PUKEKAWA MURDER

Feilding Star, Volume XVI, Issue 4148, 19 November 1920, Page 2

PUKEKAWA MURDER

TRIAL OF SAMUEL THORN

(Per Pi ess Association). Auckland, November 18. In the Pukekawa murder trial today, Sergeant J. T. Cowan, police officer in charge of the Pukek'oke district, was in charge of the police party that visited Eyre's house early on the morning after the murder. The sergeant testified in the finding of a horse shoe print. He and Detective Sergeant Cummings measured the prints very carefully, and followed them to a junction whero a branch ran off the main road to Glen Murray. Along this road tho tracks turned back, crossed the highway, and went on towards Glen Murray. Witness, with Detective Sergeant Cummings, arrived later at Granville's place, and saw the accused, who was asleep in a whare. Detective Sergeant Cummings told him Eyre had been shot the night before by some person with a shotgun. Thorn said "Yes." Detective Sergeant Cummings said "The top of bis head was blown off with a shot." Thorn said "Yes." Detective Cummings -then said they had come to see if Thorn could assist inquiries. Answering questions, Thorn told the detective that he was at Eyre's "last Sunday week." Thorn said Sid Eyre and he did not get on too well, but he got on all right with the rest. Witness did not see a gun in the whare, but saw a gun case under, the bed. Accused gave Detective Sergeant Cummings the key of the case, and the detective took the gun and 55 cartridges. Two police officers examined the gun and Detective Sergeant Cummings said: "This has been recently cleaned." Thorn said "I cleaned it yesterday or to-day." The cartridges were all "Peter's high gun" No. 6

and No. 7. Detective Sergeant Cummings handed the gun to witness, who examined it, and found both barrels clean, the left being particularly so. Witness smelt the breech of the gun and said to ---Detective Sergeant Cummings "Smell the powder." Detective Sergeant Cummings then asked accused when he fired the gun last, and accused said: "1 ■ may have used it since I came over here, or I may not." He said he had shot a rabbit with it over at Granville's house. Detective Sergeant James Cummings, who was in charge of "the police inquiry, described the course of investigations as'described' by previous witnesses. On September_ 2 witness interviewed Thorn, i-1 a ting that'statements had been made by Mrs Eyre and her two sons. Accused asked what Mrs Eyre bad said about him. He added that he would give the police all the assistance in his power. The statements were then road* to him, and he made a further statement. Witness proposed to read Mrs Eyre's statement, and Mr Singer made a formal objection, which was noted. It was then agreed that the statement, should not be read, but handed to the jury for perusal. Accused's statement in reply was then read.

On September 4., continued witness, ln> interviewed accused again, and told him about the statement he had been reported to have made at Taukau regarding pulling someone else in if arrested. He asked the accused to say who that was, and the latter refused. Pressed to say who it was, accused said "No, I won't say. No stranger did it anyway. It must have boon done by someone having [ knowledge, and no stranger could I have done it." He added that he did k not suggest Mrs Eyre or any of tho family nad done it. Thorn was then confronted by Mrs Eyre, and they ; had a conversation which witness npt- ' cd. This was the conversation which witness noted. This was the converj sation at Taukau referred to by Mrs I Eyre in evidence. Witness then read i his note of conversation. This took place after the accused had refused to say who it was to whom he referred l T at Taukau Hotel. At that time ac- * cased said he had heard that there were two shots fired. He also said that if two were fired in quick suc--1 cession the person concerned would I have his arm grazed against the winl dow. Before leaving accused again } ' said he would not gay whom he meant that he would drag •in if arrested. On September 11 accused was arrested and charged with the murder. He said "Right oh!" and was taken to the police station at Taukau. When advised to get a solicitor, he said "What good could a solicitor do for me, now?" Accused said further, "Don't be too hard on me. A man I doesn't want to be too callous.' The case was adjourned.