It was clear, said Mr. Clayton, that Cotton had been knocked on the head while sitting on the chair, and blows had been rained on him.
Mr. Claytor read a statement alleged to live been made by Gregory which said that after getting home on the morning of May 14, Gregory thought he would go down and ask George Cotton if he could lend him some money.
"When I got in the office George was asleep in the chair behind the counter. I stood watching him for two or three minutes and he never disturbed.
"Realising the till would be fully loaded as it was Coronation time, the temptation was too great for me. I found a screw-driver and forced the till open.
"Just as the till snapped open. George stirred.. I dived down near the opening at the end of the counter, at the same time grabbing a Spanner which had been beside theiscrewdriver on the counter.
"Fond of Him"
"After waiting for a short while for him to settle down, I stood up. I was then quite close to George, or at any rate within striking distance. George was sitting sideways in the chair and then he started to turn round in the chair towards me.
"I then got scared and hit out at him with the spanner on the head.
The statement added: "I knew George Cotton for a number of years and I was very fond of him. The last thing wanted to do to him was any serious injury."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.