AMERICAN SOLDIER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1942, Page 3

AMERICAN SOLDIER

COURT-MARTIAL TRIAL IN MELBOURNE

ALLEGED MURDER OF THREE WOMEN. EVIDENCE OF CONFESSIONS MENTIONED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) MELBOURNE, July 13. When the court-martial of Private Edward J. Leonski, the American soldier on trial for murder, was resumed today at a secret location in the city, the president of the medical board which examined Leonski as to sanity said that in the board’s opinion Leonski was sane but under the influence of alcohol when the tnree murders of women with which he is charged were committed.

The charges relate to the murders of Miss Gladys Hosking on May 18, Mrs Pauline Thompson on May 9, and Mrs Violet McLeod on May 3. The Judge Advocate said that he intended to submit evidence that Leonski had signed written confessions admitting each of the murders. After argument, the Court decided not to admit the medical board’s report at the present stage. Leonski pleaded not guilty. A hotel manager said that on the afternoon of May 18 Leonski was in the bar of his hotel from noon till 6.10 p.m., but left sober. The barman at the hotel gave evidence that Leonski had about 25 beers and four whiskies. Detective-Sergeant H. McGuffie described the finding of Miss Hosking’s body on the morning of May 19. On May 20, in company with another detective and several members of the United States military police, witness went to Leonski’s tent. Leonski was not there at the time, but later accompanied witness to the tent. On the following day witness told Leonski that a woman had lost her life on the evening of May 18. After warning Leonski, witness asked him whether he wanted to make a statement. Leonski made no answer. In answer to other questions, Leonski denied having been walking with, a woman near the camp on the night of May 18. j + The hearing is being continued tomorrow and is likely to last a week.