FOXTON TRAGEDY

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20777, 10 February 1933, Page 17

FOXTON TRAGEDY

TRIAL OF A. R..EASTON.. FATHER GIVES EVIDENCE. (FRBSS ASSOCIATIO* TIL.KaX.IM.) PALMESSTON X., February 9. Whon the trial of Allen Eoy Easton, on a charge of murdering his brother, at Whirokino, on November 22, was resumed yesterday afternoon, medical and technical evidence was given, following which the jury visited the scene of the tragedy. This morning, on-the resumption of the case, llichard Easton, father of the accused, said that he and his two sons were in the milking shed on the afternoon of the tragedy. As a result of words between the two brothers towards the close of the milking, Jack, who seemed to be pretty wild, caught hold of Koy and shook him. Witness called to them to stop. Jack resumed milking, and Roy finished milking a cow and left the shed, going towards the house. He appeared a bit upset. Witness and Jack continued milking. After six or seven minutes witness heard the report of a gun. Jack got up and walked across to the fence of the yard, putting a hand to his chest. Witness assisted him and then went to ring for a doctor. On returning, he found his son was just alive. Witness saw Roy, who was not running but walking quickly by a cabbage tree away from the house. The gun produced was found not far from tho cabbage tree, the direction in which Boy was going, ltoy did not return that night, but witness met him the next night two miles from (tonic. Cross-examined, witness said that both boys shared the same bedroom, and were always friendly. Roy never bore ill will towards Jack, and never showed signs of violent temper. Further cross-examined, witness said tools were in the cowshed and quite ' handy to anyone wishing to make an attack " on another person. Witness [ thought Eoy left on a bicycle for.Foxton ! after leaving the cowbail, sufficient time 1 having elapsed for him to reach the | house and change. Witness never dis- ! cussed with Koy what took place. S. T. Tisdall, gun expert, who received ' the gun from Easton's place, gave ' technical evidence. He also stated that a cartridge case found near the cow- , bail had been fired from the gun. The ! \ indentations on the cap of the cart- i ; ridge case corresponded with the striker ' of the gun. Witness failed to see how ' the shot could have taken the direction i it did if the gun had been accidentally ! discharged. If a person carrying the \ gun had tripped and fallen, and the j gun had been accidentally discharged, it would either have discharged in the air ' or into the ground. The gun had to be cocked before it could be fired. The gun had flred perfectly under a test. The Crown case was concluded with '" George Windeler telling of the finding ' of a™ gun near the hails. Constable ' Bagrie stating that accused made no 1 reply when charged, and Constable ? Graineer recalling that accused on the 1 way to the Wellington gaol in the ' train suddenly saying "Jjuirke is an \ old fool. He thinks I shot my brother. : I did not mean to hurt him."' fc Accused Gives Evidence. The remainder ot the afternoon was 1 taken up by accused, who was put in the box by counsel. Accused said that while still at school he was bitten by a dog and lost tlie sight of one eye. 3 from his father ho had received a tew ' thrashings and had been saved from '' others by his yramfmother. lie was " keen on shooting, but before going.out ■ made a practice to tell his lather or 1 mother, tie had had rows with his - dead brother, but none was serious. ■ His brother's job had been to clean up - the shed; witness often doing, this'for 8 him, and on one occas/iii had ottered i him money to buy an engagement ring. When Jack said he was going to start separating, witness urged that, "he should milk another cow first, as he e wanted to go shooting. Jack grabbed . him by the shoulder and shook him. • His father called out "..Leave him 1 alone," and Jack got another cow in. t When witness finished his cow he went r over to the house, washed his hands, and got the gun and a cartridge He was going back to the. bails. He put the cartridge in the gun after going through the fence, being-taught to do that as a measure of safety. He went towards the yards to a point where they generally climbed over the rails, his object being to tell his .father ho was going shooting. He was fairly close to the fence when he slipped on something and the gun went off. He saw his brother lurch. Being iriglitt ened that ho had hurt him he ran - away. He could not account for the j pun going oft nor say on what he , slipped. He went straight to the sea 1 coast, staying out all night, as he was x frightened of what his father would , do. He knew that Jack was hurt but -' had no idea ho had been killed. He s spent the next day walking up the ■- river. He had an idea of going to s bis grandmother's in Foxton. knowing i- that she would protect him from his s father; further, he could get someI thing to eat there. J To Mr Macassey, accused said Jack s did not get him by the threat. He - did not tell his father on leaving the n bails that he was going shooting, as - he thought Jack would object. He could not recall cocking the gun, but he thought a blow might discharge it. = He could not remember much of what . happened after the gun went off, as it was a o'reat shock to see his brother hit When he got home next day he told the family that it was an accident.