COLDSTREAM TRAGEDY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 147, 22 June 1923, Page 8

COLDSTREAM TRAGEDY

KISSEL CHARGED WITH MURDER

ACCUSED CONSIDERED TO BE A

"BIT SOFT."

(Bt TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

ASHBURTON, This Day,

Albert Kissel was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning, before Mr. Mosley, S.M., with the murder of James MacKenzie, caretaker of Coldstream estate, nino days ago.

Robert Martin, manager of the estate, gave evidence regarding Kissel's admission that he had shot MacKenzie. He identified a bullet found in an adjoining room, and identified MacKenzie's handwriting on a will and letter produced.

The police stated that the will was uncompleted, and that it included Kissel as <i beneficiary.

- Allan Robert Gourley, school teacher, described a conversation with accused after the murder.. Kissel was bitterly distressed, and complained of having a terrible nightmare.

Archibald Little, accused's employer, said Kissel gave notice the day preceding the murder, being irritated because Little took a knot out of a rope coupling two horses. He always considered Kissel a. "bit soft."

George Henry Burch, gardener, repeated a conversation with Kissel, whose memory appeared to be paralysed.