MURDERED BARMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 133, 9 June 1927, Page 13

MURDERED BARMAN

INQUEST OPENED

ACCUSED'S STATEMENT

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

' PAHTATUA, This Day. '■ The inquest on the hotel murder case is proceeding before the Magistrate, Mr. S. L. P. Free,' and District Coroner, Mr. J. D.. Wilson. Constable T. Swan said that, in responso to a message he arrived at the Commercial Hotel at 1.40 p.m. last Saturday and in the kitchen he saw the barman, William J. Barrett, lying in a pool of blood. At the police station the accused Hindu cook, Deva Kala said, I have had bad luck to-day. I have a wife and two boys in Bombay, India." Witness asked of what religion the accused was and he replied, "Hindu." The accused repeated that he had had bad luck in Pahiatua that day. He alleged that the barman came into the kitchen for his lunch and said "Are you leaving on Monday?" The accused replied, "Yes, I have given a week's notice. Tho barman called me a black woolly —: . I had a bread knife in my hand and cut his head." The witness said that the Hindu. talked about his wife and two boys, saying that he came to New Zealand in 1919, went back to Bombay in 1921, and returned ; to New Zealand in 1923; He had been, a fortnight at tho Clu\- Hotel, and two months at the Commercial. He was sober and calm. Thomas Davidson, the kitchenman, said that the deceased and himself exchanged' greetings ' shortly before the tragedy, while Barrett was on his way to lunch in the kitchen. Later he heard moans and saw Barrett on the floor. He thought that the deceased was in a fit and caught him by the shoulder. As he was afterwards going into the kitchen he passed the accused going put. He had not heard anything in the way of a discussion between the deceased and the accused. Subsequently he said to the accused, "Did you do that to Bill!" and Kala replied, "I kill him." The only other thing he said was, "the chickens are in the oven, Tom." This remark referred .to the dinner which was being prepared for the night. The accused used to.cut up the bread with a small Chinese chopper. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. Mrs. Frances Jago, of the!hbtel, said that the accused and the deceased were, on the best of terms. The Hindu was leaving the. hotel on Monday on his/own accord. He was a man of temperate habits. Dr. Dawson said he asked the Hindu who did it, arid, he said, "I did it." The wound was of a. more or less expert nature; the ordinary layman could not' have, .done., it with the same strength and skill. It. was done by a person accustomed to the use of an instrument similar to that used. Constable B.urrell said that when Mrs. Jago asked Kala what ho did it for, he made no reply.. He noticed that Kala was trembling and he was perfectly sober. When charged, the. Hindu replied,; "AH right, I dunno," but subsequently he said, "I tell you all about it later." . . . . The Coroner returned a verdict that the deceased met his death from a wound wilfully inflicted by Deva Kala. The accused., was, then; charged, with wilful murder. ■ He appeared quite calm. Mr. S. K. Siddclls, instructed by Mr..F. D* M'Liver, of Auckland, pleadI ed not guilty on behalf of the accused, who was committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Palmerston North on 2nd August. DVva-' Kelap who is' 36- years of age, was born in' Bombay, and- camo , to New Zealand in 1918. Ho has lived in. Blenheim, Stratford, PalmeTston North, Hastings, and Danuevirke.