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North Motton Tragedy.

WHO MURDERED CHRISSIE VENN? ADJOURNED INQUEST RESUMED. DETECTIVES' SUSPICIONS AND DISCOVERIES.

Intense interest was in evidence at the Ulverstone Courthouse on Tuesday morning when the adjourned inquest into the cause of death of the young girl, Chrissie Venn, 13 years of age, whose dead body was found concealed in the stump of a tree near North Mot- ton, on Tuesday, March 1, was resum-

ed. The inquest was opened before tbe coroner (Hon. H. A. Nichols, M.L.C.) and a jury on Wednesday, March 2, and adjourned till last Fri- day, and further adjourned until Tues- day. Before the court opened yesterday a large crowd had assembled in front of the courthouse, and when the doors were unlocked the building was quickly   filled to overflowing. The jury was comprised of Messrs. T. W. Tucker, N. I. Frost. G. Ellis, W. Marshall, and F. W. Wilson (foreman). Chief De- tective Oakes and Detective Harmon appeared for the police, and George William King, who was placed in the dock, and stands charged with the mur- der of the ill-fated girl, was represented by Mr. C. J. Hall. On the day the inquest was first opened evidence of identification of the deceased was given by Arthur Chil- cott, an uncle, who resides at Riana. He said she was between 13 and 14 years of age, residing with her mother on the Allison road, about three miles beyond North Motton, and about seven miles inland from Ulverstone. SCENE OF MURDER. At the outset Mr. Hall asked for per- mission to appear for the accused, as he had no standing to appear without permission. The permission was given. Chief Detective Oakes said the en- quiry would be a tedious one, and would last for two or three days. It would be essential for the jury and the coroner to visit the locality. There would be cross-roads, waterfalls, and other features of local interest to view. The Coroner said he was of opinion it would be desirable to visit the lo- cality. CROWN'S CASE. Chief Detective Oakes said that on February 26 Chrissie Venn was mur- dered. On that day King was work- ing within half a mile of the crime. He lived on that road, and would know of her passing. He was in the habit of speaking to the girl, who had sta- ted she did not like King. The move- ments of everyone else in the district bad been satistactorily traced. Her mother's evidence would show that she left home for North Motton at 5 p.m. Charles Purton saw her after 5 p.m. He was ploughing some distance away with his brother. Purton saw the girl pass- ing along the road, near the spot J. Hearps heard scream and so did his   brother, but as the scream was not repeated they did not go to the scene. It was impossible tor Hearps' brothers to have left the field. Hearps' father would prove that his sons mentioned the scream to him. Miss Purton and Kennedy passed the spot about 20   minutes after that time. Charles Pur- ton had passed Hearps' road, close to where the body was found. Miss Pur- ton passed Kennedy at the waterfall, passing King's house some 300 yards ahead of Kennedy. No other persons than Miss Purton and Kennedy had passed along the road about this time, King stated he was in the vicinity of the murder on the afternoon in ques- tion. There was thick scrub about, and there was no doubt the person committing the crime would be con- cealed in the scrub at the time, in the vicinity of the stump where the body was found. When King was ask- ed to give an account of his where- about he said he came home at 4 o'clock on the Saturday afternoon, and saw Charles Purton pass. Then he went out and saw Kennedy drive up, followed by Miss Purton, and Kennedy was speaking to her at intervals. But Kennedy and Miss Purton would say that they were not talking, and were some hundreds of yards apart, and evi- dence to support this could be given by Charles Purton. Further, that the pig owned by King was at the water trough after 5 p.m., though King said he had brought the pig home at 4 p.m. After being interviewed by the police King approached Kennedy and suggested to him that he (King) was in his potato patch. Kennedy replied he did not see him, to which King replied: ''I wish to God you had seen me." He was trying to prove an alibi. King first explained that scratches on his face were caused by his wife, who was skylarking with him when they were trying to see who would get the first kiss from their little girl. There was a cut on the back of the hand which he said was caused when search- ing for the body; but evidence would be given that the hand was cut on the Sunday. There were other explanations given later, some of which were positively contradict-   ed. John Hearps would say that the scratches which King said were   caused on Tuesday were seen previous- ly by him (Hearps) on the Sunday.   The medical evidence would go to prove   the scratches were caused by human   fingers. King had explained to the   police that his desire to prove an alibi   was due to his desire not to be drawn   into the trouble. These were outlines   of the evidence which they were going   to establish. King was the only man about whose actions were not ac- counted for at time time of the crime. VICTIM'S MOTHER.     Ena May Dawes, mother of the mur- dered girl, who appeared much distress-   ed, said her daughter was 14  

