THE TAPANUI MURDER.

Mataura Ensign, Issue 1539, 14 September 1905, Page 2

THE TAPANUI MURDER.

MAGISTERIAL PR()CKKI)I Nt ;s. f By Telegraph. (From Our Special Itepprter. i Ttipnnui, Thi- I'm. 1 . At lhi- Tapanui Court yesterday. Titos. .StoLt and (icorcc Kill 1 it<mi!<■> were charg'ed before Air S. I'.. McCarthy. S.JI., with tlie murder of llain Sing Tong', at Tapanui. Mr -I. I'. 11. Fraser appeared for t' ■<" Crown and Air A. C'. Llanlon, with him Air A. (i. C. filler. f< >r the accused. I pwards of 'lO witnesses have to be examined. 13oth accused preserved an air of indifference and presented a most incongruous spectacle. Stott is tall ami raw-boned and is a half-caste Australian aboriginal. Bromley is a slim, fuir-huired boy in liis teens. Prior to hearing the en*- the Mau'isirate and counsel examined the Chinaman's hut. Tile Court was crowded, and proceedings commenced at -'.-'ill. In opening. Air Krase,- said thai ju litis case, which was a charge of wilful murder, lie did not think i( neces s;o\ to open at length. us there "as u \ei-y large number of witnesses io be c.iamined and there was no need to ui.'itly protract tin; proct edings. It was merely necessary that he should inline ill II few Word: I lie ease acainst the two accused and brielly ih<lieate the evidence that was to be {.III forward b\ the Crown in -upport of the charge against them. bc,-<-a-ed was a Chinaman who had lived at Tapanui for a £Jood few yi ars. lie was inoffensive, harmless, and ■ i :'ii ii> habits, and had accumulated considerable saving's, living hi a small roomed cottage a short distance from the township. All the rooms were small, and there was also a garret. 'I lie front door opened into the centre room, or what would be called a hall in larecr houses, and on the left inside of the door was decease,i\ bedroom. a little place largely taken up In siindrv articles and boxes, leaving „ s,„>,fl space sft :iin by Ifi L'in. I)c ceased was last seen alive about ."i.W p.m.. by Alex. Curric, on Monday evening. August 21, as he was tak.big his horse to his stable. Monday was the day on which hi; was murdered. On the following day, at 2 p.m.. Ah Cliong had occasion to visit deceased, and found him lyinsj dead in his hut. The outside door had a small pane of glass let into i( which would enable deceased to sec; any person calling up on him. The door itself had a key. and was also closed on the inside b> two wooden catches. On the Tues day. when the house was visited by Cliong. the door was unlocked and the catches were burned down inside, leaving the door open, so that at Ihi outset it was clear that whoever en lercd was admitted by deceased. Ai: the windows were securely fastened Whoever trot ill was admitted ami pre sitmnblv known by deceased. 'I In accused' stott admitted having •in the hut some little time at:", and Bromley was apparently a fre,|iicnl visitor and knew deceased well. W hei the body was discovered and exaniin ed there was clear evidence of death and evidently deceased had been strncl-: down by a blow front a glass Willie portions of glass having been fouic in his wounds, and he had been subsequently shot by a weapon held at a higher elevation than deceased's head Probably he was shot after bene, struck to the ground. Then an at tempi was made to barn the hut. and deceased's body was found partially burned about' the lower limbs : and there would be medical testimony that some of the burns were caused while deceased was alive, so the, mi-h assume that practically v hat happen ed was that an at tempt was mm!'- !< burn the hut and the man when le was at the point of 'death. When dc ceased was examined there was .- neckerchief of unusual clcnciicd itt one of his hands. )>h»td

