ALLEGED MURDER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 September 1928, Page 9

ALLEGED MURDER.

THE KYEBURN CASE PRELIMINARY HEARING. THE ACCUSED’S MOVEMENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 6. The hearing, of the alleged murder charge against William John Hardie was resumed at Naseby. Kathleen Louisa Fox, wife of Constable Fox, said the accused called on July 17, asking for the constable. He seemed to have a cold and was hoarse. She referred him to the' courthouse. Constable Fox reported finding the body of Shorn. His hut was not xan,sacked. A drawer containing papers and letters was open, but a sum of money in the receptacle was untouched. Witness had known the accused, who was on probation, for four months. On July 17 he was expecting Hardie to report, and on leaving the court> house saw Hardie, who handed his paper to witness, saying, “I want you to transfer me to Dunedin. I am not feeling too well, so I’ll go down and stop at my aunt’s place.” Witness replied that it would be better to stop in the country, but Hardie said he wasn’t making headway, arid in Dunedin his aunt would find him a job;. The accused looked ill, having a hot hand and head and a. rapid 1 pulse. Witness advised him to lie up for a few days. The accused said that he had caught a chill, and had not been out of liis llut since the previous Sunday. He stated that he was; going back to his hut that night for (his belongings and was catching the morning train- for Dunedin. Next morning, when witness and ,a doctor were leaving for the scene of the murder, he saw the accused riding into Naseby. The accused said that he (had changed his mind about the transfer, and would return from Dunedin when lie was well and complete his fencing contract. Evidence given after the tea adjournment last night was that Hardie had asked two persons' where the Chinese hut was and that Shum was the only Chinese prospecting in the district.