THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16136, 14 February 1918, Page 5

THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

CHARGE OF MURDER. j j TRIAL OF EGGERS. J ! The trial, before Mr Justice Chap-! man, and a jury, of which Mr T. A. Stanley is foreman, of William Eggers, otherwise William Eggers McMahon, on a charge of having, on November; 9th last year, on the Seven Mile road, between Greymouth and Runanga, murdered. John Coulthard, while driving a motor-car in which was the miue manager and paymaster of tho State mine, was resumed yesterday morning- The public gallery was again crowded. Sir John Dennis ton was present during the morning, and was accommo- ; dated with a seat on the Bench. 3lr "W. J. Hunter appeared for ac-| cused. and Mr S. Kavmond, K.C., prosecuted . for the Crown. PURCHASE OF SARDINES. George Roberts, employed by Kettle Brothers', storekeepers, Greymouth, deposed to having seen accused about five times prior to November 9th, and to having, two or three weeks before that date, sold him six tins of Ruth brand sardines. The two empty tins (produced) were of the same size and brand. -The brand was uncommon and verv seldom asked for. To Mr Hunter: There were several provision merchants in Greymouth, and he would not swear that tho particular brand of sardines was not obtainable from firms other than Kettle Brothers. BOYS AT THE EMPTY COTTAGE. Alexander Brown, 10 years, of age, ie»iding at Runanga, stated that at the time of the tragedy lie lived at the camp, about a quarter of a mile from Alcock's empty house. Two or three davs before . November 9th, at 9.30 a.m.. be saw.a man wearing blue dungarees, coming out of the house. . The man he saw was the man in the box. IJe "had identified Accused at Greymouth- on November 21st. _ To Mr Hunter: On tho morning he saw accused, he (witness) was cycling " from Runanga. He knew Alcocfc s other house, further on. It might have been a week before the murder that he saw the accused at the cottage; it could not have Jjeen more tban a week. The hat worn by the man was a grey one. At tho Greymouth prison camp accused was dressed'in a suit like the one he was now wearing (a grey one). William O'Neill, of Dunollie, 13 years of ago, stated that, with another lad named Toobill, he took, in . alternative ' weeks, Alcock's cattle to the: land around the empty cottage. On November oth he took the cattle from Runanga and reached the empty cottage about 9 a.m. He "went to the back porch and heard someone walking . inside and whistling. On tho 7th he ' went into the house, but did not see anyone;; The ladder and box (produced)'were about the house on the Tuesday, but he did not see them on the Thursday—the day before the tragedy. On November 9th lie arrived at the cottage about .8.55 a.m. and was there till 9.15 a.m., and went vnto'the house: ho did not hear anyone in the house. Thomas McGuire, labourer, Greymouth, gave evidence on lines similar to that given the previous day fcy Timothy Saunders, as to having seen , accused on the Cobdon bridge • tho day before the murder and on other-occa-sion's previously. • IN A BARBER'S SALOON. . Christian Nissen, hairdresser, Greymouth, stated that ho had known accused for about §ighteen months. Between 10.5 and 10.10 p.m. on November 10th accused came to the saloon for a hair-cut. Accused, in general conversation, was surprised when wit-ness-told, him about the murder. Accused had said that he was a good chot with the revolver, that he had an automatic revolver with which he could fire 36 shots a minute, and that lie could shoot with the right or left hand. . , j , •To Mr Hunter: He did not intend to claim any portion of the reward offered in respect to tho apprehension 01 the murderer. If anyone, on oath, said that he discussed the matter, lie would be lying. He had heard it said that the police should not get all the ieWho did these people say should have got it? ■ His Honour: You are asking for very general gossip. . . Mr Hunter: That is so; but it ls very important. Mr Raymond asked that the name of any person taking part in the conversation should be given. His Honour (to Mr Hunter): You must put it more definitely. A barber's shop may be a private place, but its occupants are constantly shifting. In barbers' shops and bars, and such places, the murder would be an everlasting subject of conversation. Witness (continuing in reply to Mr Hunter): Mrs Nissen and a man named Goodall were in the shop when accused came.into the saloon. While attending to accused a man named Martin came into the saloon; accused gave him Us for carting luggage. He could not remember accused saying anything to him (witness) as to having been a member of the Expeditionary iorce. Uraina. Mundy. restaurant keeper, Greymouth, stated that she know accused.