stained an<! partially burned. \Wie? the body was lifted from the door a waist strap was found underneath, both of which articles wen- iinportnn 1 elements in the present ea--e. Th« bullet wound was inflicted by a bullci discharged from atf A#2 rille. The accused Bromley had in his pos<cv>io: at ihal time a rille that would <IW chargo a similar bullet as that whic! cai'strd ilk' death of the demised. I' hat I been borrowed by Bromley an-' not returned, and when interrogate!* by tiie police prior to his arrest a to (he recent possession by him o" cartridges, accused denied having pur eluded them, Init subsequently, whor informed that the cartridges war sold to him, admitted the fact. At this si ago they had posession of a rifle ami ammunition cor responding with ammunition of th--ball that caused deceased's death, an : it v ould be proved that on that the two accused, who shared the sambed in a small hut in Bromley's father's yard, were in the township and left to uo to their own home <oin.lime a little after nine o'clock. Thei;• hut was about '25 minute.--' walk from deceased's, so hero they had the two accused in elosc proximity of th" scene of the murder. In addition, there was found underneath the bod\ a waist-belt. Evidently soinct'hinir i M the nature of a struggle had taken place before deceased was struck down, and a reasonable suirirestinn ma<le by counsel was that in hi simple deceased tore from the wa'wt of either of the accused the licit pro duced, which was pariialb charred )»•• fire ami broken evidently a' a wealspot. The belt that ui 14ht was practically the property of Bromley. Thei it was, just as torn from the waM of one of the accused, when it had fallen under the body and was let; there unnoticed as witness against litaccused. In deceased's hand wir found a neckerchief, blood stained and burned, It had been in the <ame struggle and was evidently lorn from the neck of oue of the accused. 1: was of rather an unusual texture, and ho would prove to the Court that iStolt was possessed of a second exactly simiiur neckerchief correspondiic. in (pudity and description with th" neckerchief found in the hand of th • dead man. It was known that <!«• ceased was possessed of considerable savings and that he was in the habi. of carrying certain sums of mom; about him—a certain number ot note in a special vest he always wore. Mivest was missing in the contents when the room was seaiched. One of lludrawers in a piece nf furniture jus* when; deceased's head was ly'iny* was found three-quarters pulled out and ransacked. In other pails of th. 'building he had something like C < ' secreted. Probably whoever com mi l ted tlie crime were alarmed, for th<> i contented themselves with merely ap | propriating the waistcoat and con i tents, which probably ronianed a I considerable amount of money. I hen j on the day after the discovery they found there was a football match at | lieiiot. J'rior to Wednesday Stop j was in an impecunious position in re I Sped of funds. By his own adnti- ! sion he only had /s I'd when he lefi 'Tapantii. If it «'as true he eommii ted the murder, it was not likely in sober moments he would produce C\ notes in Tnpauui, w here lie was li.iow n to be impecunious. At lb-riot, it ap peared. he got the worse of liquor lo a certain extent, and freely produced, note after note. Air flanlon : How many ? Mr Fraser (continuing) said three or four. lb' wa-:, therefore. oi money. Slott had L'iven three expla- j nation* of this. First of all he saio he got it from one man, then he said

lie got it from another, and when both these were proved false, he »uid lie went to ileriot to a man lie knew by siyhl and asked how lie »■«< o<T ior eash. (le knew him by siiflii only. The man said he would lend Stott whatever he liked ; C:{ it ho liked. It was a most improbable story, ami il was absurd to say hi- knew a man by siU'lH o:dv who, in turn, would lend a sum of money to a hall ilnink man. It was SHifgvste! by the Crown that the mom-v was the fruits of crime ami money stolen. Hriellv, that was the outline of the evidence, and it. wuiiM 1)1' proved to the Court that a very eiild-liloiided and excesMvelv cowardly milliter had ben deliberately ommii ted, and for the sake of plunder. If true, as aliened. these I'a.i. ,e one of them, or both of them went th"i'e that li'mlit with the deliberate anil preconceived intieit Hin iii murder illy the man. and taking the weapon, and deliberately attempted to efface evidence of their i-fiitir by burnintr the hilt about deceased's ears. Il \VHhi'ddv probable that il* the place hud Inn! the crime would never have coin-* (o <u all. All were ordered out «.( i t iini.

