TAIHAPE MURDER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 22, 26 January 1924, Page 10

TAIHAPE MURDER

OPENING OF THE TRIAL

STOBY OF A NEW YEAR TRAGEDY,

(«I Ili-ISBAPI—rRE»3 ASSOaATWN.)

TAIHAFE, 25th January,

The Taihape Alagistrate's Court was crowded this morning when the hearing of the charge against Anthony Moghan, of having murdered Gordon John Gemmell on 2nd January, wast opened. Moghan was alert and intensely interested in what was taking place. He leaned over the dock rail, and had aa anxious conversation with his solicitor.

Inspector Fouhy, of Wa&ganui, conducted the prosecution.

Tne first witness was William Olliver who said that on 10th. December GemmeU. and' Moghan had an altercation about some cuttle., Moghan afterwards told Gemmell to come to the house and get his cheque. _H._ Sheroourne said that, on New' iear's Bay he went to Mbghan's ior money, and was met by Gemmell, who told him there was trouble brewing. Moghan asked him if he was going to Uke the women (Mrs. Moghan and Mrs. Bak) into his house, and ac replied, A'o. Moghan said it would be convenient if tha women lived in witness's house, as he could then get a divorce. Witness did not know whether Gemmell was attentive to Mrs. Moghan. ' _ John Jackson, a jiiaori, said he/called as Moghan's on the Sunday morning before l\ew Year. He heard Moghan say that h e wanted to catch Gemmell with his (Moghan's) wife: He went with Moghan to the old brick kiln, where they ■were to spy on Gemmell and Moghan's wife. Moghan said Gemmeli had played him false. Witness again went to Moghan's on New Fear's Day, and Eiley suggested they should: make a day of it. All agreed, and Moghan and Biiey got seven gallons of beer, two bottles of whisky, and two bottles of mm. They returned about 4 in the afternoon, both under the influence of liqnor. ' Gemmell joined them after the cows were milked. They did not finish tie drink, and all were quite ' sober. Next day-Moghan accused Gemmell of carrying on with, his wife. Gemmell denied this, and tie remembered nothing more until he walked to the verandah and heard'Gemmell call out. He saw Moghan come away from Gemmell, who was.: lying down. He asked Moghan what had happened, and Mughan replied: ' 'That has been carrying on with my wife all the time." Gemmell got up and said, "I-think you have broken my arm, An.dy."; Robert Riley said that on 29th December he saw Moghan at the gate of his farm. He. went inside and had a drink. The only other person there was Gemmell. On Sunday afternoon Moghan told him he had paid. Gemmell between ££0 and £60 to go t^> Wellington to "catch" his .wife. Moghan said that Gemmell was meeting his wife' and. another woman every day. Witness stayed at Moghan's on Tuesday, and-he wer' to town with Moghan for liquor. Next morning he helped' Moghan milk, then went to his whare to sleep. The following morning, between'41 arid. 5,; he went to the gate and saw Moghan stooping down in front of the house. Moghan said, "Gome and look what I've'.done, Bob. I've killed the robber. He won't interfere .with my wife any more." Moghan asked if he was dead. The body was quite cold. Moghan \ asked what he should do, and requested witness to help in burying the body. Witness replied, "Not oh your life; I'll ring up the sergeant." Moghan .Was very excited when witness told him, he was going for the police, and said : "I'll : ! soon settle you!" and he' went towards the house, where-be had a gun. Witness did not wait, bu^ went to Spooner's house and told-them that Moghan had murdered '* man. '■'.''■

James Banks stated that on the afternoon of 2nd January he saw Moghan pick up a man, but did not know who the man was. Witness was about 300 yards away. The man laid down in the same place again, and Moghan then went into the house sand came out with "Maori Jack." Witness saw a man in the garden try to rise after Maori Jack and Moghan left him, but he fell back again. Moghan went and picked up the ; man, and went towards the verandah of the house with him. He could not say if he took the man into the house. He could not say if the man Moghan picked up was Gemmell, and could not tell from such a distance if Moghan was drunk. The Court then adjourned to view the Bceno bf the tragedy.