Mr Hunter submitted that there was no link' between th® evidence to be

given by the witness and the alleged crime.

His Honour said that she contra- ! dieted a statement of the accused. It j amounted to very little, hut amouuted I to that. I Winess stated that about the end of i October last accused was in her restaurI ant, and had a meal between 3 and 4 j p.m. She did not keop lodgers or 1 boarders. '■ I To Mr Hunter: Sho fixed the dai© as I October 29th, as she wont shopping for I her daughter, who loft <m the 30th. ! ANOTHER OBSTRUCTION ON THE ! ROAD. | Archibald Arrol Stewart, brewer, residing on the Seven-mile road, stated that, ou October 2Gth (a pay day at j the State mines) he was driving towards Runanga about 10 aim., and came ou a log, with a sapling at each end, across the road; it was about 150 yards nearer Runanga than the scene of the tragedy; ho removed tho obstruction. To Mr Hunter: The log was 8 or 9 inches thick at one end, and G to 7 inches at tho smaller end. I AFTER THE TRAGEDY. I Harold William Webb, who was ! licensee of the Royal Hotel, Greymouth, on November 9th, last, and for some j time previously, gave evidence as to I accused having stayed at th© hotel from ! October 2nd to 3.oth. He told witnjsss that he was on business connected with milking machines. A week previous to the Christchurch races in November, accused told liim that ho was going to tho races, but would not be able to stay to the end, Who expected to get an urgent job on tho West Coast, and would have to return before the final dav's racing. Accused came to tho hotel about 9 o'clock on November 10th, and stated that he had just arrived' from Christchurch, and booked a room. It was changed from No. 4to No. o. Accused said that he might not occupy the room, as his things weie at Blackball, and there was a possibility -that 110 would go there with some friends who purposed going bv motor. He did not occupy his room that night. Witness next saw accused next day, when lie had meals at the told witness lie had been to Blackball, and had had a big night there, lhat evening witness saw aecused carrying a brown suit-case (similar to the one produced) to his room. On November 12th accused left by the morning traiu for Hokitika. takiug the suit-case and a small parcel. , To Mr Hunter: TV hen accused hrst put up at the hotol ho discussed West ■ Coast land with witness, and told him that, after looking around, h© naa come to the conclusion that the Inph- ! bonnie estate was the best speculation ion the Coast. Witness judged that ! accused had a good gonerat knowledge ! of land, farming, and farm implements. He mi eh t- have also discussed the question of stock; and he thought somo reference was made by accused to one lof the Ilordern firms of Australia. He ! indeed accused to be a man who was not short of money. . He was a man who did not, so far as witness knew, get intoxicated. Witness knew Butt- and<m Stindav, November 11th, Butt had sions of liquor on him, and witness had asitcd him not to speak m the way he was speaking, as there were ladies on the hotel balcony. . \rthur Percy Butt, iron moulder, Grevmouth, stated that he had known accused since M 16.. Witness had lived at tho Park Hotel since June, 191 v. Ho Ikncw accused 'as "Bill," and as the barmaid's brother. Accused told witness he was buying stock on the Coast. On October *23rd 110 saw a-ccusod on his arrival from Christchurch; he had a suitcase similar to the one in court. On the 25th accused was going to Hokitika and left a brief-bag with witness, similar to the one 111 court. Ho next save* accuscd ©ri Sunday, Is o\ ember ll«i, and ho said ho had just come from the Christchurch races, lliey talked about the tragedy, and accused had asked him what lie thought of it. W ltness had replied that it was a most damnable affair to occur in open daylight. Reply- I in" te accused's question, witness had paul that he thought the person who •had done the deed was ngh* there in Grevmouth. Accused had looked at him in the eye for a second or two, then dropped his eyes and turned aside. Accused told linn that he could fire 36 shots per' minute, and showed with hi& hand the way it was done. To Mr Hunter: He did not know Coulthard; ho might have been a friend of Russell, who kept the Park Hotel. Pr'or to goinrr to live at the 1 ark, w itue«s lived nt the Criterion Hotel, where Miss or Mrs. McMahon, known as "Ma'cksie," was employed. On Sundav November 11th, in the afternoon, he*was left in charge of the hotel, with the keys—that was how drunk he was. The others went to the funeral. Re-examined bv Mr Raymond: Accused was staving ot the Criterion at the same time that witness staved there. On the morning of November 11th, wheu he had the talk with accused, ho was quite sober. H. W. Webb, recalled, stated that it was between 6.30 and 8 p.m. on the Sunday that Butt was showing signs ef intoxication. ACCUSED AT HOKITIKA. \nton Falkenbach, manager of a carafe, Hokitika, stated that on November 12th accused wanted to lie driven io Ivokatahi to 6eo a farmer there named Graham, but they did not no as Graham was known to be away. In'the afternoon he drove him to Lake Kanieri and back. Next morning he drove accused to Otira. The brief-bag and suit-case- in court were similar to those which accused had with him The cost of the trip was £0 10s, accused giving him six one pound notes and 10 s m silver \ccused left his bicycle with him, and asked him te seno it to Jack Fcrcuson, Christchurch. Ihe bicycle in court was similar to the one left by accused. He told witness that he was on the Coast buying land and stock. To Mr Hunter: Accused told witness he wanted to sen the country between Hokitika and Otira.