Archioald Carrie, laborer, lived in al liou--i' a sliort distance itchind d«-cea-ed's re-idence. Deceased was in tin* habit of carrying money about v.iti; | him. On l*>th Auiiiisi la* had oeca- , ion in pay a deb:, and in>»! 1 iii 1 a roll of mile- fitun an iinid.waistcoat pocket CKI or l-l'J in lh • rc'll. The was niis-ite.: fr«»m Ihe lint now. bast saw decencd on '2l-i about live oV|oc'< p.m.. with hi" hor-e in hi> paddock. Ah Cl'oiej (sw«»rn by the match» said itiat on the morning of the 'Jlsi, he wa< at tlie ( hiii' se yanlen*. I'ean moat, leaving' at a.m. lie -»loppe-i al Crookston thai niL'ht. Alter brcal tii-l next moi'ninii - he left for Tapanu>. reachiiiL!' there about 'J p.m. Ila< known deceased three or lour ><-ai> ami took a swai» r tlicre. Tried th> kilchen d(n»r. but found if locked. Didn't uo in inini<'<!iate!y, but late went lo tin- front door und called lw.or three times. A s he e'ot 110 an v wi r he tried the front door, whir! 1 was not locked, and pushed il ope); j The door of the bedroom was open, and it looked dark inside. Strtck mitch. called out. ami saw decease-' lyiny on the Hoop on his side. a handkerchief in his h:>ud. Witiie--left and asked a Kuiopeaii to eo t-> ihe poliee. Ihe policenian came antliev Wi-ul into ihe house together. Constable Cowan. Tapauui, de;...<.that on ihe C-nd Au-ji- 1 . !a<t. al p.m., from information received, h' proceeded (o the residence of Ha 1 ' Sin-i- Ton_ r . Arriving he found I lie fro"t door -hut. (ipeeied it -nd found li.e iloi.r on tlie left hand side plait. Opened the bedroom door, procured a lieht. and saw the body of h man Ivini; on the Moor. After re m<»\ in'j' a w imlowddind found deeea-"d on Ids rieht side wi»l» his head a 1: :: - ' the lee- nf the table near the windon The body was half doubled up. the feet against tlie h'L r of a chair at the foot of the bed : the left hand re tin'. 1 almost on the left side of the bod\ The ri'du arm and hand were under neath. the latter beine bent forv\ard and upwartls. tlie hand i/raspinij- wha' i\pj eared lo lie a piece of cloth. Dc ceased was dressed in a bine hir' drawers, and <ocl<s. and was l\in'. r ii a pool of blood. Mis clothinu wa burned from knee to neck, between tin lee's, under the arm and arm"it . therieht hand ami cloth in it. 'I lie be. 1 clothes were thrown leek as if a per son had jusi arisen. The blanket waburned on the outer cd'_iv, and tin mattress lickimjr burnt through «>< thi' ed"-« and board on ihe bed charred. Tlie blankets, al-u a mat a' ihe side of the bed on lh' lh>or w ere paril_\ burned. A

tin- as witness could jud«j< there was no c< inu< ct ion between tie ,'in- «.n the bed and tin* fin- on Tit body. l'e>ide the pillow, but towanh tl.e t'.M.t tti the b<*d found h laiiij i *_;! i >! ii> 'pro itu'i-i i i, I ilac kem'd, near il. Mm the bed lie (omul thr stand of a lamp, portion* broken fount attach. (I. On :he '" <1 betw.-rn On >tand <jl( *«' found the l>urn**i" au«< ui"!.and found portions of .» I ►!■.• i* fount on 1 he chain <1 mat J re--. Dee. ac<! Oood hi- lamp on ;\ h«»\ at the hem l of ihe 1m..!. <tp.'iii'il on.' of til.' draw -•»s in ihe table and found Uui >unali lin<, mii.' ropiainini.' 1-. « !»*•«'<■ wet* two <il\cr <oi m - als.» in Ih** drawer. Another <lni\\'T was open. but mmotley in it, Ina at tli'- back ua< r. iiione\ dia<j- empty. Upon a chair lie found a pair of trousers, presumably deceased's, not (list urltetl. Mn a shell tin 1 wall there was ss. on t!;e tk.or relet*MMllt lite head, found the neck of a clcni'-uless boitle. At deceased's feet was the bottom of tin hot t}<*. and portions at the bottom of lhe lied. Mil the lloor was one larp piece, which had a Deunr's w hi.