CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 91, 10 January 1908, Page 7

CHARGE OF MURDER.

•• :— .' ■». ' 'v: THE KAUK APAKAPA TRAGEDY. EVIDENCE AT THE INQI3EST. • • (by telegraph—press, association.) ';' • Helcnsville, January 9. Further particulars of the case in which "William Stuart is alleged to liavo killed Kdward West by-splitting, his head open with an axe at Kaukapakapa, were forthcoming at the inquest on the body of West. Mrs. Elizabeth Shanks deposed that oil the afternoon of January "7 the prisoner Siuart camo to her houso in a very excited state, and stated that ho had killed West. Ho. soemcd quite sensible', but looked, as if he had been drinking. She identified the hat produced at the inquest, which had a clean cut. through tho crown, and was smothered in blood, as tho hat usually worn by' West. ' John James Hinds stated that he was in Mrs. Shanks's house when Stuart arrived. Stuart told him he had murdered West, and asked him to go and see, telling him about the' dispute and how the deed was committed. , Witness went out to. Stuart's camp, entered tho whare, and found an axo covercd with blood lying, on the middlo of the floor. Ho found tho body lying on the' ground, partly leaning up against a tree. West had a horrible gash, in tho head and, blood all , over his faco. ■

Constable Tapp gave ovidcnce of tho arrest ,of Stuart. When lie picked up the axe, Stuart stated: "That is where I cut him down," adding that he afterwards dragged the body into, the scrub.

■Tho jury found a verdict that .Edward West came by his death through a blow from an axe inflicted by William Stuart, and that .William Stuart wilfully murdered him 1 . At the Hclensyille Police Court to-day, before Messrs. R. 11. Cameron and W. It. Fosbroko, J.P.'s, William Stuart was chargod with the murder of Edward West. On the application of Chief Detective Marsack, .Stuart was remanded until Friday, January 17.