THE PAHIATUA MURDER

Evening Star, Issue 19579, 10 June 1927, Page 12

THE PAHIATUA MURDER

DEVA KALA SENT FOR TRIAL

[Pbb Dkited Peess Association.]

PAHIATUA, June 9. The inquest on the victim of the hotel murder, Wm. J. Barrett, was held before the magistrate (Mr Fee) and the district coroner (Mr Wilson). Deva Kala appeared in the dock collarless and clad in a navy blue suit and dark tweed overcoat. Accused is 30 years old. and v.as born in Bombay, where ne has a wife and two children. He first came to New Zealand in 1918, and liypd in Blenheim, Stratford, Palmerston North, Hastings, Dannevirhe, then Pahiatua. He is about sftf.loin in height and well proportioned,' with swarthy skin and thick curly black hair. While appearing perfectly calm, his keen black eyes seemed to miss no detail of the proceedings. He had lost some of his color, and gave the impressioa 6f a man who realised the full significance of the serious charge. Wm. Saunders Routledge, day porter, who was working in a shed at the time, and who was called to the kitchen by Davidson, described the ghastly wounds of the victim. He did not see the Hindu there. Subsequently accused, in reply to Mrs Jago, said: “I kill him.” Aslred by the constable where the tomahawk was, he said that it was in the sink. Witness found the chopper, and nothing else in the sink. The water was not and soapy and full of soda. When the chopper was picked out there were no signs of blood on

it. ... Constance Tester, housemaid, was in the pamtry that led to the kitchen, the connecting door being open. She heard a funny noise, a gurgling sound, and then a chair fall. She hesitated a moment, and then went to the pantry door and looked into the kitchen. She saw accused walking away from where Barrett had been sitting. Barrett s ilate was covered with blood, and his jody was lying on the floor. The cook seemed to walk to the fireplace, in the same direction as the door out to the pantry No one else was in the kitchen besides the deceased and accused. Ruby James, waitress, said that at lunch she gave Barrett a cup of tea. The Hindu was quit© near Barrett, cutting bread. She then left the kitchen and went to the dining room. Reaching there, she heard an awful noise, and burned out and saw Barrett on the floor. Davidson was trying to raise him up. Davidson said: “He is gone. ’ Witness proceeded immediately to tho office and saw the Hindu _ standing at the front door dressed in his _ best clothes, a navy blue suit. His kitchen dress was a white coat and white apron. Witness said to the Hindu; “ Whatever happened?” He replied: “Me do not know.” The other waitresses asked the same question. Mrs Jago took the chef into the dining and then returned to the waitresses in the hall and said: “Pull yourselves together, girls, the chef has done it.” Myra Davidson, waitress, said she asked accused at the front door “What has happened to Bill?” hut he did not answer. Mrs Frances Jago, manageress of the Commercial Hotel, said she went from the kitchen to the office and found the chef at the office. The latter then went to the front door. Witness, following, asked him; “Where were you when this happened? Did you see it happen?” Kala said: “I kill him. I kill him.” Accused returned with her to the dining room till the police arrived. Accused and deceased were on the best of terms. The Hindu was leaving the hotel on Monday of his own accord. He was a man of temperate habits. Dr Dawson said he asked the Hindu who was responsible for the deed. He said: “I did it,” Witness asked him what he meant by doing a thing like that, and accused said • ' Come outside and I will explain matters.” Detective Quirke: You did not go?

Witness; No. The doctor added that the wound was more or less of an expert nature—the ordinary layman could not have done it with the same strength and skill. It was done by a person accustomed to use an instrument similar to that used. Constable Burrell said that when accused by Mrs Jago the Hindu made no reply. She asked him what he did it for, and he still made no reply. He noticed that Kala was trembling. Ho was perfectly sober. The sink was full of hot water, and the meat chopper was wet. There were no signs of blood on it. , Wheat charged, the Hindu replied; “All right, I dunno,” but he subsequently said: “ I tell you all about it later on.” , , , The coroner found that deceased met his death from a wound wilfully inflicted by Deva Kala. Accused was them charged with wilful murder. He appeared quite calm and seemed to take an interest in the PI Mr S. ft Siddells, instructed by Mr F. D. M'Cliver (Auckland), appeared for accused and pleaded not guilty. _ Accused was committed for trial in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North on August 2.