-' \ lube) a t Inched. Several pieces of tlie lu»! lie weiv in <littW^»nt parts ot the room. and at a height of lit. Sin. lYom the floor. Procured assistance and removed ihe body to anothei room. Found underneath the waist a strap (produced) broken, partialis burned, and buckled. 'there was u bruise on the left temple of deceased -. a cut on tin' rii't.l cheek with a piece of irlass in it, face covered with blood, and other injuries. I.oclted the body up until lb*. Uobertson saw it at <.!•> p.m. and made a partial examination. The doctor imvde a further examination ne\t moruimjf, and concluded the e\ amination on Aui/u-i -">• Wa< pre Mill when til.* bullet wa** e\t raited, (lad carefully <euivhcd for money, mid found in a bo\ at the head of the bed LIT in notes and Cil in u«'ld and *;l vcr. On li searched m:ain, lindiuL at the foot of the bed silver to the value of Os fid. Found two bot lies of I lew ar's whisky, one empty and one almost empty. Found no money it I he clothin-. Coltld not flip] t tie vest re ferred to. The piece of cloth (produced! wa- taken from the hands of deceased, and was rolled up like a neckerchief. clotted toe-ether with blood and unrecognisable until it had been washed. Identified the body a* thai of Ham Sin*/ Ton-.'. Knew both accused, and on August 'Jt» assisted In pertor M'Mriett and Detective Coon ev to execute a search warrant at the hut for the two accused. Stott wn< present a ml -aw Detective Cooney find a revolver. Stott claimed it. Heard In speeior M'Krien ask Stott: "Were you in Tapanui on the night of the *Jlst. Stott replied ,4 Ye«, George Bromhw and I went into Tapanui about sexen o'clock, and returned at nine; ty I wen; up at the boxing hail but did ! not iu. We left Tapanui about : Stott said he slept iu a hut , and went straight there when he went ' home. Witness visited the hut on tiie '27 th with O'Drien and Coone>. Saw the latter take possession of a pair of dungaree troupers and the re ; v.ther referreil to. ComiiiL' back t<» j Taoanui met the two accused. Sto'» , perl Stoit and searched him. and Dc ' (eeli\ c ("ooney said, '* I nrrcM you on . the charge of havitiL' wilfully niurdei cd Ham Sin- Ton-.!' "ii the ni'jht <•! llie *JUt in-t." Stott replie.l, It you arrest ine 1 suptMio- I II have t;come with vnii." He wa< then lock ; ed lip. Also t«»ok possession of c dfUdded.arrellcd L*ii/i on 'j"' - Kt 1 at Tapanui Police Station. . \U.e„ i'.romley arrived and was arrest ; e i. I'roinlev, it) answer to the >.itn | , MiafL'c. sjdd. " 1 <h» not kicu tiling at all about it : I ant I'.romley \\a< th.Mi wenrinu a pa»r o. j ttiole-kitr trousers, which witness took , Dossession of, and later it> the da\ . ; | h ,„d..l them oser lo Dr. K.»berl<on. I < r • <' t he r with Slot 1' ■ Mn . ii'.th pairs of 1.-ousel ' ..oi.ee,l uhal | uen- a-.j.arentlv blood -tains. Mn •J'.lth Au-ju-t I'-romle, 's father handed

hiin ti pair of trousers, which witness guve to liromley, who said, "Those tire mine." Later on witness took possession of these. There wits a dark reddish brown sluin on one of the legs below the knee. In couipuny with |)eteeti\e Hill, on the J'tllh Aut; list uenf. to Mrs Alex. Hacker's house, anil in a room oil the kitchen found the lille produced-a ei'.' lieminyton. look it down and noticed biimn stain near the uiu/./h' end, subsci|ticnl iy showed the rijle to livo Cliuudlcr, who identilied it as his properly. Handed the rille anil trousers last referred to to Dr. Uobei'tsnii on Aue ust 31. I'll tlie licnch : liromley works for his father, and Slot I is u jj.'iieral laborer. In the bush where they ha\c a small section, the work consist; of iiiiipiii"/.

