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THE NORTH MOTTON TRAGEDY

Murder Of A Young Girl Charge Against George William King Scenes In The Court

ULVERSTONE, Tuesday. — This morning George William King, charged 'with the mur.der of tho young girl v Chrissio Venn, 011 February 26, ou .Allison-road, North Motton, was brought before Mr F. K. Stops, P.M., ut tho Ulvcrstone Police Court. Chief Detective Oakes and Detective Harmon appeared for tbe police, and Mr C. J. Hal] represented the accused The seating accommodation of the court bouse was fully occupied, as at the corontal inquiry.

?THE COURT CLEARED. The Police Magistrate said lie thought that, in the interests of all the parties concerned, it would he bet ter to hear the case wrth closed doors. That would not apply to press repre sentatives'. Mr Hall said he had no objection to this courec being adopted, jn fact por ?sonaliy he approved of it. The accuscd liad no wish for either course. The court was theu cleared. THE EVIDENCE. Tlie first witness colled was Trooper A. Jtffckson, of the Forth, who pro duced a plan prepared by. the Surveyor General'6 department. He also pro duced a tracing, on which he had marked tbe several places likely to be referred to durinc the hearing of the

case. ' ' George P. Taylor deposed to having photographed the slump whore the body was found, and took a photo of accused's right hand, showing marks. The photos were taken 011 Margli 7. | XJhnrles Taylor, a fitter, employed 011 the Government railway, gave evidence in regard to the search and finding of tho murdered girl's body in the hollow of a large stump, situated about 30 yards irom Allison-road, and close to HearpsVroad. He found the body at ll.au a.m. MOTHER OF THE GIRL - HYSTERICAL. Mrs Eva May Dawes, mother of the murdered girl, was then called, and gave exactly the same evidence as at the coronjal inquiry. She said that Chrissio Venn had never complained of anyone having molested her. Chiet Detective Oakes was about to .fihow witness the stained clothing worn by the girl, when she. became hysterical and exclaimed, 'Don't show them to me!' and fainted. On recov ery hor examination proceeded to tlie conclusion. As she was being, support* ed from the. court room, she turned round, 'facing the accused in tho dock, ond pointing her finger at him, shriek ed out: 'YOU MURDERED MY GIRL I' ond whs then carried out in a fainting condition. Sergeant Tomkinson was then called, and Tepeatod the evidence he gave at the previous inquiry. NEW EVIDENCE. CharleB Robs Manser deposed he was a guard on the Government railway, und was running a tram on February 26 last. He produced * his running sheet, prepared by hiin that day. He arrived at North Motton at 3.4U p.m., and left aguiu at 3.47 p.m. The times 6tated there were correct, to the best of his knowledge. He signed this sheet as correct. MEDICAL TESTIMONY. Dr. F. A. (Ferris deposed tliat at 1.15 ^ p.m. on March 1, in company with Ser ?*' geant Tonikinson, he went to Allison road, North Motton. lie saw a largo stump, about £10 yards from AHisoit road. Inside a cavity about six feet from the top he saw a human body. 'Witness then described the position of the body and its condition. The body was that of a girl about 14 years of age. The face was swollen aud livid. Tho body was removed .to .Ulvcr stone, wliero he made si post mortem examination. The description was the same as given at the previous inquiry. In cross-examination Dr. Ferris said ho thought Jt extremely unlikely that tho wounds on King's hand were caus ed in the way described. He would not say it was impossible. Ho thought the body had not laid out more than three hours after death. STATEMENT BY A DETECTIVE. Detcptire. Harmon, the next witness, j said he in'teiTiewed King 011 March I \ and 3. He told witness he knoeked off work at 3.30 p.m. 011 Fcbrt^ry 20. Ou his way jiome he saw his wife's sow between tlie slip rail and the waterfall. He took the 60W home, and she was not out again that day. He was cer ' tain of that. Witness asked him how he got ,the wounds un his face. He replied itiev were made by his wife while in bed. They were trying who could kiss the little girl first. He said the marks on his hand were made when out looking for Chrissio Venn. Witness asked Iiim to account for Ins whereabouts on February 26. Ho SHid * he saw Charles Purton an-f a boy po6S his place about 5.30 p.m. They were foing North Motton way. Charles 'urton was driving ft horse, and the boy wftB riding a bicycle. Young Ken n nkn jlrnvp Wv. He did YlOt U»OW

ckaotly what time it was when they passed by. He met her 011 the road. Ho tpld Iher it was a big load, and it waB a wonder her mother did not send someone to help her. He had never known her to get off the road when she waB passing him. He said lie had stayed at Mrs -Dawes's place till mid night, but' had never stayed there all / night. .Witness interviewed^ King on the 4th at'Hearps's, He said on Sat urday rilglit, Fcbruarv 20. he carried his milk across to Bfldcoek's about fi o.'-clock, when he saw the white sow on the road again. He was certain he left 'work at 3.30 that day. He never, saw anyone\ou the road that day. - .He camo' through the pea pad dock. Witness told him his replies would bo used as .evidence against him, and warned him on each occasion. Witness did not see him on March C. On March 6 witness received a

communication that King wanted to see him. Witness visited bis place with the chief detective. He said he had re received AN ANONYMOUS LETTER, and said he would like to know who wrote it, aud liauded it. to witness. King said he last saw the oil*] Clirissic Venn .alive* on February 19 last. He was informed bv his children on Sun day February 27, that Chrissio Venn was missing. He did not go down to the body when it was recovered from the stump. He was in close 4ouc1i with Bob Jones during the day. He stood some, distance away. He noticed ' the chain bangle on her wrist. When

