C. roy reynoldsCROSS-EXAMINATION by defence counsel Erasmus Campbell of witness McPherson, an important cog in the Crown's case against cartman Silvera, elicited the fact that McPherson had been convicted for manslaughter in the case of the death of a reclusive man called "Boneshaker" in another part of Portland in 1929.
This case was reviewed sometime ago in the "Flashback" series, and was just as bizarre as the case now in progress. McPher-son also admitted other convictions for larceny. He denied he had been convicted for dishonesty in 1951. The last time he went to prison was in 1937.
Several neighbours of the accused were to testify of seeing Mrs. Silvera on June 15 and being told the day after by the accused that she had left hurriedly early that morning to assume a position in Santa Cruz. Or that she was gone to look after her father who was very sick. One Adline Gibson testified not only to having been told a similar story by the accused but she identified the several pieces of clothing recovered as belonging to Mrs. Silvera.
As the trial proceeded defence counsel Campbell threatened to withdraw from the case after he had clashed with Prosecuting Counsel Grant during cross-examination of witnesses. But Chief Justice Sir Kenneth O'Connor managed to cool things down. Another witness, Beatrice Somers, who operated a restaurant, told of having cooked for the accused while his wife was away in 1951 and of being requested to do so again on June 20, 1952. On the latter occasion the explanation for the request was that "Miss Syl had left by train the previous Monday morning for Mandeville. In fact his wife was not expected to return as she would be going to England. As a result he gave her several articles Mrs. Silvera had left behind.
Wilfred McKillop of Somers Town testified that a week after the discovery of the corpse he met accused at Boston bridge. They exchanged words about the matter but Silvera told him "Yes that don't make much to me because mi know where mi old lady is. The old lady gone home for the father sick. She gwine teck care a him ah awhile." Additionally Silvera had told him that his wife had also got a job which she would work until she could "put in her teeth, then come home."
Died in her absence
A week later witness said he again met the accused who told him his wife had returned the night before. Earlier that morning he had taken his wife to see where he had buried one of his two horses which had died in her absence and she was now at home "cooking tea."
By November 20, twenty-six persons had given evidence. Principal witness that day was identified by The Gleaner of November 21 as Percy Lewis Mitchell, owner of the West Street premises on which the Silveras had resided. Mitchell told the court that the accused had been his tenant for 10 years. After he got married he occupied additional apartments in the building.
To go to England
In July 1952 he enquired about the absence of Mrs. Silvera and was told by accused that she had gone to Santa Cruz to take a job which her sister was giving up to go to England. But the landlord also told another story favourable to the accused. He testified that he had never known him to be in any dispute either with his wife or other tenants. Furthermore if there had been any wrangling between them he was certain that he would have heard.
The next witness was Walter Harris of Lacovia, St. Elizabeth, Mrs. Slivera's father. He told the court that the previous July she had spent two weeks with him and her aunt Frances Harris in the district but he had not seen nor heard from her since. He had not been sick in June 1952 nor had he sent either her or her husband any telegram.
The aunt also testified that she had not seen Mrs. Silvera since 1951, was leaving no job since she had retired five years previously after working with the Tomlinson family for 40 years. Telegraph clerk at the Port Antonio post office, Monica McLeod, testified that a search of the records revealed no telegram to Mrs. Silvera for the period from May to June 15. Though a telegram was recorded for one Silvera it did not come from anywhere in or near Lacovia.
A highlight of the case came on November 25 when accused Vincent Silvera took the stand in his own defence.