Tlie ( nun then udjourned and ic Miihid at 7 p.m. Wmi'.; Sintr, cook, sworn by blowing M| 't ;« match, I.new deccas« d j\.r l{il >«'ar>, and had filnii), been <»n the "l term* with Jiim. liid not know ln.w much money deeea-M d lm<l. Nc »\i,s aUwt > s in tin' habit of k<vp ,n H in a drawer in his 1>«I room. Ni'Vt r *aw d'Ti .t-i .l v.cii a Ic'tLlicl' -Irap belt or a neckerchief round iineck. Neither of tin' nrti- ' I'*- | 1 11 1111 m ft! v.cre deceased's proper -\lv.;iV-: locked his doo!'s before "'id eareluilv lurked witn---, '|l when lit }»,«• (must' asleep. \\ m,es • h\'d unit diseased fin* about a fort-'"'.-in t.i'oiv Id- il'-atli. "as ijinri a nd 11 i» n*ll> with cmtj -a» lilin alive mi tin' vi(Hida\ jituhit J. ~'«hick r «i„. 4 | to witness" place and *la>ed half an hour. M ilne • ' hou-e va* not lac av.ay. Did m.| hear a -hot. Had uo lireann>. ])l' linlnTNoii ivifii'lii) n't ■(| Tin -da; •N'liih-, liL J ud alt., ill rohSf(jui«m.r t . »,f i iih;ssu«4»: he hud from ('on Ual>hi Cov.an. VisiLod the »,{ di"-» dn- lioilv on u Im-iicli rovonvl, inKido 1 lie front door. TIIO !><*<iroom whh locki'ij. Ihii war o|k*!kml hy Constfthio 'owan. I* it st uolicotl a pool of liUmml in (In; ccntro (tf tho floor. ConntaM' 1 owait showrtl tin' position in whi-ii ■ In* liody was found. nlts.i .<-<1 that in the Im* 1 tin* hlnrtkfN ncn* turni-d al tin* hack. Tlm-iv liad a ;nv al Ifh* centre on th" oul-idc edije. Ihe i'lVivi was that on the under *id«she hiankel was lairaed, pari of tSic chaif, and pari of tic \\<u» 1 • •11 wJyiuti tf tlie [ted. Tlie upper blanket \kh* * al-o iliain-d. Uitin-ss the position and description of the lamp, and a clear tflass Itoiile in tin* nhih*' af:nner a< Constnlilc Cowan. lOxainin« I all the portion* ot tlie ljrolwti liodh', a/?d as there was no »lackii".ss ..a lie ir.'idc of liottlc ■ii'd no --iiii'll of any !dnd, he eonelndC(i the hot tie could only ha\e licet! 'irolv«-ii on . o:n<* fairlv hard ol»jert. 'ii'ii'i'd tluil ihe Lottie laiiNt ha\e : ;rrn lu ol I'a some Coni4<i»*i aide height '•..in tli.' lJo<»r; i' .o.ihl n«»t have uoken on the 1 Ili> tool; tic '»»\'et'i U ; oti the 11 011 y and rec« <JUiM.d

1 >»- thai nf de<case«|. Noticed ihe •fl >ide of the im idv wav eon-idi'iaMy iiari't'il, and the face * overed v.ith Io t tod itl<>i><i when dothimj was re ■ 1111\* ■'I. There was a ItorrifuNl expro* • inn nn the face. and the was luUened over to the I**ll Hide. it ss cnrrolwrntive «-\ a-'to outward ihlurie* Mistained. ami ai*f a- it w,r lil>- they decided in further investigations. am) another examination Jn company with Constable Cowan, iiti<liiiLT every hill" at ihf In*t intact. lie stripped In; i.ndy and noticed llin left side was "iisi'K'i'aUy charred fr-un tin? hue.- to In- tippei part of tli.* chest. On 1 1*«* nner i !•• 4if imi]t thi'/hs near tin* ;ii>in were which showed nf havinu ari<t*n before the >loo I -lopped « in ulatiim. Pound Ulle linn t< lit llli- lc( son the side nf i.e It'll arm. Concluded thai tin* : i-- had tailed li'-ar lin» r.ntiv pari I iiir Imhly and under the dtvcused ri»M lie- position ('nllsUddc t'nWilll Ih»n ed wil)!