years on July 25 last. On the Satur- day her daughter disappeared she   sent her to a store at North Motton to get groceries, meat, and go to the Post Office. Her daughter was a strong girl— big for her age. When her daughter did not return at 7 p.m. she went down the road several times to try and see her. She did not go very far. It was about 5 when the child left, and the trip generally occupied 1 3-4 hours. She had a basket, cloth, and 9/7 in change on her when she left home. TROOPER'S RESEARCHES. Trooper Albert Jackson, stationed at Forth, produced a plan prepared of all the places likely to be referred to at the enquiry, giving a list of various pla- ces likely to be referred to during the trial. It was drawn to scale and pre- pared by Inspector Doyle. Witness had cut a hole in the stump where the  

body was found. The stump was 9 ft. 6 in. on the top side. It was situate near Hearps' road and Allison road. From the hole cut in tlhe stump rot- ten wood was removed. There was no money found. The stump was 33 feet round and 20ft. round at the top. The hole in the stump was 16 inches in diameter. At this stage the coroner and jury were taken by motor to view the scene of the crime. Mr. Hall thought the visit was not necessary. There should be no communication with the jury, and in any case King should be also pre- sent. In his own interests, King should go up and see what the jury were being shown. Nothing more, but nothing less. Chief Detective Oakes — It is your duty to go, Mr. Hall? Mr. Hall— It is not my duty. I know my duty, sir. The Coroner said it was more essen- tial for counsel than for accused to go as the latter knew the locality well, having lived there for some years. There would be a seat for Mr. Hall. Mr. Hall— Oh, Mr. Hall is not go- ing, sir!   At 10.55 the Court adjourned until 2.30. EVIDENCE RESUMED. WHEN THE GIRL WAS LAST SEEN ALIVE. Upon the Court resuming after the visit paid by the jury to the scene of the tragedy, the first witness was a youth, 17 years of age, named Robert McKay, who said he resided at Allison road. He left his home at 3.30 p.m. on Saturday, February 26. He lived beyond the home of Chrissie Venn. Re- turning home he saw Chrissie Venn standing at her doorway, about 5 o'clock. She called out, "Hello, Rob- ert." She was dressed either in cream or white. He met Mr. Bert Purton   about half a mile on the North Motton side of the house where deceased lived. He spoke to Trevor Badcock on the top of the hill near King's residence. He met Charles Purton on the road about half a mile after he (witness) had passed Chrissie Venn's house on the further side. Witness proceeded on his way home, while C. Purton, who was riding, was going in tbe direction of North Motton. He saw no one about the scene of the tragedy. He had a conversation with Charles Pur- ton. He first heard of the girl being missing on tbe following Monday night. It was after 5 o'clock when he got home on the Saturday afternoon.   DETECTIVE HARMON'S STORY Detective Frederick T. Harmon, stationed at Devonport, deposed that he knew the accused, George William King, present in custroy. On March 2, in company with Sergeant Tomkin- son, he proceeded to the scene of the murder of Chrissie Venn at North Motton, about 6½ miles from Ulver- stone. He interviewed King in com- pany with tbe sergeant on the follow- ing day. King said he knew Chrissie Venn, and remembered Saturday, Feb- ruary 26, and stated be was hoeing potatoes in Hearps' paddock, just be- low where J. Hearps, jun., and Thomas Hearps were ploughing, and near the scene of the tragedy. He admitted he was in sight of Allison road, be- tween Mrs. Dawes' house and Hearps' road. He said he knocked off work at 8.30, and crossed Hearps' paddock just above tbe gate, where the crime was committed. He went across a pea paddock and straight home, about a quarter of a mile distant. On the way home he saw his wife's sow on the road, near the waterfall. He drove the pig home, and she was never out again that day, as he penned her up. He said he got the scratch on the face by the unintentional action of his wife, while they were larking to see who would kiss their little girl first on the Sunday morning. He was asked about the scratches on bis right hand, and said he did that when he was out searching for Chrissie Venn on the Tuesday following her disappearance. MOVEMENTS OF KING. Detective Harmon proceeded that King was asked to account for his movements on the Saturday. He stated he saw Charles Purton and a boy pass by bis house, going in the direction of North Motton, at about 5.30 p.m. Charles Purton was on a horse and the boy was on a bicycle. Young Kennedy also passed by. He said he had never carried anything along the road for Chrissie Venn. He admitted meeting her one day on the road when she was carrying a big load. He told her she had a big load, and it was a wonder her mother did not send someone with her. He had never known the deceased to get off the road out of the way when he waa passing. He admitted being at the house of Mrs. Dawes (Chrissie's mother) and staying there till midnight. He had never stayed there all night. Witness again interviewed King on March 4. He stated that on the Sat- urday night he was taking the milk across the road to Badcock's to sepa- rate it when he saw his sow on the road again. He was sure he left his work at 3.30 on the Saturday, and that he did not see anyone about the

