CHARGE OF MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16798, 14 March 1918, Page 4

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE KARIOI TRAGEDY.

STOR7 OF CAMP QUARREL. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] OHAKUNE. Wednesday. J A charge of murder arising out of tho i tragedy at Larsen and Austin's metal camp at Karioi on the morning of Sun- j day. February 24, was heard by Mr. J. , 0. L. Hewitt, S.M., at Ohakune to-day". ' The victim of the tragedy was Peter j Larsen, and the man accused of having ] murdered him is John Robertson, one of j his camp mates, with whom Larsen is j said to have quarrelled during a beer j and card party a few hours previously. / Robertson is a man of rather striking physique, and apparently is nearing 50; years of age. Standing over 6ft high, he ' is broad and spare of flesh, and is a j typical bushman. | Prior to the opening of the case against Robertson, the district coroner, Mr. J. J. ! Pilkington, concluded the inquest touch- : ing Larson's death. He returned the fol- j lowing verdict:— the deceased, Peter Larsen, died from injuries to his head caused by a blow from some hard instrument, such blow having been in- ' flicted upon him by some person un- j known." At the hearing of the murder rase Mr. Marshall, Crown 3ecutor, of Wanganui, appeared for tho police, and Superintendent Hendrey also was present. Mr. W. H. Tustin, of Raetihi, appeared as counsel for Robertson. One of the chief witnesses was Robertson's tent mate, William Farrow, the camp cook. Farrow said that on Saturday, February 23. about midnight, some of the men returned to camp, and he was i aroused and asked to have some beer. Robertson also was aroused. The men assembled in the galley, where they drank bottled aie and played cards. During the game Peter Larsen accused Robertson of cheating. Peter Larsen, who was fairly drunk, struck Robertson, and said that if Robertson would take his own part he would give him more. Hans Larsen, the boss of the camp, intervened. Robertson had said that he had not won any money. The party broko up at 4 a.m. on Sunday, and witness retired to bed. Larsen Found Dying. Some time afterwards ,ho noticed Robertson getting out of bed. Robertson dressed, went out, took up a pick-head, and walked ill the direction of Peter Larsen's tent. Witness got up and woko Hans Larsen, and when they went to Peter Larsen's tent they found him bleeding at the head, breathing heavily, and groaning. Five minutes later he was dead. Witness saw a pjek-head lying near by. Dr. W. J. Feltham deposed that injuries to the head caused the death of Larsen. and that he considered it probable that the injuries had been caused bv blows with an instrument such as a pick-head. Hans Larsen, contractor, said that when they returned to camp Peter Larsen woko Robertson, Garich and Farrow, and they came out to tho galley. Tho one other man who had remained in camp did notget out of bed and join the party at the galley. There-was a row in which.Peter Larsen accused Robertson of card swindling, the former striking Robertson and also hitting him when ho was down. Robertson's face was cut and bruised.

Henry Poole, gang foreman, said that on Sunday he went to'' the water hole with Robertson. ' Witness remarked. "Peter is down and out," Robertson said, "No fear!" Witness replied, "Too right. Go and have a look." Later in the day Robertson repaid him some money borrowed, on the .previous, n'ght, and said that ho was going out of camp, but' would return in the evening. He returned as he said he would. "It was the Liquor Caused the Trouble." Constable A. McCowan, of Raelihi, who, with Constable Annison, arrested Robertson, said that Robertson had said that in the galley all the men had. become more or less drunk. They had started a game of bridge, but had been too drunk to play it and had played nap instead. He had lent Peter Larsen £1 and Larscn had lost money. When Robertson had been informed that he would be arrested he said : "I am just telling you the truth. It was the liquor they brought hore that caused the whole trouble, the cursed stuff. If they had only kept it out of the camp. It is a serious thing. I suppose it will be a Supreme Court case. I knew that you fellows would be along, but I did not expect you to-night. I thought you Would be along in the morning. I told the men you would be up for me in the morning. Constable James Annison, of Ohakune, deposed that on the way from the camp to the motor-car Robertson had said : "It is a bad business. Only for the cursed 'booze' it would not have happened." On the road in witness had advised Robertson to get a solicitor, and next morning had asked him if he had made up his mind about it. Robertson had answered "I don't think that any of them is of much good to a man in tho position F am in, but they may be able to speak for me." Robcrkon reserved his defence, and was committed for trial at the session of i the Supremo Court, which is to open at Wanganui on May 27.