"William Gerard Keller, licensee, Ivellor's Hotel, Hokitika, deposed that accused stayed at liis hotel oil November 12th, and* witness handled his suit-case, which was the suit-case in court. The suit-case struck him as being heavy for its size. The samo evening accused discussed ike murder with others in the hotel.

ACCUSED'S RETURN TO CHRISTCHURCH. Morgan O lirieu, licensee Empire Hotel, Christchurch, stated that he knew' accused by the name of McMahon; he i:ad employed a Mrs McMahou as barmaid; he knew them as husband and wife.. Mrs McMahon slept out of the hotel. On November 13th, between 6.:J0 p.m. and 7 p.m., ho saw accuscd go into the bar; witness Avas iu the bar, and Mrs McMahon was serving. Accuscd addressed her, saying, "Hello, Macksie! ' Witness had occasion to go to the office, where he found a suit case and a brief bag; they were similar to those in court. On lifting the suit case he found that it was extremely heavy. After witness had dinner, he found that accused and the bags had gone. Ihe following day, shortly after 10 p.m., accused left the hotel with Mrs McMahou and a girl friend of hers. On the 15th he saw accused about lunch time and dinner time. He had dinner with Mrs McMahon. Later he saw him in the company of Detectives Connolly and Abbott getting into a cab. , , . John "Watt Ferguson, cycle dealer, Christchurch, deposed as to accused having called for his bieyclc, which he had consignod to witness front Hokitika. He identified the bicycle in court as accused's witness sold it t'o him on September 17th last. J Mary Graham wife of John Graham, farmer, Kokatahi, deposed that early in October last year she and her husband left Hokitika for Nelson. Neither witness nor her husband had any business*" dealings with the accused; she had only seen him once in the Royal Hotel at Greymouth.. To Mr Hunter: Her husband was in the room at the time. Thoro might have been some talk about land in the vicinity of their farm at Kokatahi. She could not remember accused saying that he might call on them to look at the land. John Graham, husband of the witness, at a later stage, gave similar evidence. in io AH REST OF ACCUSED. Detective Abbott, Christcnureh, stated tnat on November iotu, accompanied by Dctective-aergeant Connolly, no saw accusoa about 0.0 p.m. gomy into tne -Umpire Hotel. u.e deioiieu tne circumstances 01 tiie arrest ot accused. Alter waiting twenty minutes accused ana Mrs Mediation came out of tne dining-room and went to the private bar on tne first floor. Later uie pair went downstairs, accused carrying a brown briel-bag and two small parceJs; Mrs McMahon went into tne oar, and accused went out into the street, and was followed by Connolly and witness. After going a little distance Connolly said, 'Oh, Mac'" Accused at once stopped, and turnol round, and Connolly explained that they were detectives, and were enquiring into tho movements of passengers from the West Coast. He was invited to go to the police station, and wanted to leave tne two small parcels (containing a loaf of bread, somo spring onions and lettuce) at the hotel, but Connolly told him to bring them'to the station. They got a cab, and on the way to the police station accused, replying to witness, said ho had been travelling for a firm, but had given it up, and had been on the West Coast buying land. On getting to the detective oflice he was invited to sit down, which ho did, but kept hold of the bag. Connolly told liim to put the bag down, but lie seemed to grip it tighter. He said, in reply to Connolly, that the bag only contained odds and onds. Accused fumbled with the fastening of the bag, and ultimately produced from it a bottle of beer. Connolly, who was practically standing over accused, managed to get his hand into the bag. Accused was fumbling with something in a piece of cloth, which they found was a revolver. Connolly said, *'You murderer, you've got a revolver! You're going to shoot us! Hold him!" Connolly grabbed accuscd by the hands and witness slipped the handcuffs on his left wrist. Accused had hold of the automatic pistol by the wrong end for firing with. When Connolly released accused's right hand witness got the other handcuff on. The automatic pistol (produced) was- found fully leaded with five Peters bullets and three Winchesters. The automatic was a Colt's 32 calibre. Iu tho Bag there were 99 rounds of ammunition— 52 Peters and 47 Winchesters. In the bag was ateo found a small oil tin, a small flask of oil; a parcel was also found containing a razor and strop oil-stone and fountain pen. The cash found in tho bag and on accused's person totalled £91 15s. In the bag was £40 m notes, done up in bundles, £3 2s 6d in silver, and 2s 7d in copper. In his pocket-book were found three £10 notes, nine «i n al 6 notes, and nine 10s notes. Receipts for £71 16s 6d (including a receipt for a diamond necklace and for two cabin trunks) were also found m the p o cket book. Connolly and witness told accused that thevsus*poctcd hini m connexion with the West Coast murder and robberv. and handed him over to the custody of the watehAT US V \f eP i? r ' ey en went with Mrs McMahon to 286 Gloucester street, thompsou s boarding-house, and they found m accused's room the suitcase m court It was opened with a "ey they had taken from accused at tne station, and found in it notes and com totalling £'3iol 19s 6d. Amongst

