CHARGES OF MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 12

CHARGES OF MURDER.

MAN SHOT AT DOOR. RECENT CASE NEAR DUNEDIN. EVIDENCE FOR PROSECUTION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN, Tuesday. Addressing tho grand jury in the Supremo Court to-day on tho charge against Lewis William O'Connor, aged 24, of murdering Findlay Douglas Buchanan, aged 24, at Tomahawk, near Duncdin, on March 30, Mr. Justice Kennedy said there might bo evidence of consumption of much liquor by tho person accused, but they would bear in mind that until tho contrary was proved every person was presumed to intend the natural consequences of his own act. If a man under tho influence of liquor intended to shoot another and did shoot another, his drunken intent did not make it less a crime than if he was sober. A true bill was returned by the grand jury. The trial was commenced to-day. Accused pleaded not guilty. Counsel for both the Crown and accused freely exercised their right of challenge in the selection of tho jury. Evidence was led to show that shortly after midnight on March 29 accused went to deceased's house and asked for a cigarette. Deceased gave him one and advised him to go home. Apparently they parted on good terms. Shortly afterwards, it was alleged, accused returned and shot Buchanan when the latter opened the door to him. Buchanan died shortly afterwards. Witnesses spoke of the drunken condition of accused about the time of the shooting. Tho case will bo continued to-morrow. Tho jury was locked up for the night. THE WAIRARAPA CASE. HEARING STARTS TO-MORROW. [by telegraph.— press association.] WELLINGTON, Tuesday. John Corrigan, aged 23, who is charged with murdering his parents at Mangamahoe on March 28. was further remanded to-day to appear on Thursday morning at Pahiatua, where tho preliminary hearing will take place. Mr. John Corrigan, .farmer, aged 64 years, and Mrs. Ellen Corrigan, his wife, aged 57 years, died from gunshot wounds received while in their bed. MOUNT COOK FATALITY. ACCUSED AGAIN REMANDED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] TIMARU, Tuesday. Appearing on remand from Hokitika, where ho was arrested, William John Thomas Whallcy, aged 33, came before Mr. C. R. Orr Walker, S.M., in the Police Court to-day, charged with the murder of William Edward Wogan, a barman-porter, at the Hermitage on November 5, 1931. On the application of Senior-Sergeant Mathieson accused was remanded until May 4. Wogan, barman-porter at the Hermitage, was found dead in his bedroom on the evening of November 5 last with a gunshot wound in the head. The verdict returned by the coroner at the adjourned inquest at the end of February was as follows:

"That Wogan died on November 5, 1931, at the Hermitage, Mount Cook, from laceration of the brain and hemorrhage, the result of a wound by a bullet fired from a .22 calibre rifle. The facts so far proved, in my opinion, definitely exclude the conclusion that deceased committed suicide. They also are, in my opinion, inconsistent with deceased having accidentally shot himself. The matter is now one" for the police to take such action ,as they may be advised and the inquest may legally be reopened if the occasion warrants this course."

William John Whalley, chef at the Hermitage, was one of the witnesses who gave evidence at the inquest.