THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume XCIV, Issue 133, 3 December 1917, Page 3

THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY

MURDER CHARGE

FURTHER EVIDENCE TAKEN

(»I TELEGRAPH.— PRHB AStOCIATION.)

GREYMOUTH, Ist December.

The hearing of the murder charge against"Eggers was resumed this morning. Joseph Garney swore that accused was the man in the empty hut near the scene of the tragedy.

Frederick Aleock said that the tools, ladder, etc., found on the road were his property, and had been taken from his empty hut. He had seen a man there whose appearance corresponded with that of the accused.

Timothy Saunders, labourer, who was working on the Cobden Bridge repairs on Bth October, said that he met the accused, with' his bicycle, at the end of the bridge. He had known the ac. cused as M'Mahon for about fourteen) months. The accused crossed the bridge and.went up the hill towards CoaJ Creek. A fortnight later he met.:accused again, and said to him.: " Still, here?" Accused answered : " Yes:'!- Witness said : " You must have a h—^-1 of a good thing on?" The accused 1 replied : "There is a. lot doing between Rurianga, Bruriner, and Blackball." He did not know what accused's business was, 1, but understood that he was a commercial traveller. He saw him crossing the. bridge several times after 24th October, and always going towards the Cobden side and always between 9 and 10 in the morning. When ho saw the accused going- over the bridge on Bth November, the morning; before the murder, about 9 o'clock, he' was off his " bike," waiting for the traffic to clear. The " bike " had a carrier, bearing a small parcel. George Roberts, grocer's assistant, eaid he had seen accused nine months ago, when he bought, six email tins of eardines, from him.. The accused eaid he was going into the country for a few days. The empty tine (produced) were of the same eize and same brand as those he had sold to the accused. He did not know-of any other grocers stocking the came brand.

Accused, to the Bench: Seeing that I am.not represented by counsel, will yoiir Worship assist me with that question regarding the sardines. It is not a correct question to put. ' The Magistrate said that the question had not.been put down: ' . ' :, Alcock (recalled) said that he had found a piece of paper off a sardine tin between, the weather boards at the cottage." •'■ . '..-■ '

EVIDENCE OP TWO BOYS. , .Alexander Brown, a boy ten years of age, .who was. living .a quarter of a mile from the empty cottage at ths time of the murder, said he remembered seeing a man at the cottage "some days before the murder. He had blue dungarees on, and was getting over a- gate. It was then half-past nine in the morning. He never saw him again out there. He, saw him with othera at the police station, and pointed him out. He knew his face. William O'Neill; aged 13, said that he knew the empty house near the scene of the murder. < He occasionally took AI- j cock's cattle in the evening and morning between the camp and Runanga. On Monday, sth November, he put the cattle through the gate at the cottage, and heard someone in' the. house, but did not (see anyone. On the Wednesday-fol-lowing he found the front door pperi'and no one inside. Prior to Thursday he had found the ladder-like exhibit at the back .of .the house. He got to the paddockwwith tlie cowe on Friday morning at ten minutes to nine, and remained till a quarter . jiast nine. The front door] was closed on Thuraday morning, and! the box and ladder we're gone; ' | Thomas M'Guire corroborated' Saunders's evidence in regard to Beeing the accused Crossing the Oobden Bridge. - Christopher Nissen, hairdresser, deposed that he had known the accused for twelve months. On the Saturday after the tragedy the accused was in his shop about 10.10;. p.m. Accused told witnessthat, he had come from Hokitika, where 'he-had been;buying land. Witness mentioned "the tragedy, and accused seemed surprised, and said ho knew nothing .about it. ,The accused stated that :he had an automatic 'pistol, a beauty, which could fire '60 shots a minute. Ho said he s was a good shot with either hand,- and Rood at-.both the "drop" and the "up" 'fire. . , .:. :,.'. . ( '■-. ; •■■.■■ Archibald' H. .Stewart said he remembered the day before Bth November. He was driving slowly along the road about 10 a.m.?' ahdicahie across a birch log across the road near the little flat, with two small saplings on either- side. He iremoved the obstruction.

MORE BEGARDING ACCUSED'S . MOYEJIENTS. ■'" -| j Harold \^ebb, publican, • Greymouth,; said he had known the accused since 2nd', October last. He came to his hotel that 1, day t booked a room, and''left'on the' morning of 11th October. Ho said ha was representing- a firm selling milking machines.- Accused had:a bicycle, and' i told -witness that, hie firm had a lot of money out at Runanga. Several times. after leaving the hotel he saw ' the, accused, who told him that he was stay-. I ing W|ith an' old friend . About a week! prior to the Christchurch races he told witness that,he would not be able to see them, as he had a lot of work to do on the Coast. He then said - that the next day would be the last witli his friend,: and. that be would board al the hotel again. Witness saw accused agiiin on lOtli November, about.,9 p.m. He wanted to book a^-opm, and asked accused if ho hud been to the races. He fcaid: "I res," but had been'unable to slay for the last day. Hu had no luggage, and iaid that he possibly would not occupy the. room that night, as his things were at Blackball and he had to meet friends. They would possibly be going. there in a car that night. Next morning he tjaid he had lo get his! things,'as ho. had an urgent Job-at .-Hokitika, and was due" back at Christchurch on Tuesday. He stayed at the Hotel on. Sunday, had all his meals j there, and sleijt in. sio. 5 room. . He told j witness that lie did not reach. Blackball! till 12.30 on Kriday night, and had a' good time, but ho rest. He had his bi.cycle at the hotel on Sunday. He left on Monday morning, in time to catch the Hokitika train. He had a suit-case in one hand and a small brief bag in the J other. That wan the last witness saw . of him. . • ' .•.',••'.