TO STAND TRIAL

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 170, 14 April 1932, Page 9

TO STAND TRIAL

Tragedy at Tomahawk CHARGE OF MURDEREvidence Against O’Connor By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunediu, April 13. Charged that on March 30 at Tomahawk he murdered Findlay Douglas Buchanan, Lewis William O’Connor appeared in the Dunedin Police Court this morning. The inquest was taken with the preliminary hearing of the charge. Dr. Evans, police surgeon, stated that at 1.40 a.m. on March 30 he was called to a house at Tomahawk. Hr saw deceased propped up in bed. Deceased said be had been shot in the side. Witness found a gunshot wound on the left side of the chest, the edges blackened, there being a considerable opening into the chest and abdomen. Doctor’s Question. While awaiting an ambulance witness told deceased there was no hope of recovery, adding: “You know you’re going to die.” Deceased said: “I know.” Witness asked who shot, him, and deceased replied that, it was O’Connor, and that he saw him when he opened the door. Dr. Mason, resident surgeon at tbe Dunedin Hospital, stated that deceased was still conscious when tbe police superintendent saw witness, but _ deceased was not: fit to answer questions. Deceased became unconscious shortly afterward. Dr. Watt, pathologist, who made a post-mortem examination, stated that In his opinion deceased would be from six to nine feet from the gun when the shot was fired. There was no powder staining on deceased’s garments. Widow’s Story. Eileen Caroline Buchanan, wife of deceased, stated that her husband was a relief worker. They were married in 1931. Sbe had known O’Connor for some years, and had a son 3 years and 9 months old, of which O’Connor was the father. She had taken proceedings with regard to the child, and accused had admitted paternity. The child was living with witness at her home. On the night of March 29, so far as she knew, deceased and accused were friendly. She and deceased retired to bed at 9.40 p.m. They were awakened by a knocking, aud her husband went to the door, accused coming iu. He was drunk and asked for a cigarette. Deceased gave him a cigarette, and said, “Now, get away home; it’s late.” Accused said; “Are you putting me out?” He did not seem angry when he said this. Accused, when going, said he wanted to see the boy, but deceased said he could see the child when be was sober. Continuing, witness said they were again disturbed about 1 a.m. Sbe heard a knocking aud heard O’Connor say, "Is Fin there, John?” Her husband went to tlie door. She heard him ojien it, but: nothing more till tlie shot. Going to tbe door of the bedroom she saw her husband on the floor and O’Connor standing inside with a gun. Witness ran for a neighbour, Air. Newton. They found deceased still on the floor, but accused was not there. William James Taber, storekeeper at Tomahawk, said he was disturbed at half-past 1 a.m. on March 30 by a knock at the shop door. O’Connor came to the door and asked for cigarettes, which witness refused. Accused then went away. From his speech witness thought; he was under the influence of liquor. At 1.30 accused returned, and when the knocking persisted witness told O’Conpor that be would send for the detectives. Accused said, “I want to see you. I’ll wait for you.” Accused dropped something with a loud crash on the veranda and ran. A few minutes afterward Albert Newton arrived on tbe veranda and witness telephoned for the police. Later Newton drew attention to a gun on the veranda and found spots of blood on the veranda. Awakened by Loud Noise. Albert Nathaniel Newton said he was awakened by a loud noise like an explosion from the direction of Buchanan’s. It sounded like a gunshot or motor tire bursting. Shortly afterward Mrs. Buchanan knocked loudly on the door, calling “Mr. Newton, come quick.” He went to Buchanan’s home and found deceased with a wound in the chest. Witness went, to Taber’s place to ring for an ambulance, aud there found a double-barrelled gun with no shells in the barrels. Tbe right hammer was up. and he could see that the left barrel had been fired. The barrels above the grip wore covered with blood. Detective’s Story. Acting-Detective Gibson said that, on March 30 he accompanied Superintendent Eccles and Detective-Sergeant Nuttall to accused’s bouse,' where they arrived about 3.50 a.m.. They were admitted by Mrs. O’Connor, but accused was in bed asleep. With some difficulty he was awakened, and while dressing himself he remarked to witness aud the others: “I done the murder,” ami added, “I was not alone, but: I will not say who else was there. It was my hand that pulled the trigger.” He then said he was alone, and shaking hands with Detective-Sergeant Nuttall he remarked that they were not bad sports, and would tell them the truth. He then told them that, his hand had pulled the trigger, and that he had heard Buchanan fall. On the way to the police station accused took from his pocket a cartridge smeared with blood and handed it to witness. At 4.45 a.m. accused, after being given the usual warning, was charged with attempted murder. He made no reply nt the time, but after the charge had been entered in lhe charge book be asked what: be was charged with. Witness again read lhe charge, and accused remarked. “Is that I it?” Later in the morning witness found a discharged shotgun cartridge smearI ed with blood In a place about 150 yards : from Buchanan’s house. When accusI od was arrested there was blood on the I clothing he had been wearing the preI vious day. There was a cut on the tip of his thumb and there was blood on I his hand.

Uelectlve-Sergeant Nuttall corroborated the previous witness’s evidence. After several other witnesses had given evidence accused pleaded not guilty and was eoniinittc'l to the Supreme Court for trial.