he left the potato patch lie went across tho ))ca paddock, and took a direct course to his home. He said that on the way home he noticed liis wife's sow, which was on the North Motton sido of the waterfall, 011 the road a quarter of a ..mile from his house. He took jt home, put it in the yard, and made it as secure as he could. He got home at a quarter to 4. He fixed tho .time by tho time the train arrived. He had a cup of tea, and ncrer left home a^ain until be went to Badcock's with his milk at 8 o'clock. This place was just opposite his house. He was away nbout ten minutes. After leav ing Badcock's he stayed at home. (King told witness be saw Charles Purton pass bv on horesbaek between 5 and 6 nVW'V TT/1 l.„ ...on

inside at the time, A Uttle before, or after 0 o'clock 'he was in his potato patch. Ho saw Cvrjl Kennedy and j Miss Purton pass by. t He said this on March -3. He said they wore together in separate traps going in tlie direction of North Motton. Kennedy being in the lead; Between 4 -and 4.JJ0 he saw a motor bike pass by with two people, and ho did not know them. He saw Bob McKay going by on a bicycle in the direction of Hearps's. Witness saw accused on March 7 , in ^company with Chief Detective Oakes. Ho said that there was

A CON.3I DFR. A RLE AMOUNT OF COMMENT 1 about the scratches, and ijjr t, in fair ness to himself, and police, aud every body concerned, his hand* should he photographed, as the m'.rks would dis appear. l'hey we jo photographed by Mr G. P. Taylor, in the presence of Dr. Ferris. Chief Detective Oakes, and witness. Dr. Ferris examined ihe marks. He was asked where he was on Saturday, February 2G, when Mr Fogg called. Ho said he was nt. the back of the house. He said he had drawn the attention of Bob Jone- to the marks when he was at the stump. 1 hey were bleeding, and the flics were annoying him. He told Jouos they were done in the search, and when he got home^ his wife noticed them and said: 'You have been curing your hand again.'' He told her he had done it in the search. He 'wjjs told that his wife said he did not show her the scratches on his hand, and also that his wife said lie was not there when Mr Fogg called, and. that she told the accused that Mr Fogg nearly caught her with no boots or stockings oh. Accused then said, 'Well, then, probably J, was not there- when Mr Fogg called.' and lie said, 'This looks bad for me; a tall man could put that girl into the stump.' Witness told accused a man could murder that girl and put her in the , stunip ' in' 20 minutes. He was told by the' chief detective that the further they went ,thc blacker ,it Jooked. and they could '?udt cut. him out of it. Accused was also told that the statements he made were incorrect, and that he had not made allowance for certain ? Abings which had hapnened. King replied, '*1 expect you will arrest me; I will not mil away, as I would like to dig pota toes for mv wife,' On March 8 he was again interviewed and warned. Ho was told that Chrissio Venn had told people she would no into tlie bush to avoid him. King said he hod been' her at a distance. Ho- was pressed close' as to the time between the passing of C. Purton on Horseback and Cyril Ken nedy in the vehicle. Kiriq said not more than two minutes. King was also asked as to the position oj tlie two vehicles iii which Kennedy* nnd Miss Purton were when they passed. He said Kennedy was in the lead and Miss Purton following. He said he was in tho potato patch, about 60 yards from the road. Witness disked King why he asked Kennedy, if 'lie saw him in the potato patch when , he ' passed along. King said lie did that to make sure of his whereabouts at that time, as he did'not want to be dragged into that affair, and to make sure tliat people saw him at home, at the time the murder was committed. He was asked sf he knew- the time. - King re plied that it was supposed uic girl lelt hor home about 5 o'clock. In reply to a question, King-said the scrachcs wore not on bis hand on Sunday; At ? a later hour ho was again interviewed and asked if he desired to correct any statement previously made. - He said 'No.' He was then told lie would be arrested on the charge ol the wilful murder of Chrissio Venn.' He -said: 'If they all tell the truth, I'll be all right.' Witness examined Hearps's 1 gate on March 3, and found the wire had' been receiity broken. ®B.c discover ed the place WHERE THE DEED WAS DONE. Jt was about 12 yards from tho stump ; where the body was found, ;uid some I hair, a safety pin', a small pin, and I piece of wire newly broken at one end. it was similar to that on Hearps's

Buw.- «uu uki* rouua tne girrs necK. ihcrc were signs of a struggle. On March 4, he tound at the same place v,:bat appeared to be a blood stain, also some more hair. To- Mr Hall: He saw King the night before tho inquiry. This was about H.3U p.m., at the permanent watch house. IMr Hall : Vou did not tell us that at the inquest. Detective Harmon: You did not a*-k mc. .-To Mr Hall: I was taken to it. It wa« about 22 yards from ; Hearps's road. It led to Hearps's gate. And did Mrs King tell you she did not «eo the scra/tclics on King's liand? Detective Harmon Y os, on ' March 7 : she also told me she did not k'uow where her husband was when Mr Fogg called. King has always said ne aid not leave home after he took the pig home* till he went- to Badcock's.. Prior to that time 1 had interviewed King four times. A man named .Williams was arrested, but not for murder. I in

tervicwca mm twice. He was kept in custody because of his peculiar de meanor, and was considered .a fit sub ject for medical atteutiou. To the Bench : It was proved beyoud a doubt that tho man named Williams was quite satisfactory. In reply to the Bench, Chief Detec tive Oakes said he had eleveii more ! witnesses. j The Court Jhen adjourned until next day.

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