bush, as he passed through the pea paddock on his way home. AN ANONYMOUS LETTER. Witness then warned accused that anything he said might be used in evi- dence against him. On March 6, in consequence of a communication that King wished to see him, be proceeded to his house at North Motton, in com- pany with Chief Detective Oakes. King said he had received an anonymous let- ter, accusing him of the murder. He said in reply to Mr. Oakes that he knew deceased well ; that she used to   often pass his residence on the way to North Motton; that she used to pass two or three times a week; that he used to pass her on the road time after time; that he once saw her in company   with a soldier on the road. But he added that he had never heard any- thing against the girl's character, or to her discredit. He knew Maggie Hearps, who was two or three years older than Chrissie, but Cbrissie was   the taller of the two; he understood Cbrissie weighed over 8 stone, and that she was a girl with the development of a woman. He also said that Chrissie had visited his house two months pre- viously on business; that he had pass- ed her on tbe road between his place and Hearps'; that she was a stand-off kind of a girl; and so when he saw her heavily laden he had not offered to assist her. He told the girl that her mother should send little Dawn, her sister, to help her with her loads. He   said he had seen the deceased last on Saturday, February 19 last. On Sun- day, February 27, his children had told him that Chrissie was missing. He did not tell anyone what his children had said as he did not place much reliance on it. J. Hearps, sen., called on him on the night of February 27, asking him why be was not out. Accused's reply was, "What for? Do you mean Chrissie?" Accused then asked if there was any truth in the rumor. Hearps' reply was, "Too right, there is. There is foul play somewhere ; the girl was heard to scream. Young Kennedy has gone to ring up the po- lice." King added that a search had been made on the Sunday after- noon. King also added that he was a member of the search party on the Monday, and was in close touch with Mr. Smith all day, also with Mr Bob Jones on Tuesday, searching for the body. Mr C. Fogg had made ar- rangements of the search party. King related that he kept on the lower side of the Allison road while search- ing. He heard someone call out from the other side that the body had been found. Just previously he had   beard a coo-ee. WHAT ACCUSED THOUGHT. Detective Harmon added that King was then asked what he thought about the affair. The reply was that he thought someone was waiting at the roadside for the first person that came along, and committed the of- fence, returned early the next day, and put the body in the stump. He added that he did not go down to look et tbe body when it was removed from the stump. He stood some dis- tance away from the others, but no- ticed a chain bangle on deceased's wrist. King said he noticed the Hearps' boys ploughing above where he was digging potatoes. When lea- ving the potato paddock, King said, he took a direct line home across the country. Accused said he drove the sow home and made her secure. When he got home his wife made a cup of tea for him, andhe never left the     premises again until he went across to Badcock's to separate the milk, about 8 p.m. He got home about 4 p.m. and after this had the cup of tea. After coming back from Badcock's he re- mained home all the evening. King said he asked John Hearps. jun., why he did not go to the child that screa- med, and Hearps' reply was that he did not know for certain why he had not gone. He asked Hearps, "Why did you remark to your father about the murder, and why did you not go when you heard the scream?" Hearps'   reply, according to King, was that if   he heard another scream he would   have gone to see what the matter   was. Hearps also said the man who   did it might have waited in the bush   and cracked anybody who came on   the scene. King was asked when   this conversation with Hearps took     place, and his reply was, "A day or so after the body was found." King said Charles Purton passed his house on horseback between 5 and 6 p.m. King was inside at the time. He was standing in his potato patch near his house, between 4 and 6 p.m., when he saw Mr. C Kennedy and Miss Purton passing his house.

