SHOOTING OF CYCLIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21030, 14 November 1931, Page 12

SHOOTING OF CYCLIST.

MTJRBER CHARGE EVIDENCE. DECKE SENT FOR TRIAL. EXAMINATION OF BULLETS. OPINIONS OF EXPERTS GIVEN. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday. Tho hearing of evidence in the charge against Norman Robert Decke, aged 19, of tho murder of Edwin John Blakeway at Karere on August 23, was concluded in tho Police Court to-day, before Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M. Accused was committed for trial at tho next session of the Supreme Court at Palmcrston North. Dr. Charles Monro Hector, Government pathologist, of Wellington, gave evidence of the microscopic examinations carried out by him. "My conclusions regarding tho evidence to bo deduced from the bullet exhibits," said the witness, "are that the bullet from the chest of the deceased and tho scrap from his left forearm are Western .22 calibre long riflo ammunition. In my opinion, the two bullets found on the roadside are of similar ammunition. The four-groove rifling is consistent with tho bullets having been fired from tho suspect rifle. The evidence is not sufficient to prove that the bullets were all fired from the suspect rifle, but it does not preclude the possibility that they were." Identical Markings. Proceeding, tho witness said identical groove marks were found on the shells picked up near accused's whare arid on all test shells from the suspect rifle. Ho had no doubt that the shells found on the roadside and at the whare showed exactly the same rim and cylinder marks as the test shells from accused's rifle. Witness had not found the same marks on any other shells. The Crown Solicitor: Are you satisfied these shells were fired from this particular Walther rifle? Witness: Yes. Witness said on September 7, with Dr. Lynch, he examined the overcoat of deceased, particularly a black mark on the surface of a sleeve. From scrapings at that point he obtained grains of powder very similar to, if not identical with, the powder obtained from a Western long-rifle cartridge. Professor Frederick Palliser Worley, professor of chemistry at Auckland University College, said he was in agreement with the conclusions of Dr. Hector. Witness saw that the suspect rifle was damaged at the rim of the chamber opposite to the striker. That would be expected to produce distinctive marks on the cartridge cases. In his opinion, the cartridge cases found near the scene of the murder were definitely fired from the suspect rifle. Rifling of the Barrel. Sydney Taiaroa Tisdall, director of the firm of W. H. Tisdall, Limited, gunmakers, said he made certain tests in conjunction with Dr. Hector and the Dominion analyst. He had discovered an injury in the rifle produced was caused by the frequent releasing of the hammer with the riflo unloaded, and by an escape of chloride of mercury from weak cartridge shells. Witness was satisfied the injury was characteristic to the particular rifle, which had four-grooved lifling in the barrel. That system was very uncommon. Witness had only found it in one other rifle of a similar type. Taken collectively, there were three points of identification of anything fired fiom a Walther rifle. They were the four-groove mark on the bullet, the pearshaped cartridge impression and the relative position of the striker, extractor and ejector. Witness had no doubt at all that the bullets found at the scene of the murder and thoso found at the whare were all fired from the suspect rifle with tho exception of one shell fired near the whare, where there was a difference in impression which could have been caused by a broken striker. Police Station Interview. Inspector James Cummings, of Dun. edin, said he assisted in the investigation of the death of Blakeway. He saw accused at tho Palmere'con North police station, whero accused called in reference fn (ho registration of his rifle. Witness told accused he wished to see him concerning that, and tho letter he was allegpd to have written to Betfy Mpphan on May 17. Decke said he would tell anything he was asked. After the usual warning, accused made a signed statement- containing 23 sheets of typewritten matter. Witness told Decke that the shots appeared to have been fired at close range, apparently rapidly, like magazine firing. Der-ke said his brother at Marton had a Walther riflo which went off like a machine-gun, but one had to pull the trigger for each shot fired by accused's rifle. Witness gave evidence of a further conversation with .Decke, the evidence corroborating that given yesterday by Detec-tive-Sergeant Doyle. Accused was then committed for trial. Counsel for accused asked the magistrate if he would issue a certificate under the Justices of tho Feace Act to the effect that it was a proper caw in which accused could be assigned counsel by tho Crown. The application was granted. The coroner, Mr. A. J. Graham, adjourned the inquest sine die.