The Poverty Bay Murder.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 5890, 23 July 1890, Page 2

The Poverty Bay Murder.

fPEB r&KSS ASSOCIATION.]

GrsBOEKE, Last night. At tho R.M. Court this morning William Black was charged with tho murder of Hubert Streeter about March last, Mr A. JI. Nolan appeared for the Crown and Mr. Lincoln liees for tho accused.

Dr. Junes gave evidence as to the identification of tho body nud finding , gunshot wounds in the head and lead in the brain.

Elizabeth Streeter, wife of the deceased, deposed that tho prisoner stayed at her house tho lust twelve mouths. iStreeter and Black took n fencing contract in Fobruary last and they left town. Since then she hud received letters every week from Klack which had been burnt after reading. Tho prisoner earao to town several times and lodged at her house. At the end of March Black said that Streeter had left, to come to town a fortnight before. That was tho only conversation she over hud with Black about her husband. When tho police interviewed her sho sent immediately for Black, who came to town, and gave her a horso iti payment for his board in case he should Le arrested. Black gave her a wedding ring on July Oth. Sho suggested lie should give her the ring as it was an old one, worn out. Prior to Streeter'a disappearance tho letters from Black came addressed to Mrs Wills. Afterwards Le addressed her as Mrs Streeter. Sho hud received various turns of money from Black for board. Mrs 1 rice came to her placo when Black wss present and said, "What about Bob?"' (meaning .Streeter). " What would hi my if he uatno iv now ? " Black repli. d, '' No fear of his coining." Strwtor. had left he* i^ioe

before, 12 or 16 years since, for short periods, and her idea was that he would not bother about Black much.

Charles Price, a son of Mrs Streeter's first husband, was the next witness, and was frequently cautioned for withholding evidence. He deposed that he workedat the camp with Black after Streeter disappeared. Nsver had but one short conversatiou with Black regarding Streeter. Black gave him his watch and chain in case he was arrested as part payment of witness's wages. Witness burnt Black's felt hat while drying it. Black had said it was his hat, and witness did not know it belonged to Streeter.

Mary Price deposed that she went to Streeter's hout-e and found Mrs Streeter and Black in a bedroom together. Witness said, " Where would you two be if Bob comes in now ?" Black replied, "No fear of him coming in." Witness bad a conversation, withgßlack about Streeter's disappearance and the rumors that were afloat against Black. The latter said, " I know they will never find him. He is stowed away on some big vessel." Witness said, "They say you went shooting in the bush with him, and that you came back without him." He replied that he only went 200 yards in the bush before they sat down and smoked. Mrs Streoter had torn up some phootos belonging to her husband's friends in the presence of witness. She said that her husband had gone to Napier. At this stage the Court adjourned until to-morrow.