CHARGE OF MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 412, 22 January 1909, Page 7

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE WESTPORT CASE: j (BY TELEGRAPH—PttESS ASSOCIATION.) • 'j , Westport, January 21. - j , A charge against, William Connelly (at . • I present undergoing sentence for perjury) of : murdering Ernest John Bourke at Westport ■ , :-i on ;May 8, was heard at ;the Magistrate's • Court to-day, before/ Mr'. Rawson, S.M.' •- The information was laid by Police Inspector ••Blaok' Mr; Wilson, Crown Prosecutor, ap. - pears for the prosecution; aficusedvis unrepresented by counsel. ; The evidence in support of the charge waa ' / :for "most,'part ;a repetition-of- that given at other trials in so far ;ns it related to Connelly's movements. ■■ ■ Mrs;. Maria Pearce described in detail an. •/ .1 ■ i assault she alleged she saw Connelly commit •'■ ,on Bourke, stating': .'that' .' Connolly, -.: when ''J : >"¥ Bourke was down, battered the latter with a beer bottle'and' then dragged him into a'.i :: shed. ' i •" Mrs. Phillips gave testimony corroborative' in part of Mrs.; Pearce's evidence/ alleging ■ : * she saw the two men,' Connelly and Bourke, - ' together, and also saw.Mrs. Fearcexwatching,. '•event's.v-'-- V'v;' '■'■yy*;;'/-*; ■ Hugh Duncan, who discovered the body of ' • • Bourke,; added fresh evidence that as ho was ■ »;>«•> going from 'the :.shed :for ; the' police he saw ~. j. a 1 woman whom he did not know on the footpath. •. ' ; Sorgoant Cullen, in his evidence,' said, in answer to a question .by • accused,- that .-,he never heard accused state in Westport, ,"I told Detcctive M'llveney 1 was the only one ■ v ..to' do •anything, to Bourke that night:''. -v&v ' Margaret Carlvton, the gaoler's wife, said Connelly, in one of the conversations she had 3 with.him, said lie was sorry for the two men, adding "I am willing to! do five' to seven to \i '' ten,- : up. to fifteen years, and then como out '!• •. a young man." ■■■••' . , .. ..•.•■ • I Chief Detective M'llveney deposed to a conversation ho had with Connelly in West- v port relative to Bburke-s death, when hs;or->! ; : p : j dered'-' Connelly: to speak- the .truth,, and .ha .., made a . statement accusing'Hallirien and the . .late Anders. Andersen of the crime. At tbo ' ' conclusion of- the Xelsop trial.of the'two' men witness asked Connelly ''Are you sure there . ■ . is .110, mistake , about; 1 this ?" and he replied < .. . "No, sir, there has been no ' mistake." .V; .1 . Immediately afterwards'.witness, in company with Mr.; Myers, the Crown ProsMutor, saw Comielly, whom Mr. Myers addressed, stat- . . j irig, "Connelly, it is not too late.; If there ;' -"j 'has been anything '.wrong in youri evidence say so now," anil Connelly, replied "There 1 is nothing wrong* If God. should', strike mo j .dead-the three of_ us were in' it." After . 1 the Hokitika. perjury trial, Connelly con- .1 fessed to 'witness that; lie sdoiie killed Bourke:; . ! As the doctor is absent in Wellington, the '.Oirart,adjourned till Monday at 10 a.m. to get his evidence. - ••••••. '■ '■■'.1