Kennedy being in the lead. About 4.30 p.m, a motor bicycle and side car passed; also he saw McKay on the   road an hour before he saw Charles Purton. It was about half-an-hour after seeing C. Purton that he (King) saw Kennedy and Miss Pur- ton.   KING'S HAND PHOTOGRAPHED. On March 7 King was again inter- viewed by the Chief Detective and witness, when he was again carefully warned, and informed that there was considerable comment about the scrat- ches on the back of his right hand. He was told that in fairness to him- self, to the police, and all concerned, his hand should be photographed;   that the scratches might disappear in the course of a few days, and that it would then be impossible to accur- ately describe them. King consented, and the photo. was taken by Mr G. P. Taylor, in the presence of wit- ness, the Chief Detective, and Dr. Ferris. The doctor also examined the scratch on the back of the hand. King was asked where he was on the afternoon of Saturday, February 26, when Mr Fogg, the grocer, called, and replied, that he was at the rear of his house. Asked if any person saw the marks on the back of his hands, he replied that he bad called Mr Robert Jones' attention to the marks when he was near the stump, waiting for the body to be removed, on the Tuesday. He said his hand was bleeding at the time, and he called Mr Jones' attention to it. He told Jones the scratches were caused dur- ing the search, and that his wife said to him, "You have been cutting your hand again." His reply was, "Yes, I did it in the search." King was then asked where be was on the Sunday afternoon. His reply was, "Out to Saltmarsh's place.' North   Motton;" also that he had came back with Jack Hearps, jun., and Billy Purton. They had given him a ride in a cart. King was inform- ed that his wife had said he did not show her the scratches on the back of bis hand, and that she intended to examine them. He was also told his wife said he was not home when Fogg, the grocer, called, and that a conversation had taken place between his wife and himself, in which she in- formed him later in the evening of the Saturday that Fogg, the grocer, had nearly caught her with no boots and stockings on. King said: "Prob- ably I was not there when Fogg call- ed," and added; "It looks bad for me, a tall man could put the body up in that stump." King was told that a girl could be murdered and put up in that stump in 20 minutes. WHAT THE DETECTIVES THOUGHT. King was then asked if he ever took fits, or did things of what he had afterwards no recollection, and he replied, "No!" He also said he "'would not do a tragedy like this." King was told he could not be cut out of it in their enquiries, and the fur- ther they went the blacker it looked for him. King was asked if he de- sired to ask any questions, or what the chief detective thought about   the matter, and King said he would like to know what the detectives thought about the affair, and he was told that witness and the chief detec- tive were in a position to prove that his statements were incorrect, that in his statements he had not made al- lowances for certain things that hap- pened. King was told the police were not going to hurry things up, as it was a serious matter indeed, but that it would be cleared up within the next 24 hours. King replied; "I expect you will arrest me. I will not run away, as I would like to dig the potatoes for my wife; if every person told the truth I would not be afraid." He added that if wrong evidence were given he would "do his block." King was told the photo- graphs of bis hand would prevent any wrong impression being formed. SUGGESTION OF ALIBI. On the following day King was again interviewed by the chief detec- tive and witness, and his attention was again called to the fact of his being previously warned. He was asked who split the posts and rails near Hearps' road. He replied; "I did so some time ago." He was in-   formed that people said that Chrissie Venn was afraid of him, and would go into the bush to avoid meeting him. King said he had no know- ledge about this. He had seen her at a distance, and never saw her leave the road. King was pressed closely regarding the time he saw Miss Purton, Kennedy, and Charles Purton. The time between the pass- ing of C. Purton and that when Miss Purton and Kennedy passed was not more than two minutes. He said Kennedy's vehicle was leading Miss Purton's and they were close together talking. King was asked why he put it to Kennedy-- "Did you see me on Saturday?" when he said Kenne- dy had seen him. King's reply was   whereabouts at this particular time, as he did not wish to be dragged into

