Murder of Buchanan

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6833, 14 April 1932, Page 7

Murder of Buchanan

Charge Against Lewis O’Connor VICTIM’S DYING STATEMENTS GIVEN BY POLICE SURGEON Per Press Association. DUNEDIN, April 13. Lewis William O’Connor appeared in the Police Court this morning, charged that or. March 30th, at Tomahawk, he murdered Findlay Douglas Buchanan. The inquest was taken with the preliminary hearing of the charge. Dr. Evans, police surgeon, stated that at 1.40 a.m. on March 30th, he was called to a house at Tomahawk, lie saw the deceased propped up in bed. Deceased said he had been shot in the side. Witness found a gunshot wound in the loft side of the chest, the edge s being blackened. There was a considerable opening into the chest and abdomen. While awaiting the ambulance, witness told deceased that there was no hope of his recovery, adding, “You know you’re going to die?” Deceased said, “I know.” Witness asked who shot him, deceased replying that it was O’Connor and that he saw him when he opened the door.

Dr. Mason, resident surgeon at the Hospital, stated that Buchanan was still conscious when the Police Superintendent saw witness, but was not tit to answer questions —in fact, he became unconscious shortly afterwards. Dr. Watt, the pathologist who made the post-mortem, said that, in his opinion deceased would be from six to seven feet from the gun when the shot was tired. There was no powder staining on deceased’s garments.

Widow Gives Evidence Eileen Caroline Buchanan, widow of deceased, stated that her husband was a relief worker. They were married in 1931. She had known O’Connor for some years, and had a son three years and nine months old, of which O’Connor was the father. She had taken proceedings with regard to the child, and accused had admitted paternity, a maintenance order being made in 1925. The child was living with witness at her home. On the night oi March 29th, so far as she knew, deceased and accused were friendly. She and deceased retired to bed at 9.40 p.m. on March 29th. They were awakened by knocking. Her husband went to the door, accused coming in. Accused was drunk and asked for a cigarette.

Deceased gave him a cigarette and said, “Now got away home. It’s late.” Accused said, “Arc you putting me out?” He did not seem angry when he said this. Witness did .not see whether deceased had to help accused to the door, she being half asleep. Accused when going, said he wanted to see the boy, but deceased said he could see the child when sober.

They were again disturbed about 1 a.m. Witness heard knocking, and O’Connor said, “Is Fin there, John?” Her husbJnd went to the door. She heard him open it, but heard nothing more till the shot. On going to the door of the bedroom, witness saw her husband on the floor . 0 ’Connor was standing inside with a gun. Witness ran for a neighbour, Newton. They found deceased still on the floor, but accused was not there. William James Taber, storekeeper at Tomahawk, said he was disturbed at 1.30 a.m. on March 30 by a knock at the shop door. O’Connor came to the door and asked for cigarettes, which witness refused. The accused then went away. From his speech witness thought ho was under the influence of liquor. Accused returned later, and when the knocking persisted witness told O'Connor that he would send for the detectives. The accused said: “I want to see you. I’ll wait for you.” The accused dropped something with a loud crash on the verandah and ran. A few minutes afterwards Albert Newton arrived on the verandah and witness telephoned for the police. Later Newton drew attention to a gun on the verandah, and also found spots of blood there. Jessie Lindsay Taber, wife of the last witness, said she thought O’Connor was drunk.

Mr. Newton Aroused Albert Nathaniel Newton said he was awakened by a loud noise like an explosion from the direction of Buchanan's. It sounded like a gunshot or a motor tyre bursting. Shortly afterwards Mrs. Buchanan knocked loudly at tho door, calling: “Mr. Newton, come quick!” He went to Buchanan’s home and found the deceased with a wound in the neck. Witness went to Taber’s place to ring for an ambulance, and there found a double-barrelled gun with no shells in the barrels. The righthammer was up, but he could seo that the left barrel had been fired. The barrels above the grip were covered with blood.

William .Dunford said ho went shooting on the Peninsula with O’Connor in witness’ trap. Witness took the gun produced. He had between 20 and 25 cartridges, and had two bottles and a gallon jar of beer. O’Connor shot two rabbits. They had nothing to cat and left the beer in the trap.

Acting-Detective Gibson said that on March 30 ho accompanied Superintendent Eccles and Detective Sergeant Nuttall to accused’s house in Cranston street, Anderson’s Bay, where'they arrived about 3.30 a.m.. They were admitted by Mrs. O'Connor, but accused was in bed asleep. With some difliculty he was awakened, and whilst dressing himself he remarked to witness and the others: “I done the murder,” and added: “I was not alone, hut I will not say who else was there. It was my hand that pulled the trigger.” He then said that he was alone and, shaking hands with Detective Sergeant Nuttall, he remarked that they were not bad sports and he would tell them the truth. He then told them that his hand had pulled the trigger and that he had heard Muchanan fall. On the way to the police station accused took from his pocket a cartridge smeared with blood and "handed it to witness. Accused, after being given the usual warning, was charged with attempted murder. He made no reply at tho time, but after the charge had been entered in the charge hook he asked what he was charged with. Witness again read the charge, and accused remarked: "Is that

it?” Later in the morning witness found a discharged shotgun cartridge, smeared with blood in places, about 150 yards from Buchanan's house. Detective Sergeant Nuttall corroborated the previous witness’s evidence. Accused pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. The inquest on the body of Buchanan was adjourned sine die.