CHARGE OF MURDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 150, 14 March 1918, Page 8

CHARGE OF MURDER

THE KARIOI TRAGEDY

STORY OF A CAMP QUARREL

ACCUSED PLEADS NOT GUILTY

(By Telegraph—Special Eeporter.)

Ohakune, March 13,

A charge of murder, arising out of' tho tragedy at Larson and Austin's metal camp at Karioi on the morning of Sunday, February 24, wae heard by Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., at Ohakuno to-day. Tho victim of tho tragedy was Peter Larson, and tho man accused of having murdered him is John Robertson, one of his camp mates, with whom Larsen is said to have quarrelled during a beer and card party a few hours previously. Robertson is a man of rather striking physique.and apparently is nering the half century of years. Standing over six feet high, broad and spare of flesh, he typifies the busliman. The Inquest Concluded. Prior to the opening of the case against Robertson the District Coroner, flir. J. J. Pilkington, concluded the inquest touching Larsen's death. He returned the following verdict: That tho deceased, Peter Larsen, died from injuries to his head caused by a blow from eonie bard instrument, such blow having been inflicted upon him by some person unknown. At the hearing of tho murder case Mr. Marshall, Crown Prosecutor, Wanganui, appeared for the police, and i Superintendent Hendrey also was present. Mr. W. H. , Tustin, of Ractihi, appeared as counsel for Roberteon. One of the chief witnesses was Robertson's tent mate, William Farrow, the camp cook. Farrow said that on Saturday, February 23, he retired to bed at about 8 p.m. At about midnight some- of tho men returned to camp and he was aroused and asked to have some beer. Robertson also was aroused. The men assembled in the galley where they drank bottled ale and played cards. During the c'ards Peter Larson, accused Robertson of cheating, saying "You have got cards under the table. You reneged the last hand. You are robbing my camp mates. You are a' spieler." Peter Larsen, who wae fairly drunk, struck Robertson. Hans Larsen, the boss of the camp, intervened. Robertson had said that ho had not won any money. Witness was sober and Robertson was fairly sober and knew what he was doing. Tho party broke up at four o'clock on Sunday morning, and witness retired to bed. Some time afterwards he noticed Robertson getting out of bed. Robertson dressed and went out. Ho took up a pick-head and walked in tho direction of Hans Larsen's tent. Witness got up and woke Hans' Lareen and when they went to Peter Larsen's tent they found Peter bleeding at the head, and breathing heavily and groaning. Five minutes later he was dead. Wit- j ness saw a pick-head lying nearby. j

_ Dr. W. J. Feltham deposed that the injuries to the head caused the death of Larson, and that ho considered it probablo that the injuries had been caused by a blow with an instrument such as a pick-head.

John Jackson, a Maori worker at tho camp, deposed that on the day on which the inquest was opened Roberteon, who was then under arrest, had asked him "who won all the money." Witness replied that he did not know, and Robertson had then said that that had been the cause of the whole trouble. Robertson had also said that he had not won anything.'

Mr. Tustin: How much beer was brought into camp on the Saturday night?

Jackson: A ten-gallon keg, a twogallon keg, and about fourteen bottles. Witness added that originally there wore thirty-six bottles, but they had reached camp with only fourteen.

Hans Larscu, contractor, said' that when they returned to camp Peter Larsen woke ltobcrtson, fiancli, and Farrow, and they came out to tho galley. TJio one other man who had remained in' camp did not get out of bed and join the party at tho galley. Cards were played in the galloy, but witness went to sleep. Later there was a row in which Peter Larsen accused Robertson of card-swindling. J'etcr struck Robertson and also hit him when he was down. I'eter was about to continue to hit Robertson while the latter was on the ground, but witness intervened. Thereupon Peter taid that witness was as bad as Robertson. I'eter was very angry and said that ho would pack.up and leave the campf Before the row, Peter was drunk, but the row sobered him and he was all right when ho left to go to bed. Robertson's face was cut and bruised. Later witness heard Peter's voice in the galley. He understood he 'was having a farewell word with someone, but couldn't say who it was with. However, he understood that it was Robertson.

Henry Poolo, gang foreman, said that on Saturday ho went to tho waterhole with Robertson. Witness remarked: "Peter is down and out." Robertson said: "No fear." Witness replica: "Too right. Go and have a look." Later in tho day Robertson repaid him some money borrowed on the previous night, and said that he was fjoing out of camp, but would return in the evening. He returned ac-. cordingly.

Louis Sarich said that on the Sunday morning he was awakened, and went to the galley, where he joined the party. They drank beer and played cards. Some of tho party were very drunk, some less inebriated, and several quite sober enough, to know what they were doing. After the row in the galley he heard Peter Lnrsen using threatening language to Robertson, saying that they did not want card-sharpers in tho camp, and that ho "would kick him out, or murder him, or words to that effect." The Magistrate: Did he use the worn murder? Witness: No, I am not certain that ho did. The Magistrate: Then we cannot put it that way. Mr. Tubtin: If the same language had been used to you, would you have been afraid? Witness: Yes, if they were iised by a stronger man than myself. Constable A. M'Cowan, of Raetihi, who, with Constable Anniston, arrested Robertson, said that Robertson had told them that ho had refused several requests on the previous night to get up and drink, but someone had brought him a bottle of beer, which he said would do him later, as he objected to drinking in camp. He had eventually got up, promised to have one drink, and bad gone to the galley. There tho mugs had betm filled up over and over again, till all the men had bneomo more or less drunk. "* They had started a game of bridge, but had been too drunk to plav, and had played nap inst"ad. He bad lent Peter Larson £1, and Larsen bad lost the money. When Robertson had been informed that he would bo arrested, ho said, "I expected that," He had boon warned in tho ordinary way as to anything he might say, and had replied, "1 nm just telling you the truth. It was the liquor thoy brought lwre that caused tho whole trouble —the cursed etnff. If they had only kept it out of the camp. It is a serious tlr'ng for me. ■ I suppose it will be a Supreme Court case. I knew that you fellows would bo along, but I did not expect you to-night. I thought you

would bo along in the morning. I told the moil yuu would be up lor ino in tho morning." Immediately after tho first day of the inquest, RobcrUon, while sitting in the cookhouse with his face buried in his hands, had asked, "Is this all they are going to do today?" AVitness said "Yes." Robertson stared at the floor of the tent a whilo in sileiice, and then remarked: "This is a very serious business for me, anyway." Constable James Anniston, of Ohakune, deposed that on the way from tho camp to tho motor-car Robertson had said, "It is a bad business. Only for tho cursed booze it would not have happened." On tho road in, witness had advised Robertson to get a. solicitor, and next morning had asked him if ho had made up his mind about it. Robertson had answered: "I don't think that any of them can do much for a man in the position 1 am in, but they may bo able to speak for me. I will have Tustin." Later ■ in the morning Robertson had said, "It is a sad affair. .People get into trouble for other people's business." Robertson reserved his- defence, and was committed for trial at the session of the Supremo Court which is to open at Wanganui on May 27.