MURDER CHARGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1938, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE

THE SWANSON TRAGEDY. YESTERDAY’S EVIDENCE. By Telegraph—Press Association. AUCKLAND, April 13. The charge against Francis Borgia Spensley, farm labourer, of having murdered his father, Robert Fitzroy Spensley, aged 60, on or about February 7, was continued in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Selina Winslow, widow, Swanson, gave evidence that the accused was a friend of some of her boys. He came to stay at her house early in February last. He did not tell witness at first where his father was, but when asked said that his father had gone away for a fortnight. The accused brought bedclothes and clothing with him, sharing a tent with one of witness’s sons. He did not bring any guns at first, but she noticed later that there were two firearms in the tent. Accused used to go to his father’s farm to milk the cows. When a cheque arrived by mail he signed it. Witness asked: “Is it right that you sign that cheque?” He replied that his father had told him to sign the cheques, as he was away in the backblocks, and they might not reach him. Accused seemed to be spending money fairly freely on chocolates, soft drinks, gramophone records and groceries. Witness said if he was spending money he could afford to pay board. He gave witness’s niece £1 and said it was part of his wages. After he had been there a few days he stopped going to milk his father’s cows. In reply to her, he said that the cows were dry. He said that he had a letter from his father, telling him to sell the dry stock.

Sydney Arthur Henry Hammond, farmer, described finding the body after his son had told him of its discovery. Under hay and sacking he saw human bones. He could not tell from the head whose body it was. He reported the matter to the police. Later a truck arrived containing two married daughters of Spensley, also a son--in-law, and accused. Witness heard a constable say to accused: 1 “You have been a foolish fellow. You have been selling stock and have wasted money.” Witness heard Frank Spensley say: “I shot him with a pea rifle”

The hearing was adjourned till tomorrow.