MURDER SUSPECT'S ARREST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17604, 18 October 1920, Page 4

MURDER SUSPECT'S ARREST

THE TOKIRIMA CRIME.

ENCOUNTER WITH HINDUS.

ACCUSED'S RIFLE TAKEN.

GIVES HIMSELF UP AT FARM.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.]

TAUMARUNUI. Sunday

After being at large since Thursday evening, William Anderson, who is alleged to have murdered Frank Telfer at Tokirima, surrendered last night, after his rifle had been secured by four Hindus.

Throughout yesterday the search parties worked hard, but no trace was seen of Anderson. Sergeant Miller decided to police all bridges, and thus confine Anderson's movements.

In the afternoon the sergeant sent a warning to four Hindus, who were cutting scrub on Mr. Craig's property, which is about 2£ miles from the scene of the murder. About 7 p.m. the Hindus were having tea in their tent when Anderson came in and asked if tea was ready. He '"was invited in to have some, and he stood his rifle in the corner of the tent. One Hindu asked who he was, and he said " a white man." The Hindu asked " Where do you come from, and why do you come to my camp?" He replied, " 1 am a constable," and later said he was a farmer, living six miles away. The Hindu then picked up the rifle and Anderson said, " Why do you take my rifle?" The Hindu said, " You no policeman," and seized Anderson by the coat. Anderson said, " Please give me my gun and I will give you £5?" The Hindu invited Anderson to Mr. Craig's house, and said that if Mr. Craig said he was to give up the gun he would do so. Anderson objected, Baying Mr. Craig's was too far away, and suggested that they should go to Mr. Oliver's whare. The Hindu agreed . and with Anderson and another Hindu they set off. Hindus as an Escort. On the way to Mr. Oliver's place one Hindu carried the rifle and the other held Anderson by the sleeve. When the party reached Mr. Oliver's, one of the Hindus asked, " Is this the man that is wanted?" Mr. Oliver struck a match and then went to get his spectacles. While he was away one Hindu remained in the road with the rifle and the other went into Mr. Oliver's whare with Anderson. Anderson said, " Don't hold me. I am not armed, and could not hurt you." The Hindu loosened his hold, and the next minute Anderson had seized a knife from beneath Mr. Oliver's bedclothes. He threatened the Hindu, and the latter made off with the rifle. After this Anderson made his way to Mr. A. W. Fleming's farm at Otunui, two miles further on. About 11 p.m. he knocked and asked to be allowed to come in, saying he had no arms. Mr. Fleming opened the door, and his companion, Mr. Handley, covered Anderson with a rifle. Anderson walked in with a boot in each hand, saving, " 1 am chucking it in. I don't wish to do you fellows any harm. I am wet and cold, and want to get a feed." The Arrest oi Anderson. Mr. Fleming gave him a meal, and while Mr. Handley kept watch Mr. Fleming notified Constable McNamara, who was policing the bridge- close by. and he came in and effected the arrest. Anderson was kept at Mr. Fleming's homestead all night, and his clothes were dried. At 7 a.m. to-day he was handcuffed and bound with ropes to a horse, which was led between two constables, and the partyset. off for Taumarunui. After a stop at Mr. Goodwin's to rest the tired horses and men, who had been in the saddle practically ever since the murder, the party reached Taumarunui at 3.30 p.m., a large crowd witnessing their arrival! When arrested, Anderson had £51 in his' possession, and the rifle was found to contain eight cartridges. On the wav in to Taumarunui the prisoner talked quite rationally with his captors. He will bo chareed with murder in the Police Court at Taumarunui to-morrow, and probably remanded for a week.

Story Told at Inquest. An inquest into the death of Telfer was opened at Loft's house on Friday night. Herbert Medley Loft stated that he was sitting in wis brother's house with his brother, the deceased, his brother's wife and four children, George Morris, and Winnie Hefferman. Suddenly the window was thrown up and Anderson looked in and said : " Here I am, I am on the warpath. The police from Taumarunui are only about a-quarter of an hour behind me, what about some crib?" Witness asked him in to have some tea, but he said : " Your don't get me in a. trap." After Anderson had been given some food and a coat witness rose to leave the room, but Anderson said : " Don't leave the room. I am in earnest." Witness walked to the window, and saw that Anderson had a rifle. Anderson then said to witness' brother : " I hear, Jim, you have been the cause of my trouble, and now I am going to blow your brains out." Jim replied : " What, going to blow my brains out?" During this time Anderson was raising his rifle. Telfer was nearest and made a spring at the rifle, when there was a report and Telfer fell, groaning for a few minutes, and then lay still. Immediately after Jim jumped out of the window and although witness did not hear a second shot, he called out: "Jim, where are you?" and received the reply : "All right." Witness then summoned assistance.

Left Farm on Friendly Terms. George Loft said he paid off Anderson on October 8. deducting £3 15s for a jar of whisky which Anderson said he had taken. He left on good terms, and said he might see witness again. George Morris, an engineer, corroborated the evidence regarding the shooting. Lindsav C. Mackay, a labourer, residing at Kakahi, said that last March he borrowed a rifle from Herbert Loft. Early on Thursday morning Anderson called upon him. and said he had come for Loft's rifle '* to shoot dogs which were worrying sheep." Witness gave him the rifle and six cartridges. Witness said he saw Anderson again in the afternoon, and after a brief conversation he said : "I have just cot a couple of things to shoot at Jim Loft's." He seemed quite rational. Dr. H. Cheeseman, who examined the deceased, said there was a bullet wound in the right side of the chest and there was a bullet under the skin of the back, the bullet having evidently passed through the lung. The bullet was evidentlv fired at close quarters. The inquest will be continued at Taumarunui to-morrow.