RUNANGA MURDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 59, 3 December 1917, Page 6

RUNANGA MURDER

FURTHER EVIDENCE IN COURT

ACCUSED AND HIS REVOLVER

BOASTS OF HIS SKILL

.By'Telegraph—Press Association. Greyrnouth, December 1. Tho hearing of the murder charge against Jiggers was resumed this, morning. Detective Ward gave formal evidenco of the police inquiries. Ho produced Hall's revolver, with four shots fired, and a sardine tin of a brand unprocurable on the AVesfc Coast. Tho accused put no questions to the witnesses.

Dr. Usher said that Mr. Hall was admitted to the Hospital in a highly critical state. He described the wounded man as being paralysed in liis limbs and in part of his stomach. He had examined Coulthard, who was perforated near the heart by a bullet.

A Gup Tip. John Pender said that, two pays prior to the murder, bo walked from his stable on to the Ruuanga Road, and there he met a man with a bicycle. Tlie man asked where tho State Mine office was situated, and said lie bad lost bis way. The conversation then turned to the New Zealand Cup, the prisoner stating that he favoured Rose Pink.

The Magistrate: We don't want that. Mr. Hannan: I desire it as boing very important in tho chain of evidence.

The Magistrate: Very well. Witness also stated that a fortnight later he met the' same man about a mile on tho Greyrnouth side of tlio scene of the tragedy. They stopped and had a conversation about the Cup. He had no hesitation in identifying the man accused as the person he met.

Joseph Garnev swore that accused was the man in the empty hut near the scene of tbe tragedy. He had no difficulty in picking tlio man out among a dozen strangers at the police station. Frederick Alcock said that the tools, ladder, etc., found on the road were his property, and had been taken from his empty hut. He had seen a man tliero whose appearance corresponded with that of the accused.

Tho Court at this stage adjourned.

On resuming in the afternoon, Timothy Saunders, labourer, who was working on the Cobden Bridge repairs on October 8, gave evidence. He said that ho met the accused, with his bicycle, at tho ond of the bridge. He had known tho accused as M'Mahon for about fourteen months. The accused crossed the hridee and went up the hill towards Coal Creek: A fortnight later he met accused again, and said to him: "Still here?" Accused answered: "Yes." Witness said: "You must have a h lof a good thing on?" Tho acoused replied: "There is a lot doinc between Runanga. Brunner, and Blackball." He did not know what accused's business was, but, understood that lie was a commercial traveller. He saw him crossing the bridge several times after October 24, and always going towards tho Cobden side, and always between 9 and 10' in the morning. When ho saw the accused going over the bridge on November 8, the morning before tho murder, about 9 o'clock, he was off his "bike." waiting for the traffic to clear. The "bike" had n carrier, bearing a small parcel. M'Guire was worfeine with witness at the time. He did not notice whether the accused turned towards Cobden or Runanga at .the end of the bridge. ' Georgo Roberts, grocer's assistant, said he had seen accused nine months ago, when ho bought six small tins of sardines from him. The accused said ho was going into the country for a few days. The empty tins (produced) were of the same size and same brand as those he had sold to the accused. He did not know of any other grocers stocking the same brand. Accused, to the Bench: Seeing that I am not represented by counsel, will Your Worship assist me with that question regarding the sardines. It is not a correct question to put. The magistrate said that the question had not been put down. Alcock (recalled) said that he had found a piece of paper off a sardine tin between tho weather boards at tho cottage. What the Boys Saw. Alexander Brown, a boy ten years of age, who was living a quarter of a mile from the empty cottage at the time of the murder, said he remembered seeing a man at the cottage some days before the murder. Ho had blue dungarees, and was getting over a gate. It was then half-past nine in the morning. He never saw him again out there. He saw him with others at the police station, and pointed him out. He knew his face. William O'Neill, aged 13, said that he knew tho emoty house near the scone of the muraer. He occasionally took Alcock's cattle in the evening and morning between the camp and Runanga. On Monday, November 5, he put tho cattle through the gate at the cottage, and heard someone in the house, hut did not see anyone. On the Wednesday following he found the front door open and no one inside. Prior to Thursday he had found the ladder-like exhibit at the back of the house. He got to the paddock with the cows on Friday morning at ten minutes to nine, and remained till a quarter-past nine. The front door was closed on Thursday morning, and the box and ladder were gone. Thomas M'Guire corroborated _ Saunders's evidence in regard to seeing the acoused crossin? tho Cobden Bridge. Christopher Nissen, hairdresser, deposed that he had known the accused for twelve months. On the Saturday after the tragedv" the accused was in his shop about 10.10 p.m. Accused told witness that he had come from Holtitika, where he had been buying land. Witness mentioned the tragedy, and accused seemed surprised, and said he knew nothing about it. The accused .stated that he had an automatic pistol, a beauty, which could fire GO shots a. minute. He said he was a good shot wi.th either hand, and good at both the "drop" und tho "up? fire. Archibald 11. Stewart said he remembered the day before November 8. He was driving slowly along the road about 10 a.m., and came across a birch log across the road near the little flat, with two small saplings on either side. He removed tho obstruction.

| A publican's Evidence. . Harold Webb, publican, Greymouth, said he had known the accused since October 2 last.. He camo to his hotel that day, booked a room, and loft oil the morning of October 11. He said he was representing a firm selling milking machines. Accused had a bicycle, and told witness that his firm liad a lot of money out at Runanga. Several times after leaving the hotel he saw the accused, who told him that he was staying with an old friend. About a week prior .to the Christchurch races he tolcl witness that be would not he able to s<»o them, as lie had a lot of work to do on tho Coast. He then said that the next day would he the last with his friend, 'and that he would hoard at the hotel again. Witness saw accused again on November 10. about !) p.m. Tie wanted to book a room, and asked accused, if ho had been to the races. Ho said: "Yes," but had been unable to stay for the last day. He had no luggage, and said that ho possihly would not occupy the room that niglit, as his things were at

Blackball and lie had to meet friends. They would possibly bo going _ there in a car that night. Next morning he said he had to get his things, ns he had an urgent job nt Hokitika, and was duo back at Christcburch on Tuesday. He stayed at the hotel on Sunday, bad nil his meals there,, and slept in No. 5 room. He told witness that lie -did not roach Blackball till 12.30 on Friday night, and had a good time, but no rest. He had his bicycle at the hotel on Sunday. He left on Monday morning, in time to catch the Hokitika train. He had a suit-case in one hand and a small brief bag in the other. That was the last witness saw of him.

Mr. Hall's Condition serious. Tho hearing of the murder charge is likely to extend till Tuesday. Fourteen witnesses were examined yesterday, and a furthor twenty-seven are to be heard. It is doubtful 'if tho paymaster, Mr. Hall, will be able to give evidence. Yesterday ho had ft bullet extracted from bis arm, but is still in a critical condition, the lower portion of bis body being paralysed. It is understood tho X-rays nt the hospital were not sufficiently powerful to definitely locate the other bullets in the body. The depositions of Mr. Hall were taken_ at the hospital some days ago, and will probably be put in.