>•--. I\\amined (he head tn.l fmind a recent bruise made while he inil WU-. air.e. On til" left Mde «f tie' la-'- when un-lail Ihe lir-t hitij wilUe-- noticed W'cl'e bluish ■ilaek spnt»• peppered over the check. • \amitnl the*", and brought In the urJner -mall grains nf black .substance !-»e juiwder. Innnd injuries tn die jawbone and cnnchuh d tilde. had ■*-i-ii a l-idl- t wound, and found the 111! < I iiad penetrated the larger I liood |-M'|s ill' Ihe neck, uecou nll nu lot" the iiui id Oil the jh»or. The bulht )iad .(i'('e«'d fl,e I'a<-M.niie. IVobed for the x !h-l and could nni find il. I{elurn «l nr\ I iiiutniiis; and made further • ininaiinn ia compnnv wish lie* deter IMS and the constable. .-curdled for he bullet I'rnjji Ihe bilfk nf the bod\ . ■ tid found it had run dnwn Ihe \ertc •r.d eanal i«;r (w«• mche>, se\cria<j the •piiial cord, and came mil at the -i-e«»nd dorsal vcrtibrae in the uniM'le til lilt! riyhl shoulder. Inil'oni t lln- r iilade the Uullel »\ as lUMshr«inlU''<l. It had hecn «plil)"end and looked like a ,'VJ loay; car* ridLf, Tin 1 internal origan* were all imrinal, Imt nne »if the rih» was re•ently hrnken. Il«-ath e;msed liv ihe shu-'k n| a hulh t vvmitid and re•adtintr • imliaMy live fnnr nr fiw njinutes af ler, Init Iroin tin- ui"ininl of Iwiliu dmt he would hn\r li.-mi pai'id><ed turn thi* neel: down, and ineapahh' of :ii«i\ ejie'nl. Witness thought a l»h»w '(■" in a Imlile pree«'(|i*d iJie -dint ; that |cera«'d in a mm- hinu 1 when lln' shot wa- lir.-d from <du>v*. I )>•' ] 1111 //*|i ■ of lln* l' iit i ■ niu-t have leell A illlll! a tnlll 111 hi- l.'we. \\ lien N' il , ■ - Jii-« -an had I-n ),.,!(| «,\,r Iwe 1 \ e ll< m|| Keceixed aiel inoh-ldn t'owan for exaniinalinn. K\ i .lililied them f'T hh'od hiii:-. Vtlh '■ '^p«'ft to the dnmjari-e imnser< Ik--1|1(imI a iitiinht r of reddi-h -tains mi die rh-hi di'udi. ( 'M tlx* ii|»jht pari ,f the ri:dit iluljli the-e wer<' red pan,l • 111( iiuniediate!y l»« h'w lh«.*e v. a- ! irialiL'idar -hiin "I* hh-nd. Al lit" ' Mitioin and IkicU «»f ti-jh( wen- ' -niall sjtla-li"- <»f idood. I.NainiiM'd thi'se throiitih a iuieios«-».jii' >t n<i inuM - •<♦ a elot pretty plain!,\. 'Hie <i lt in\ j -I>ellll fairly fredi. What u) inn f ■ a sayilijj 1h« \ were l',y>h (he t\,i t | iSuit they were on top of a l(o-••• i.lash nf 11.iy and in-M : iia\e I'«cm .'lic'dy eliaeeil if the trmts- ; -is had Ij'-'n worn many Unies. »'n In.' front nf the h'i." in-i l>ehm the . knee he found a reddi-l. In'nwn jjri".^.' tain and inside and at the linftoin , ( 'art nf the leu' were several j ~i Idood »:tiuda- from llie >i/«. <,{ u ' -1 'I i 1 pea to the Sl/e i»f linger i 1;l :L The<e <po{s en.dd nn) ; iion ih. Ie jiiiv lenjrili of lime if aeeu- • I had lieeli we;irini! the trnliseisenu , -laullv. At ii noticed that the eJay on which -pots were was the same in <•< h-r as the elay found miind the I hinajnan's hut. On nmhhe als<» found Idond stains. Me f'oued a "'tuall s|jo| over the riel»t jroin : I'elnw the knei- found anntln*r pot. I l.ete v.;iv u iriamrular stain on the left tViiyh. I here \\'im tt sjilasli j.i th" l"fi kue" nl>n■ it six incliiM from ill" l)t»l Ititil of ill,' lefl ley on tinouter side there was annther mid liel i\\ iiie i"'! knee a clot looking very 1 i'e~ii, little nelow whs Kim ther stain. Nine inches from the- l>ot loin on the inner side nf the riirlit ieu I'' er- was a fre.-hly lutrned hnle from tt -park. lln the lieinili U toi) rill*, produced found a Idood slum on the wittier part of ihe harrd (wo inches from the muzzle. The inner part of the tiarrel showed evidence of l>eon iired oiii of and was not cleaned after ward--. Mm, e\jitni„ed a pair of l.'.'-iil .. Ihi I \V) w uiialile tn find •'".v -lain-. in front of lite Mi W* there wa- a dark st a in, cxidcnlfy

