MURDER TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20494, 10 May 1938, Page 8

MURDER TRIAL

TRAGEDY AT SWANSON ILL-TREATMENT DISCOUNTED (By Telegraph.—Press Association) AUCKLAND, Tuesday The trial of Francis Borgia Spensley (19), who is charged with the murder of his father, Robert Fitzroy Spensley, at Swanson on February 7 last, was continued in the Supreme Court today. Mrs Sarah Agnes Pender, daughter of deceased, cross-examined by Mr Moody, said she understood her father had left a third wife. They were separated. “I have never seen anything to suggest that Frank was ill-treated and I had never known father to give him a thrashing,” witness declared. She had hleard her father say he had to be firm with the boy owing to his untruthfulness. She would be surprised to know a neighbour said the boy was overworked and was chased by his father at his work. She thought that evidence was incorrect. Proceeding) YESTERDAY’S EVIDENCE

A schoolboy, Sidney Keith Winslow, aged nearly 14, a son of the previous witness, said accused used to go back to his father's farm to milk the cows usually in the evening, and witness frequently went with him. There was a barrow there with something on it, under sacks, projecting over each end. Witness said that one evening accused said he would shift some hay while witness was milking. Witness did not see the barrow that night. Later accused told him he had sold the cows for £4O. He bought among other things, clothe's for himself, chocolates, a camera and camera goods, an air pistol and slugs. "Warded Off Blow’ 1 To Mr Moody witness said accused had two finger nails off when he came to them in February. He always appeared frightened and nervous. Witness did not know of his being knocked about. Answering His Honour, witness said accused told him he got the injury when his father was giving him a hiding and he put up his hand to ward off the blow. Sydney Arthur Henry Hammond, farmer, of Swanson, described finding the body under the hay, and the breaking of the news to relatives. He heard accused say to Constable Norton, “i shot him with a pea-rifle.” A near neighbour of deceased, Lewis Charles Shaw, said he last saw deceased alive on February 6 or 7. His farm overlooked Spensley’s farm. In cross-examination witness said accused was a well-mannered boy. hut he appeared to be nervous and highly strung. He did practically all the work on the farm. “I reckon he was overworked,” said witness. Mr Moody: I am instructed that the boy was frightened of his father Witness: Yes, he was. He almost lived in terror of his father on occasions? —That is the way it appeared.