MURDER CHARGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 181, 3 July 1931, Page 9

MURDER CHARGE.

HAWERA CASE. I’er Press Association. HAWERA. July 2. The hearing of the charge against Walter John Tinsley, a baker, of murdering Nana Chhiba was continued this afternoon. Following lfis evidence-in-chief, Detective Quirke was cross-examined at length by Mr O’Dea. Witness said that Mrs Tinsley was interviewed at Masterton concerning Tinsley’s finances and movements between January 17 and February 7. Her statements corroborated Tinsley’s. Mr O’Dca : Wasn’t there a rumour of a strange Hindu being in Hawera on January 31 ? Detective Quirke: We made exhaustive inquiries throughout the Dominion and in checking the movements of Hindus could not verifv the rumour. Do you know that Clihiba was seen in a violent argument with a strange Hindu ? I don’t know about it being a violent argument and the Hindu he was with was well known. Do you suggest that robbery was the motive for the crime P Yes. There are imprints of a bloody hand on the inside of the pockets of the Hindu’s trousers and the keys of the shop had been removed from them. The shop till was also pulled out with a towel and carried into the living room. How do you know it was money he was after?

It would seem to he decidedly reasonable. Mr O’Dea stated that a woman witness would have something to say about a letter in Chbiba’s possession which someone might have very much desired to possess. Questioned regarding the presenco of Maoris in the shop, the witness said that one was in the shop about 11.5 o’clock and another shortly after. He admitted that he questioned some of the boys in the school, but denied that one boy had said: “That black is in the right place.” Inquiries also had been made at the freezing works and witness admitted that Tinsley had been there that night. He had been given two livers, but he did not think that had anything to do with the blood on accused’s overcoat. Counsel referred to the boarders at the Royal Hotel and witness said that Tinsley was a resident there for some time after the murder as well as witness. He was not concerned with the suggestion by counsel that he (witness) had been living “cheek by jowl with a murderer.” .Witness denied that he had said to Tinsley: “You can go Tinsley. We have nothing against you.” Witness admitted that Tinsley’s employer spoke well of him as a worker.

Replying to Mr Weston, witness said that 33 stout bottles were found in the Hindu’s shop. It had been necessary to take finger prints from the bottles to eliminate persons who had been justified in handling them. It had been possible to trace the bottles from the brewery to the Hindu’s simp and who had handled them. The next witness. Detective Meiklej'ohn, who arrived in Hawera on February 2 to investigate the murder, described the position of Chhiba’s body with five wounds in the head, which was covered with a coir mat. The shop till was on a chair in the living room with a towel underneath.

Apparently tlie towel had been used to carry tlie till. After describing; personal articles found on the body, witness said that on the outside of the left trouser pocket was an amount of blood with a little inside. There was also blood about the kip pocket. A hand basin half full of water was on a box under a tap in the back yard. In it were a hammer, a tomahawk and a ring with three keys. A cleaver was also found in the floor of the living room which had splashes of blood on it. Witness corroborated the evidence given by Detective Quirke concerning the interview with. Tinsley at tlie hotel on March 14 and the visit to Tinsley’s room where they discovered smears which witness considered had been made by blood on a raincoat and a cuif and trousers which had been recently cleaned. Witness, with Detective Quirke, had been staying at the same hotel as Tinsley. Cross-examined by Mr O’Dea, Detective Meiklejolm said tlrat he had not taken advantage of opportunities to speak to accused. All the conversations had been commenced by accused. Witness had not said to anyone: “I cannot imagine a white man inflicting these injuries.” Mr O’Dea: Didn’t you hear barracking at the table at the ltoyal Hotel as to what had been done to Cliliiba?

They were quiet on tlie subject when Quirke and I were about.

Courtenay Kenny, surveyor, produced plans of Chlriba’s shop. Dr. P. P. Lynch, pathologist, said that he received the clothing on March 17. The trousers said to belong to Tinsley appeared to have been scrubbed or rubbed. All the tests fpr blood on the trousers proved negative, but on the shirt and back of the overcoat were stains which, when tested, proved to be human bloodstains. He was certain that these were not caused by ox or sheep blood. Under cross-examination, he maintained that the stains were not more than a year old, but he could not definitely reduce the period further. The stains on the Hindu’s clothing and on that of accused responded similarly to the test. This led him to believe that they were approximately the same ago. The inquiry was continued throughout the evening, evidence being given by Dr. Sinclair and others. It was of a formal nature. An adjournment was made until to-morrow.