FARMERS’ DEADLY FEUD

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1930, Page 2

FARMERS’ DEADLY FEUD

QUARREL ENDS IN FIGHT.

One of the strangest tragedies that ever baffled the police force of South Africa is still shrouded in mystery, despite months of investigation and the trial at Johannesburg on a charge of murder, of Jacobus Petrus Kershoff, a well-known farmer. He was alleged to have shot Daniel Botha, member of the famous family of that name. Botha and Kershoff were neighbours, but only in name. There developed between them a feud as bitter as the veldt country has ever known. They were constantly at loggerheads, and the quarrel culminated in a fight. Some days later Botha’s dead body, with a gun alongside it, was found on the veldt. Kershoff was arrested, and charged with the crime but was found “not guilty” and acquitted. Amazing evidence was given at the trial, where Mrs Kershoff spoke of the fight between her husband and Botha. Kershoff was mending a shoe at the time. Botha asked him where he found his horses, and on Kershoff denying any knowledge of the animals, Botha demanded a horse from him. A struggle between the men followed, Botha having the better of the duel and getting Kershoff on the ground. He pressed his knees on his chest, and witness, fearing her husband was going- to faint, grabbed an axe, with the, intention of “chopping” Botha. She was prevented from doing so by a man named Swart. The fight greatly upset Kershoff, who remained at home for several days. During this evidence, Miss Botha, sister of the deceased, took Mrs Kershoff’s baby from "her, as the mother was obviously feeling the strain.

A sensational story was told by a native in Kershoff’s employ. He declared that, following the fight, he saw Kershoff, armed with a. gun, meet Botha, who was on horseback. Botha asked Kershoff was doing on his land, and following some other observations, Botha said “You shoot!”

There was a. shot at 10 yards’ range. Botha fell from the horse, and accused chased lhe animal up the hill. Kershoff subsequently warned witness not. to divulge anything of what had happened, and said he had placed the gun beside deceased’s side so as to make it appear as though the weapon had gone off accidentally when lhe horse bolted.

Kershoff stated in evidence tb;it he had a few words with Botha concerning the whereabouts of his horses. Witness knew nothing about the animals, but deceased seemed very annoyed. Subsequently Botha attacked him, and accused may have accidentally cut deceased with his knife, but he denied stabbing him. The jury’s verdict of “Not Guilty” was unanimous.

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