MURDER CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 5

MURDER CHARGE.

SHOOTING OF A CHINESE.

HARDIES DENIAL OF CRIME.

MORE EVIDENCE HEARD.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, this day.

The preliminary trial of W illiain John Hardie on the charge of murdering Jo Shuin at Kyeburn diggings, on July 16, ivas continued in the Police Court to-day. A police photographer produced photographs taken on the scene. He stated Jhat he took a photograph of a footmark jointed out by a detective, but the :amera moved, causing a double image. Subsequently he photographed at Dun)din the imprint of Hardie's left boot. Both photographs were produced. Patrick McMahon stated that he was jn a job at the Masonic Hall, Naseby, irom April 26 to June b. Ilardie had shown him photographs, but he could not say whether any were of the Dunedki Exhibition. Detective Lean said on July 18 he /ook possession at the Dunedin police station of a swag addressed to Hardie. le had boarded a train at W ingatui to search for Hardie, but did not see hiin, jut next morning he and Detective Roy•roft arrested Hardie in Cumberland street. Witness asked for an interview, md Hardie agreed to go to the police itation, where he admitted the swag was lis property. Witness told him a Chinese had been nurdered, and that suspicion attached ;o him. Hardie laughed and replied that le would not murder any Chinaman and lid not know any Chinese at Kyeburn. iVitness warned accused, who said: "I'm lot afraid of anything 1 say. I had lothing to do with a Chinaman." He igreed to make a statement, which he signed. He took from the swag the :lothes lie was wearing on the day of the nurder, the boots he was wearing on July 17, and also a wallet containing our £1 notes and six photographs, ncluding four of the exhibition. There ivere also a receipt for gold and a memo•andum of the sale of gold on July 18.! liater accused was told that Shum's mate lad left Kyeburn for Dunedin, and j Hardie said. "The sooner he comes the letter." Hardie agreed to spend the night" n a. room at the police station, and after in identification parade next day witness irrested him. When afccused was being searched in ,he watch-house Sub-Inspector Faliey ;old accused he was going to show the ihotographs to the Chinese who had dentified him. Hardie said: "The Chinese ivill identify the pictures. I know that Chinese now. I showed him the photographs three weeks ago in the Kyeburn Hotel." The Identification Parade. Eileen Law, a student and interpreter if Chinese, said that when he was asked ,o point out a man at the identification parade Sue Pee refused, saying he was ifraid, but that the man was there. He igain refused to point to the man, addng, "You go." He described the posi:ion of the man in the row. Mr. A. C. Hanlon, for the accused, said that was not evidence against the iccused, as the conversation was in a anguage with which he was not conversant. Witness said that as a result of what sue Pee said she approached No. 7 in the row, and Sue Pee said, in Chinese, 'That is the man!" Mr. Hanlon again contended that it was not evidence against accused. Witness said accused was the man lescribed by Pee and the one she pointed aut. Plaster Cast of Footprint. Constable Potts gave evidence as to the finding of a footprint on the edge of deceased's claim. The impression was covered with boards, and later a plaster cast was taken. It was a left boot impression, with nails in it. On July 22 witness found the barrel and magazine of a repeating rifle in a gulch at the side of the track, 100 yards below the hut. At the bottom of the hill on the other side the stock was found. Two unused .22 rifle cartridges and a rifle bullet were found with the two parts of the rifle. Mr. Hanlon, cross-examining, elicited that no footprints were sought between July 17 and 21, and he sought to show that with so many policemen about there must have been scores of footprints. This witness denied. The hearing is proceeding.