TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 274, 25 November 1897, Page 6

TRAGIC OCCURRENCE.

A SETTLER KILLED.

HOT DEAD BY A NEIGHBOUR.

A BOUNDARY DISPUTE.

A case of shooting occurred at Harapipi Si^dtthta^S*" mother settler ■named Patrick Corcoran. D In connection with the shooting case at Harapipi our Hamilton correspondent telegraphed the following further particulars 31 TwoTettlers tendered for a County Council reserve, and the tender of Patrick Corcoran was accepted. The other applicant was John Pohlen, a German, who it is stated was very much annoyed at not having secured the reserve The farms of the two men adjoined each other, and yesterday morning Corcoran and his son were engaged putting the fence on what they considered the proper boundary line between the two properties. About 11 o'clock in the morning Pohlen arrived upon the scene with a gun in his possession He endeavoured to prevent the removal of the fence, whereupon a sXted'that Pohlen threatened to shoot Corcoran, and covered him with the gun, when the latter rushed to grasp the weapon, and Pohlen, it is alleged pulled the trifwer, with the result that Corcoran receiveT the charge just below his heart, and, sinking back into his son s amis, expired in a few minutes. Information of the terrible affair was forwarded by telephone from Pirongia to Te Awamutu to Constable Jones, who at once went out to make the necessary inquiries and ultimately arrested Pohlen. Constable Jones also arranged for the holding of the inquest. John Pohlen reached the advanced age of 78 years last September and was formerly a member of Yon Tempsky's Forest Rangers. He was a native of Germany but ° has resided in the colony 38 years, of which 32 were spent on his land at Harapipi. His sole companion latterly has been his son, John Hubert Pohlen. About four years ago Corcorcan took up a lease of land originally belonging to the late Mr McMinn. It is stated that trouble has originated owing to the fact that by ploughing up Corcarcan cut off Pohlen's access to the main road excepting by way of through the corps. Mr Pohlen appealed to various authorities to secure a road but was referred to the law courts as his remedy. The deceased Patrick Corcoran is also an old settler in the Waikato, having for many years lived near Kihikihi and worked on contracts. He was about 50 years of age and leaves a wife and adult family. Corcoran lived near Kihikihi until he took up McMinn's section about four years ago. At the Police Court on Nov. 23rd Heinrich Pohlen, on remand from the 15th inst., was charged before Mr T. Hutchison, S.M., ■with the murder of Patrick Corcoran, at Harapipi, on November 12th. The old man, who entered the dock in a hesitating manner, looked rather careworn. When the charge was read to him he said he could not understand what they were saying, and the charge had to be repeated in a louder tone. When he did take in the words Pohlen shook his head slowly and replied in his broken English, "No murder, no, no."

Sergt. Clarke asked for a remand of eight clear days, as the police were not yet prepared to go on with the case. Pohlen : Am I remanded to Te Awatautu ?

His Worship : You will be brought up here at the end of eight days, and the case will be then heard at Te Awamutu.

The accused made no reply to this, and ivas removed from the dock.