THE TAIHAPE MURDER

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 104, 28 January 1924, Page 7

THE TAIHAPE MURDER

CHARGE AGAINST MOGHAN] By Telegraph—Press Association. Taihape, January 26. Tte hearing of evidence in connection with the charge of murder against Anthony Moghan was continued in the Magistrate’s Court to-day. Cyril Nicholls corroborated the evidence of Moghan’s admission of having killed Gemmell. Moghan appeared perfectly sober, and showed no sign’ of having been fighting. Sergeant Matthews, stated that on; the morning of Januaiy 3, he. received a message that a man had been kilted at Moghan’s farm, and with Constable Gerraghty he proceeded by. motor-car to the farm, picking uip Robert Riley on the way. On his arrival tho accused came from the direction ofl his house and said: “I give myself in charge. I killed him. Riley had nothing to do with it. He called me ‘A! lrishbred mongrel.’ I struck him with my fist.” The constable, Riley, Moghan, and witness then walked towards the houte. He saw the body of a man lying on the grass a few yards from the veranda. He did not know at the time whose body it was, and asked Moghan, who replied l “Gemmell.” Witness stated that hie examined the house, and on the floor at the bottom of the kitchen door, found a patch of blood. On the din-ing-room floor, between the open fireplace and Gemmell’s room, were some bloodstains which appeared to have had water thrown on them, and to. have been swept towards the fireplace., In Gemmell’s room the bed was disordered, and the bedding was bloodstained. There were sp’ashes of blood! on two of the walls, the side of the bed, and the head of the bed, and some of the blood splashes were within twblve inches of the ceiling, whicu was five feet above the top of the bed. On the floor towards the door there were some more bloodstains, and there wtere also more bloodstains at the foot of the bedroom door. In Moghan’s room they found a heavy pair of working boots, which were bloodstained on the toes, soles, and heels. He searched for any weapons likely to have inflicted the wounds,; but failed to find any. At the police station. Moghan said he would like to make a statement in writing, and liei made the following statement: I, Anthony Moghan, of Ruakura, farmer,' wish to make the following statements A man named R. G. Riley, who is employed by me, informed me yesterday that tho deceased Gemmell and al Maori named John Jackson, commonly known as Maori Jack, had planned to kill me. Gemmell was in my house at the time, and. Riley and I came from tho cowshed, and on entering-the kitchen Gemmell called me ‘A —- Irishbred mongrel.’ He made this statement several tunics, and then rushed at me. I guarded and struck him with my fist. He struck me first, and I hit him in self-defence Ho hit me twice on the chest. Tins happened early in the afternoon. I had paid, Gemmell off on January 1, 1924. tie refused to leave the place Later m the evening Riley and I found , en ’‘Z moll lying on the ground in front of mv house. He was insensible and we tried to bring him round but he did not come round. I sent Ri.fey to ring un for the police and the doctor. Ho went to Banks’s place to ring up, but he was away. Ho then went away and I told him to go into Taihape and inform tho police and tho doctor. Moghan added that hb would not say ore until he had seen his solicitor, ■1 that he (Moghan) would not bring 's wife into this.” , , Constable Gerraghty corroborated the evidence of the previous witness. When they were bringing Mogtian ana Rilov into the lock-up, Moghan said, “I killed him. Riley had nothing to do with it. I struck him with mv fista in self-defence, didnt I. Bob. one answered, and a little later bo repeated tho statement. Riley replied, “I cannot sav whether you struck mm or not. If you did, you will have to nut up with the consequences Dr H. M. Hay gave evidence as to the injuries ho found on the bodv. In his opinion death was due to shock from hemorrhage caused by the fracture of the skull. Some of the ither injuries would have been sufficient to cause death. . . Constable King, stationed at laihape, said he escorted accused to Maliganui on January 4. On tho way to the station Moghan said: “I suppose I’ll get five or six years for this. Witness replied: “It’s hard to say what you’ll get.” The last time witness saw Gemmell alive was on rsew* Year’s Eve. when ho was in company with Mrs. Moghan and Mrs. Bak, between 11.30 and 11.45. Gemmell was leading a- horse and was sober at the time. Witness was with Scigeant Matthews and Constable Gerraghty. Dr. Gordon Mac Diarmid said he assisted Dr. Hay in tho post-mortem examination of the body of Gemmell, There were thirteen wounds on tha head, on the face, scalp, and skin.