washed out. Witness detailed the re- ] suits of experiments with Remington' bullets, and the- Court adjourned until this morning. TO-DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. Alexander McQueen, laborer, said he knew accused. He was in Tapanui on August 21, and first saw the two accused about 7.15. Witness was standing at McCann's corner and saw accused, together with "Snowy" Brough and Charles Bromley, come from the direction of their homes. Stott said to witness, "I'm terribly dry ; who has got any money, for I've none." Brough said, "I've a little," and proposed to go over to Whitefield's boarding-house and have a drink. Four of tliem went over, including James Jarrold, and remained there a few minutes. Then they came away, the party scattering. Stott and witness returned to McCann's comer and stood talking there about an hour. The two Bromleys then came over. He was not sure whether it was George Bromley or Stott who said, "Are you ready to go home ?" Charlie Bromley said. "I'm not going home yet. I'm goinir to wait ou 'Snowy.' " Witness said, "\vs, it's time we were all in bed." lie pulled out his natch, the t.'me being about 9.15. Thcv then separated, accused going in the direction of their homes. Witness and Charlie Bromley went across the street. Witness' home was between deceased's house and the township, in the same street and about ten minutes' walk. Witness was inside a few minutes when he noted the time again—9.3o. He did not go out again and heard no shot, but was awakened by his mother. He knew deceas-ed since a child. His habit was .to lock his doors before goiriL'. !o bed, and of keeping notes in the • s.Je pocket of his vest. Knew he kept silver in the far drawer. On August 22 witness went to deceased's place. Constable Cowan was there, and witness went into the bedroom with him and saw the body on the floor. Saw what witness took to be a handkerchief he Imd never seen in deceased's possession before. Saw Stott i on the 23rd opposite McCann's. Thenwere a good many there, as they were i gding to a football match at ileriot. I Someone said to Stott : "Are you going to make a splash to-day..-Tom?" 1 Stott said, "1 don't think so. Funds I won't run it." Stott went (o Heriot with them. Did not see Bromley : that day. Next saw Stott at Heriot j at half-time. Stott said : "You are I doing all riirht ; keep going. Don't go away." while Brough and witness I came out to take the lieid again. Charlie. Bromley then came up rilling I with a bottle of whisky and witness had some.. Next Raw Stott pretty ; drunk after the match, and caine back i to Tapanui with him. On the following day Stott was about half drunk, and in the afternoon he and Broie'h , went off towards Ileriot. Saw him | in the billiurd-room that nieht with < half a bottle of whiskv. .

