EXTRA EDITION. WESTPORT MURDER CASE.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 115, 17 May 1909, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION. WESTPORT MURDER CASE.

TRIAL OF CONNOLLY. <-BT TKI/KJRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. The trial of William Connolly, charged with the murder of Ernest John Burke, at Westport, on the night of 3th May, 1908, was commenced in the Supreme Court this morning. Mr. T. W. Stringer, K.C., who appeared for the Crown, in an exhaustive opening speech, set out the facts as follow* : — Burke was found in a dying condition in a stable yard, and Olaf Halinan and Andrew Anderson, two seamen, were charged with having caused his death. They were convicted, and while in gaol Hahnan died. Subsequently Connolly, who had been a witness in* the trial, was charged with having committed perjury m the case, and was convicted on this charge. Anderson was pardoned, and released. Connolly was now charged with having committed the murder. Mr. A. C. Hanlon, of Dunedin, is appearing for the defence. • The case is proceeding. In all sixty-three witnesses will give evidence in the case. William Murray, a seaman on the Cygnet, gave evidence as to what happened at the G.C.E. Hotel on Bth May. He saw a mar lying on a rofa, whom the proprietress ordered out. Connolly assisted the man, taking him to Price's Hotel, where both disappeared from view. Connolly came back a quarter of an hour later, out of breath and running, with his hands and face covered with mud. He said he had fallen over the other man. Both then went to Price's, where a policeman came in, and used the telephone. Connolly wanted to go into the telephone room, but was not allowed. The constable, when he came out of the room, said a man had been found dead in ,a shed opposite. All went to the shed, and found the man, whom Connolly had taken to Price's previously. At the inquest on Bourke witness sat next to Connolly. A knife and pipe belonging to Bourke were found in Connolly's possession, which Connolly said Bourke must have put in his pocket.