THE WAIROA TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 9274, 21 April 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE WAIROA TRAGEDY.

Auckland, April 2.

At the inquest on the body of Veitoh, the victim of tho Wairoa tragedy, the Coroner’s jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Fry, alias Floyd, Accused has several aliases, but gives the name of White, and says he has a sister married to a medical man in the province of Nelson.

Auckland, April 8.

Thomas Fry, alias Floyd, with four other aliases, was this morning charged at the Police Court with tho murder of William Veitoh on the 23rd March at Wairoa South. Prisoner was defended by Mr Hugh Shortland, and Mr Williamson, Crown Prosecutor, appeared to support the charge. Mr Shortland took a preliminary objection to the admission of the depositions because they had been token on a charge of robbery, and not of murder. The Bench of Justices overruled the objection. David Crawford, J.P., gave evidence regarding the taking of the depositions. Veiteh was sensible when they were taken, and identified the accused without his attention having been specially called to the latter. Veitoh also identified the watch stolen. Vcitch’s depositions were dealing with the circumstances of the crime. According to them accused called him out of the house in the evening about eight o’clock, met him on the bridge, hit him with a stick or iron, and rifled his pockets. Deceased identified accused as the man who assaulted him.