the money were the two new books of " £o notes,' the book ef 10s notes, and bags ot silver and coppcr. The bundles of notes were wrapped in brown paper. Witness gave a list of. the money according to the denomination or the notes and coins (as- given by counsel in his opening address;. Witness also found-another suit-case, which contained a tin box. in which were IliS rounds of Winchester and Peters ammunition, two chamois leather covers for automatic pistols—one an exact fit and the other a tight fit for the automatic n court, a wooden bos containing material for cleaning firearms, a pair ot j heavy nailed boots, and two pieces | (squares) of black material, similar to < lining, were found. At tho police station the suit-case was opened before accused. who was told that they had been able to identify the books containing the and 10s notes as portion of the money stolen. Accused rnado no roply, and Connolly charged him with the murder of Coulthard, the attempted murders of Hall and Jariics. and the thefo of tho money. Accused made no reply. The total money found in accused's possession was £3543 Lis 7d. £3451 19s Gd being found in the suitcase. INTERVIEW WITH MRS MciIAHOX. On November 19th accused applied in the Magistrate's Court for permission for Mrs McMahon to visit him, and was given permission, and witness made the necessary arrangements for the visit. Chief Detcctivo Mcllveney war nod Mrs McMahon that anything she said in connexion with tho case ! would be taken down and, if necesj sary, used; she was advised not to say I anything abou d the ease. At tho inj terview the Chief Detective aud witness wore present. The *Chi€f Detective warned accused that a note would be taken of anything said in thoir hearing. I Afte'r a slight pause, Mrs McMahon said; "Oh, Will, did you shoot the boy., I Will?" Accused replied: "1 cannot I say Macksie; there was someone else." ! Mrs McMahon asked : "Why can't you i clear vourself?" Accused replied: . "No; it's no use: I have no chance, j They have got enough evidence to hang I me six times." Mrs McMahon said: "Don't talk to me about hanging, Will: you kuow how it makes me leol.-' Accused said: "Yes, I know. ' She then asked: "Whatever made you bring that money to our place?" He replied: "I don't know. I hav e mado two mistakes. You/ see the position lam placcd in —I cannot go antywhere I am placed in-—the police are dog•ging me about. - ' .Accused then tuined to witness and Connolly and said: "She knows nothing about it at all. Later, Mrs McMahon said: "I didnt know that you wore 'over there on the Coast till X got your postcard: I thought you wcro away down South. * After the interview, witness typed ou'i what bad been said. To Mr H'unter: The cloth was partly over the pistol in the handbag at che station; the cloth was not wrapped evenly and carefully round "the pistol. Ho could see the butt of the automatic before it came out of the bag. Accused was trying his best to get it out of the rag: ho made no attempt to hand it out. There was one bullet in j the gun ready to shoot. He was not j present at an interview - between accused and Mrs McMahon prior to the interview on November 19th. Accused did not reply to Mrs McMahon's first question ("Oh. Will, did you shoot the boy, Will?"). "1 cannot say, Mi'cksie, with these people about.' Ihey had spoken as he* had detailed, despite the warning given them. At the interview on iNovember 19tli, accused "got on to" Mrs McMahon for not going tc Lyttolton in response to a telegram he sent her. Mrs McMahon explained that she did not get the telegram till it was too late for her to go. to Lyttelton, and that she had been too ill to go. A note that accused had asked to be delivered to Mrs McMahon was not. delivered. the Chief-Detective detaining it, bat instructing witness to convey a portion of the message it contained. The portion not communicated to her was the statement that accused was to be taken to tlie West Coast. At the interview on November 19th accused referred to some form that l>e wanted Mrs McMahon to fill in; witness did not know that the form leferred to was a form for counsel to defend him. Was not that a matter—the providing of counsel—that irritated you gentlemen. Didn't you . say to her: "Don't you go monkeying about with solicitors, or we will soon stop that sort ol : business." Did you say that to her, Mr Abbott?—No: I never did. I may say that an accused person tinder arrest who wants counsel is given every opportunity to get counsel; and you know that. ) Were there any £'10 notes _ stolen from the motor-car? —No. We found three £10 notes in accused's pocketbook, and that £30 is included in the tabulated total. There was a shortage of £100 between the money stolen and the money recovered.