the affair, and to make sure people saw him at home, about the time the murder was committed. He was then asked if he knew what time the murder was committed, and he said it was supposed the girl left home about 5 p.m. He was then asked for the reply Kennedy made to him to his question. The answer of King was that Kennedy replied: "Good hea- vens, if I had seen you, I would not have remembered it." King was ask- ed what further reply he (King)   made, and he said he remarked, "I wish to God you had caught sight of me there." King was asked where he was when McKay passed by, going towards Heanps' road. King said he was inside, as it was about 4 p.m. It was about 15 minutes after he had reached home, and his wife asked hin in to have a cup of tea. King said definitely the scratch was put on his hand on Sunday, February 27. He said he did not interest himself in   the newspaper reports of the case. The chief detective said it was strange he did not read the newspapers when he was trying to find out whether persons had seen him about his own place on Saturday. He admitted asking the Hearps boys whether they had seen him from their farm.   THE ARREST. On the following day King was again visited and asked if he wished to correct any of his previous state- ments, and King said, "No." Re- ferring to the vehicles that passed, he said he took it from a glance that Cyril Kennedy was on one side and Miss Purton in the other. He was not too sure of their identity. The per- son in the leading vehicle was talk- ing to the occupant of the other. He could not say who was in the lead. King was then arrested on a charge of the wilful murder of Chrissie Venn. GRUESOME RELICS. Detective Harmon added that on March 3 he found some hair (pro- duced), a safety pin, and a small pin, and a piece of wire from a hay truss, one end showing a recent fracture. The hair was similar in color to that of deceased. He examined the wire on Hearps' gate, near the spot where the articles produced were found, and it corresponded. He also found the stick (produced) where the hair and pins were found alongside the log; it carried what was supposed to be a bloodstain. On March 4 he visited the same spot again in company with police and relatives of deceased, and found some more hair, the same color as that of deceased. During the course of their investigations they ex- amined the pig and found it in the condition described by King. To Mr Hall--There were some vari-   ations in the information given by accused to the police. King had a very rigid examination at the hands of the chief detective and witness for five days. He gave witness a letter and envelopes which appeared to have come through the post. Mr Hall— Where are they? Witness — With the Commissioner of Police. Mr Hall--They ought to be here.   Detective Oakes--They will be here   before the enquiry closes. Witness offered the opinion that the murder could have been committed and the body disposed of in 20 minu- tes. He made this statement on his own authority. The police had inter- viewed accused twice when he spoke to Kennedy. Mr Hall--And when you had done   this, don't you think it was time for him to look for evidence as to his whereabouts? Witness--Accused never fixed the     time of his movements to the minute, but put it "about that time." To the Jury--Accused told me he     took the pig home through Badcock's. The letter referred to in examination is anonymous, and will be produced at a later stage. FOUR HOURS IN BOX. The evidence of Detective Harmon was concluded about 7 p.m., and the Court adjourned until 10 a.m. to-day. Detective Harmon had been in the box for nearly four hours and gave voluminous evidence covering several interviews with the accused. He gave his testimony in a clear, concise, well- ordered, and altogether able manner, rarely being at fault with the details,   and revealing a masterly grip of the case and a remarkably retentive me- mory, which was a surprise to all in the Court. A WARNING TO WOMEN. The Coroner announced that the medical evidence would be taken to- day, and said that its nature would be brought up in detail. He saw a number of women in the crowded court that day, and expressed the hope that they would stay away when the medical evidence was being taken. If they persisted in attend- ing he would be compelled to express the opinion that they would not be able to call themselves ladies. THE ACCUSED MAN. CENTRAL FIGURE IN COURT. The central fiGure of interest in tHe count Was the accused man, George William King who occupied the dock. At an early stage Chief-Detective Oakes asked the Coroner to give per- mission for accused to take a seat, explaining that the case would occupy the best part of three days, and it   would be unfair to keep him standing. King thereupon was provided with a chair. The accused is a farm worker. He   is a tall, thinly-built man of power- ful frame, measuring 6ft 4in in   height. He was well dressed yester- day, his hair was neatly brushed, and his face closely shaven. He is 36 years of age, and of a bright and in- telligent appearance. He evidently maintained a close interest in the case, and frequently leaned across the dock to speak to his solicitor.

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