STRANGE STORY IN CRUISER MURDER CASE
1
1
THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 7, 1938.
The matter did not rest there. Investigations revealed that'a mur- dor was committed, a riflo WaB
sneering anide and went to the missing, from the rack and that it wheel-house to take up his dutios.
They had been mustered for the new watch.
(Continued from Page 1) "PECULIAR GLARE" There were no signs of Dwyer and
In the wheel-house the first word: four minutes later, the bos'n, fool-
Dwyer said were: "They're all run ing sick at the sight of the wound, prostitutes," when asked who h ning around like a lot of pregnan" went on deck and went to the star-mennt, he said he referred to the another A. B., Freeman, saw Dwyer captain, surgeon-commander and
leaning over the rail..
others.
White describes accused AN having a peculiar ginre which was sufflelent for him to re- turn to the galley and report to the Potty Officer on watch that he had seen Dwyer. The petty officer also saw Dwyer was explained and Dwyer said h and would say that he
appeared was not sorry. quito normal. Dwyer when asked If he had
Dwyer took over "Tricks" from two till three and had to leave th bridge to tako another duty at three. He borrowed
an oilskin from A. B. Gibson.
Reference to
Dickenson's death
and
Investigations were started seen anybody, replied p. O. Ames was asked to call Dy that he had scon White and yer to the navigation room. Chinese who had gone to the latrine. The potty officer of the watch. Smyth, paid little attention then but Dwyer had mentioned someone who, if he had come forward, would have assisted him to establish an alibi.
was established that the shot had been fired from the booms - { dock above the upper dock and more important, the murderer in his hasto had left something
| overcont.
-an
Twenty minutes after the mur- der, the master-at-arms, flashing a light along the deck looking for
the weapon, came across the over- cont. He searched the pockets and found nothing in them except a blue scarf and two buttons from the coat in the pocket.
Later no overcoat was found on the booms and at 4 a.m., Dwyer came in the recreation room with an overcoat in which a blue scarf and some buttons were found.
DWYER'S STORY
Inquiries of a formal nature were Ames found that Dwyer had al-important and desirous to recover started next day and it became ready left his duty and later saw this overcoat and instructions were him at the foot of the ladder to the issued to A. B. Burns to find this upper deck. He noticed that Dwyer
overcoat. He recalled the one was wearing
in with an an oilskin overcoat in his hand and followed scarf and two buttons were found. the recreation room in which a him to the recreation space where Sometime afterwards, Smyth and Dwyer took off the oilskin and laid another A. B. Freoman, saw Dwyer it, together with the overcoat on near the latrine smoking on the the table. doorstep. Chief Yeoman of Signals. came along and said: "What a ter- rible mess," to which both replied. "Yes."
Later Dwyer asked Freeman what he meant and Freeman not knowing what had happen-
ed said that he referred
the state of the deck.
"SNEERING SMILE"
to
CHINESE MUSTERED
In the commander's room; Dwyer said he was sitting on the star- board bollard; that he had seen a Chinese
go to the starboard latrine.
A number of Witnesses were Dwyer was among them. He said called, cautioned and questioned.
he had been wandering along on the starboard and had seen a Chinese and heard the report of the shot.
On arrival in Hong Kong, he was handed over to the police and charged and in answer the charge said:
"I am innocent, otherwise I have nothing to say."
The crow
of 40 Chinese were mustered for identification by Dwyer and after walking up and, down the line, the latter picked out P. O. Smyth and Dwyer later Ah Poy, the captain's cook, who
HIGH INTELLIGENCE went to the wheel-house and
Commander Noville as strongly denied having been there.
G. G. WII- they got to the flag-deck a seaman Dwyer was
then fold that heliams, the first witness, stated that Murphy, told them that Dickenson would be placed in the cabin for he was commander of H. M. S. Dor had been shot. Dwyer did not re-his own safety for there had been setshire and was responsible to the ply but looked at him with a smile rumours among the men.
captain for discipline and general organisation of the ship's company
Does
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Look
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At Night
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If not! Consult "Powell's"
They have shirts with collar attached which are impervious to perspiration
the ideal shirt for the business man as their immaculate appearance re- mains throughout the day.
The ship carried about 700 of ficers and men and was recommis- sioned at Devonport in August.
Dickenson was senior Leading Seaman. His conduct was very good. He was one of the best Lead- ing Seamen in the ship. When the Dorsetshire arrived here in Octo- ber, A. B. Dwyer was drafted from H. M. S. Westcott.
Witness rated Dwyer's intelli gence-as-extremely high.--He-was- well-educated and good-mannered He was definitely better than average naval rating. He had re- ceived as good an education as most officers.
the
"I thought he had received a pu- blic school education."
DWYER'S PROSPECTS There is a scheme in the Navy to promote suitable naval ratings to ward-room rank. Dwyer was con- sidered for eventual promotion to such rank but would require the recommendation of his command- ing officer. It was his opinion that a person guilty of homose- xual offences would have his chances of such promotion adversely affected and he believed that it would disappear altogether. When a naval rating was found guilty of such an offence he would be dismissed the Service in addi- tion to any other punishment.
WORST HOURS Leading Seaman Dickenson responsible for detailing
(Coninued on Page 6)
was
Dwyer,
Wm. POWELL, Ltd. MUSTARD
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