. He said they would have to prove it on the man. When lie left the Phillipson's he said he was going to Wellington, and he w'as arrested at Lyttelton after wounding Constable Templeton with an automatic pistol. Five cartridges were taken out of the pistol, and these were of tlie same kind as the empty eases found in the garden. When arrested the accused had in his possession some papers marked with the rubber stamp previously mentioned, and in his suit case was found the rubber stamp with which the impressions had been made. The suit case was identified as the prisoner's by Mrs. I'liillipson, who recognised some of the clothing in it. . The accused's dress basket was taken on tlie steamer to Wellington and in it were found the three vases and signed postcards which had been stolen from Parr's house. In it were also writing which would be proved also to be in the accused's handwriting. His photograph was also found, and on the back of this, in his handwriting, the same words as those of the rubber stamp. CHASED BY POLICEMAN. After h's arrest a number of people i'lentifuci the accused os the ,man whom .t'tey lad seen in the locality of the murder and within a few hours of the commission of the crime. The first witnesses called wero a photographer and a surveyor who had| prepared pictures and a plan to assist the Court. Then followed several witnesses who had been accosted by or had seea the accused in the vicinity on October 27. Robert Parr and Mrs. Parr gave evidence concerning the trespass by accused in their unoccupied house." He did not stay all night. He was cooking something and w'as told to "get" when he had done there. He left half an hour later, carrying a brown paper parcel. Constable Smith, who had been given duty in plain clothes in Waiiti Koad because of complaints of women having) been molested, testified that the accused came along tlio street and witness. after some conversation, in which the accused said his name was Irving, challenged .him to go to the house where girls who had complained lived, and accused then bolted. Witness gave chase, hut lost him. NIGHT 01? THE CRIME. Cliflord Wilson Knapp, the deceased's companion, gave evidence as at the inquest about seeing a crouching man moving about the house about, 11 p.m., and the two young men endeavouring to capture him. He also told of the man turning at a corner of the house and firing at them one shot. Then he moved on a few paces, turned, and fired two more shots. After the third shot the deceased staggered and fell. The man jumped over a fence and witness followed through the gate, went after him some distance, and then returned, cn hearing the deceased's cries. Witness said Constable Palmer found a slip of pa.per about where the second and third shots were fired. It was a counterfoil of a parcel post receipt. Witness did not identify the accused at the gaol on November 3. Henry Wagstafl, the father of the deceased, said his son was 10 years old. At about 11 p.m., on October 27 he heard a noise as of persons running round Ihc house. He went out and found his son lying on a path, , tv ThotaM (couawl for ae«