MURDER OF A BARMAN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 June 1927, Page 5

MURDER OF A BARMAN

THE INQUEST

(United Press Association)

PAHIATUA, This Day. The inquest on the hotel murder case is proceeding before Magistrate Free and the district coroner, Mr Wilson.

Constable T. Swan said that in response to a message lie arrived at the Commercial Hotel at 1.40 p.m. last Saturday. In the kitchen he saw the barman, Wm, J. Barrett, lying in a pool of blood. At the Police Station, accused, a Hindu chef, Deva Kala, said: "I've had bad luck to-day. I have a wife and two boys in Bombay, India." Witness asked what religion accused was. He replied, "Hindu." Accused repeated that he had had bad luck at Pahiatua that day. He alleged that the barman came into the kitchen for lunch and said to the Hindu, "are you leaving on Monday?'' Accused replied "Yes, I have given a week's notice. The barman called me a black woolly bastard. 1 had a bread knife in my hand and cut his head." Witness continued that the Hindu talked about his wife and two boys, saying he came to New Zealand in 1919 and went back to Bombay in 1921, returning to Now Zealand in 1923. He had been a fortnight at the Club Hotel and two months at the Commercial. He was sober and calm.

Thomas Davidson, kitchenman, said deceased and himself exchanged greetings shortly before the tragedy. He heard moans and saw Barrett on the floor. He thought he was in a fit and caught him by the shoulder and saw the gash. As he was afterwards going into the kitchen he passed the accused, the Hindu chef Deva Kala, going out. He. had not heard anything in the way of discussion-between deceased and accused. He subsequently said to accused: "Did you do that "to Bill?" Kala replied : "I kill him." The only other thing he said was "The chickens are. in the oven, Tom," referring to the dinner being prepared for that night. Accused used to cut up bread with a small Chinese chopper. H. P. Perry, licensee of tho hotel, also gave evidence, and W. S. Routledge, day porter, described how, on'accused's statement, he found the chopper in the sink. Constance Tester, housemaid, said that after hearing a fall she saw the Hindu walking away from Barrett's body. There was no one else in the kitchen.

Other evidence was given by Ruby James and Myra Davidson, waitresses, and Mrs Frances Jago, manageress of the hotel. Mrs Jago stated that when she questioned Kala, the latter said : "I kill him; I kill him."

Dr. Dawson also stated that accused admitted the act. Witness considered that only a person accustomed to the use of an instrument similar to that used could have committed the act with such strength and skill.

Constable Burrell said that when accused by Mrs Jago, before witness, of tho murder, Kala did not reply. Witness noticed Kala was trembling, bu! he was perfectly sober. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from a wound wilfully inflicted by Deva Kala. Accused was then charged with murder. He pleaded not guilty and was committed for trial in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North on 2nd August.