YOUTH CHARGED WITH MURDER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3173, 25 August 1917, Page 8

YOUTH CHARGED WITH MURDER

TUB WAIROXGOMAI TRAGEDY. By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, August 24. Frank Bertram Jnkstcr, aged seventeen an.l a half years, was charged beiore\Mr. Florence, S.M., at Waipiro Bay, to-day, that, at Wairongomai, he Murdered 010 Andersen aud and Harvey Bradley. Gisborne, August 21. Mr» F. TV. Nolan, Crown Prosecutor, presented the case for the police, and Mr. J. Graham, instructed by Mr. Burnard, appcareu for accused.. v Inkster entered the dock smiling, and remained cool and unconcerned all day. After the medical evidence showing that both men were killed by gunshot wounds received at close range, Michael Keogh gave evidence that he was a member of a bush party which also included both the deceased and accused. On July 18 Anderson told witness he had found in Clayton's tent a •watch which he had lost at the hohiestead. Anderson asked accused where he got the watch, and accused replied: "From Joe Pokai," a shepherd on the station. Anderson said: "You are mad. You' took a quid from Joe Pokai's pocket. - I'll get someone to fix you u])." Accused made no renlv. The four of them worked together for. the Test of the week, Anderson aiid accused not speaking to each other. Anderson was on good terms with witness and Bradley. On Saturday, July 21, witness went to the homestead.' On Sunday, July 22, he met accused coining to the homestead. In reply to witness accused said that there had been a quarrel and that Anderson had sent him for a pack-horse, as he was getting out of it. He did not say what Anderson and Bradley had. quarrelled about. On Monday, 'at 7.30 a.m., witness left for the camp, accused following with a pack-horse, but some distance behind. Witness reached camp about 12.15, and found Bradley lying face downwards in a ditch at the back of the chimney, and Anderson lying on' the floor in the comer of. the-tent adjoining the galley. Both were, dead and a Winchester rifle they had in camp was lying at Anderson's side, with his arm ' over the butt, -and. the barrel pointing in the direction of Bradley's body. Witness touched nothing,, but left immediately to report to the station. About eight miles from the camp he. met accused, riding the pack-horse, and. told him what lie had found. -Witness rodo the . pack-horse to" the station, and accused followed half an hour later on witness's horse. There was no need for Anderson to send accused for a paekliovsc, as there were five horses iu a paddock near the camp. v

Insker p!i;aded not guilty and reserved his defencc. [la was .committed for trial at tho Supreme Court, Gisborne, on September 13.