HAURAKI PLAINS MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 86, 11 April 1922, Page 5

HAURAKI PLAINS MURDER.

PAGE BEFORE POLICE COURT. THE CORONER'S VERDICT. \TOM__" .SHOT BY PAGE OBy Telegraph—Own CorrespondentTHAMES, Monday. The preliminary trial before Mr. .1. H. Salmon. S.M., of Arthur William Page, charged with the murder of Gladys :>icGregor Hutchinson at Pipiroa on February 7 by shooting her with a gun. was continue— to-day. Dr. James Ritchie, superintendent of the Thames Hospital, said that Mrs. Hutchinson's right arm was quite shattered. She was very seriously injured indeed, and -was suffering much pain. Page's wound did not appear serious. Deceased expired at Puriri. Accused was ■perfectly sober in the opinion of witness, and unite normal mentally. He was also quite rational duriug the seven weeks in the- hospital. 'He believed the 'cause of death of Mrs. Hutchinson was hemorrhage, shock and exposure following gunshot wounds. The impression given fiordoli I'tiswell. a. locomotive driver, who saw Page on tile morning of the tragedy, was that accused had taken some drink, but was nevertheless quite rational. When witness arrived at the scene of the tragedy !he appeared to be quite sober. In answer to witness* query. Page exclaimed: "I love this woman: you do not understand."' A youth named Krank Norman Wallace, brother of a former witness, said that Page remarked to him after the shooting: "Too much whisky. oh ?" Page also commented upon his regard for tthe dying woman, and said he had got liquor from a certain w'hare. Accused asked witness for a drink of water and cigarettes. Page, who was quite sober -and normal, smoked several cigarettes, (hi t.lie gun being taken out of the ditch, where accused had thrown it. by David Hoffman, it was found fully loaded. When lie saw Page in the morning lie appeared quite sober. j A native named Oco. Ellis said accused Iliad a bottle of -whisky in tbe morning. "The gun with which the deed was alleged to have been committed was the property of witness, having been taken without the owner's knowledge from his shanty. . I 100. Mclvin, another youth, had three nips with Cage in the morning. He later saw accused with. Mts. Hutchinson ion the wharf. When accused left the i wharf witness believed him sober. Mr. AY. -11. Whittingburn. master of the barge Clio, said on the morning ot" the tragedy he saw seven men have nips from Page's bottle. Witness at the time intended reporting Page to the police for supplying natives with liquor. After li.iu-h he noticed act-used with the woman he now knew to be deceased. In a statement to a police officer at the time of the tragedy Page said: "I will toll you the truth. 1 am a straight lad. not as bad as 1 am painted. I had a breech-loading gun. I put two cartridges in il, and shot her w ; .th one. then put the muzzle to my chest and shot myself. I asked Her to come and face the consequences with mc but she would not conic. I had a bottle of whisky and gave her a drop, and drank sonic "myself. I love that woman and hope she won't die." Constable .1. M. Dcvcreaux said Page gave every assistance as In the locating of the gun. He appeared quite sober, and in his usual normal condition: as when witness spoke to him on two previous occasions while in the car accused remarked: "I am responsible for this." Mr. Meredith: What did he mean by that. Witness: I understood him to say he took all (.he blame for what happened afterwards. Mr. Garland; At the time were you not discussing with the sergeant with reference to the whisky at the wharf. Witness: That is so. Mr. Garland: Is it not possible Page was referring only to the whisky? Witness: 1 do not know. Mr. Garland: You have related the exact conversation to the Court? AVitnes« replied that he had to the best of his recollection. The Court sat in the evening, when considerable police evidence was hoard, and an adjournment wa.-. made later in order tiiat flic inquest on the deceased woman might l>e resumed. Xo fresh evidence was taken, the evidence given during the trial being considered to apply tv the inquest as well. A verdict was returned attributing death to wounds received by a shot from a mm discharged by Page. Throughout the proceedings accused maintained a nonchalant demeanour, calmly chewing gum and smiling at certain evidence of witnesses. I