flhi. Whiteficld, boarding-houscl>ecp- ♦ or, said he knew both accused. They were at his place on August '2l with Binugh. Jarrold and McQueen. All had drinks. Accused and McQueen left about 7.45. Stott had on his working clothes, and, he thought, dungaree trousers. He had nothing on his neck. Had seen him wearing both dark and light neckerchiefs at various times. Bromley generally "ore a light neckerchief. Xe.vt saw •Stott about dinner-time the following day going to Heriot. lie shouted two soft drinks, paid witness Is. and said, "I've only a shilling left to get drunk at Heriot." Another reference made was that McCann made accused pay his fare before going on the coach. Next saw Siott on the morning of the 24th at ten o'clock, in the company of Rrough and Charley Bromley, and he v. an I til breakfast. Stott appeared to have been drinking heavily, but witness could not call him drunk. Itc went away and later came back alone and asked for the loan of 2s, which witness gave him. He was then in the same state. Saw him again the same evening in the billiard-room, a good deal the worse of liquor. His moustache had been shaved of? that day. He said he had been at Heriot. John Downey, licensee of the Railway Hotel, Heriot, deposed that he saw Stott when he arrived by coach on the 23rd. lie came to the bar with three or four others, and they had two rounds of drinks. Stott pay ing for one round in silver. Saw one of the liromleys there. Ibbought two bottles of whisky, paying for them separately with a single CI note. Saw Stott after the match in the bar, and he shouted for four, paying in silver. They had about two more drinks. Stott called for the last round of drinks. He had a onepound note in his hand when he called for the first round, but he did not pay for the last round. He asked for a bottle of whisky, which was supplied, Charles Bromley picking it up. Tiler# was some dispute about payment. and Stott said : "Charlie McDonald will pay for it as lie owes me 3Ss." Witness asked McDonald and he said "No." Asked for the bottle to W' returned from Bromley, who said: "What bottle?" and finally Stott paid for it. He borrowed no money from witness. Next afternoon Stoit shouted for Brough, tendering Is. They bad two more drinks, and Stott said :"I owe you 17s. T will give ion an order on Charles McDonald for 385." He wanted two bottles of whisky, which were refused. Eventually "witness gave him one bottle on Bi'ouglusj guarantee. Witness shoull ed. and they left. ITe mentioned casua'lv deceased's death, and Stott said it must have been deceased s countrymen who did it. and that it I must have been caused bv a gambling I or drinking row. Thomas Garrick, cadet at the lleriot railway station, said Stott called at the JTcriot office on August 2-' about 3.30. He had teen in the habit oi fretting letters there addressed to Mr McDonald. He got two letters and - said.: "These are bills, 1 suppose. One letter was returned through the Dead Letter Office. Stott got p<> postal notes or money orders cashed. Win. O'Connor, farm laborer, Heriot, said ho was at the football match. Had a few words with Stott, but nothing more than a casual- cohversationT Stott did not ask for the loan of money,'and witness had no money transactions'or bets with him. l)i" not see anybody give him any money. John Grant, hairdresser at Tapanui, deposed that he saw Stott at the football match and Stott made a wager of Is to 2s on Tapanui with witness, who won the bet. Stott tendered CI and witness gave him rhan'*c. Shaved him clean that cv,.njn<?" Stott looked in the glass a „d'said, either "I look like a murderer" or "I look as if T could murder anvbody," or words to that effect. To Mr Hanlon : Had heard similar statements from others he had sliav r< Ttalph Giles, C. T. Ayburn I) Colniihoim. Geo. Chandler, and ( harles t Edgar Bromley also gave evidence.