Chief-Detective Jas. Mcllveney gave evidence on the lines of the last "wuness's evidence-in-chief. In addition to the words given by Detective Abbott as accused's reply to Mrs McMahon s first question, the Chief Detects e stated that he also said: ' 'I ] iav ea got a ghost of a chance.'' He pioduced his note of the conversation. To Mr Hunter: He made the notes immediately on his return to his office. He was present at an interview on November 16th between accused and Mrs McMahon. No application was made on that occasion to the Court; witness saw the Superintendent or Police. There had been no necessity for the application to the Court regarding the interview on the i Jtn, u accused had asked witness he would have seen the Superintendent. tie had not mentioned this earlier intci-

view bccause there was nothing said that could be used as evidence. Hi; had not seen the telegram from accused to Mrs McMahon: he believed thai, a telegram had been taken to the Superintendent. He produced a letter from accused, to Mrs McMalion, written from prison on November 19th. it was addressed to Mrs McMalion at Mi s Thompson's, and had been re-addressed ; e.o. Mrs McKay, Brittan street. Did Mrs McMalion complain that j she was being badgered and bothered ( b v the police, and cross-examined by, tiiem. and kept her at the police st-i-. tion till 11.30 p.m. ? No: she appear- , eel to be satisfied with her treatment by the police, and said that the police had been verv kind to her. I don't j know if she has changed her mind since. Continuing, witness denied that any trap had been set iu connexion with the interview between accused and Mrs McMalion. He did not toll them, that letters from accused to Mrs McMalion were to be addressed to him; witness asked Mrs McMahon to let him see any letters that she received from him. "Witness did not remember accused saying anything at the interview on November 19th as to taking some of the money found at his lodgings for the purpose of getting counsel. Accused had said that he had spent some of Mrs McMalion's money on the loth. Re-examined by Mr Raymond: He thought Mrs McMahon received the telegram and had come to the police station to ascertain if she could see accused. Letters from persons in custody were read by the prison authorities. The letter was brought to him by Mrs Mc-Mahon. 'Mr Hunter said he did not complain of the action of the police in respect' of the telegram and letter: Le only desired to establish the facts that the telegram and letter were sent. At this stage the Court adjourned till 10 a.m. to-day.