MURDER TRIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 18, 1 November 1940, Page 7

MURDER TRIAL.

THE MANUNUI TRAGEDY. evidence concluded. -1 (Per Press Association?. TAUMARUNUI, October 31. The case against Charles Harold Langley (39), labourer, charged with the murder of Jeremiah O’Sullivan (52), a small farmer, on the afternoon of Sunday, September 22, at Manunui, was continued to-day. Mr H. T. Gillies, Crown Prosecutor, Hamilton, appeared for the Crown and Mr W. J. King and Mr D. H. Hall for tho accused. Sergeant Abel deposed that when he arrived at the scene of the tragedy accused was lying on the front verandah at a neighbour’s house with a pillow under his head and liis eyes closed, and when Dr, Sturtevant felt his pulse he did not open his eyes or say anything. The doctor said that he was all right. Kathleen O’Sullivan, wife of. deceased, gave evidence that in January, 1940, accused rented a house from witness at 12s 6d a week. The Longleys were displeased when witness later refused to instal the electric light. In June witness received notice from the Borough Council to Quit the racecourse property on which she and her husband were living. She wrote to Longley stating that she wanted possession of the house that he was renting from her. The Longleys promised to go out, but were not out by September 22. Charles Ronald Longley, aged 15, son of the accused, gave evidence that on the afternoon of the tragedy, accused, after returning from a drive in his car, removed three battens 1 that were nailed across the entrance of his motor shed. A few minutes later tho deceased O’Sullivan arrived and demanded' to know why the battens were pulled down, saying that he wanted the car shed for manure. Witness said his mother came to the door and replied that her husband had built the shed. O’Sullivan replied: “You mongrel.” When accused heard that remark he walked down the passage and then witness heard the discharge of a gun. \ Eunice Sylvia Longley, aged 12, gave evidence that during an altercation at the doorway witness saw her father hurry down the passage and pick up a

gun as he went. She corroborated her brother’s evidence. lEthel McKenzie, married and a neighbour of Longley, f said that the Longley’s had done their utmost to secure a house. On the afternoon of the tragedy witness saw accused come through her front gate. Accused held on to the dooi; for support and looked very ill. She asked if she should ring for the doctor. Accused replied, “No. I have just blown Jerry’s head off.” She knew whom he meant. Accused then collapsed on the verandah. Accused said, “He called my tvife a mongrel and lifted his hand. I picked up my rifle to frighten him and I did not know that it was loaded.” Accused was then very 'distressed and there were long pauses between his words. James Owen Tiney, mill hand and farmer, stated that he had known deceased for 16 years and they helped each other on their farms. He had never seen O’Sullivan in a bad temper. In fact, he was one of the best natured men he ever met. Christopher Jarvis, a carpenter, said he saw accused collapse on McKenzie’s verandah as witness arrived to visit McKenzie. Witness corroborated Mrs McKenzie’s evidence regarding statements made by the accused and said that he also .heard accused say in rereference to O’Sullivan “He lifted his arm as if to hit her.” This closed the evidence for the Grown. Accused reserved his defence and was committed for trial at tho next sitting of the Supreme Court at Hamilton.