TO STAND TRIAL

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21363, 6 March 1941, Page 8

TO STAND TRIAL

MURDER AT WELLINGTON WOMAN’S BODY ON BEACH NEILING RESERVES DEFENCE (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The hearing of the charge against Leonard Neiling, aged 29, labourei and brushmaker, of murdering Mrs Marjory Livingston Horton, at Wellington, on or about January 8, was concluded in the Magistrate’s Court today. Neiling reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Giving evidence in the case latei in the afternoon Constable J. Needham. of Auckland, said he accosted the accused in a hotel in Auckland on January 23. When he said he was looking for Leonard Neiling, of Wellington, the accused replied: “I am not the man. I am Bob Manning, of Onehunga.” The accused had nothing on him by which to identify himself, but said the barman could identify him. The barman said he did not know him. The accused tried to run away, but was caught by witness, who said he was satisfied he was Neiling and arrested him. He took possession of the clothing the accused was wearing, including a suit to which Dr. Lynch had referred. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan said that on January 24 at the Auckland Police Station he read to the accused a statement made by Hariett Rangiwhetu. The accused said: “1 was on that bus all right, but I will say nothing further.” Witness then told Neiling what was known of events in the bus from Lower Hutt, but the accused said he would say nothing until he had consulted a solicitor. After the accused had been told it was alleged that he and Mrs Horton had gone in a taxi to the Carlton Hotel and to Oriental Bay, he said: “I was not in a taxi at the Carlton Hotel or at Oriental Bay with this woman. I do not know her.” He admitted the suit produced was worn by him on the night of January 8. Nothing To Say Detective-Sergeant McLennan said that at the Wellington police station the accused told him he was in a taxi on the night of January 8 and went to the Carlton Hotel. When it was pointed out that he had denied this he said what he had meant previously was not to deny those actions, but that he would not make a statement then. He said he would not deny he was at Oriental Bay. but he was not on the beach. Chief-Detective J. B. Young said he conducted an identification parade to give witnesses an opportunity of identifying the accused as the man in company with Mrs Horton on the night of January 8. Several witnesses chose the accused as the man they had seen previously.