TAIHAPE MURDER

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11737, 26 January 1924, Page 5

TAIHAPE MURDER

CASE AGAINST MOGHAN “I HAVE KILLED A MAN AND GIVE MYSELF IN CHARGE.” WHAT WITNESSES SAW. Per Prftss Association. TAIHAPE, January 25. Tho Taihape Magistrate’s Court was crowded to its limits this morning m anticipation of tho hearing of the murder charge against Anthony Moghan, in connection with the tragedy at Moghan’s farm on January 2nd, when Gordon John Gemmell was done to death. Moghan was alert and intensely interested in what was taking place. He leaned over the dock rail, had an anxioute conversation with his solicitor, and wau then charged with murdering Gemmell at Raukura-on January 2nd. Inspector Fouhy, of Wanganui, conducted the pi oseoutioti. Sergeant Matthews put in a number of photographs of Moghan’s house and surroundings. William Olliver deposed that he was a shearer and went to Moghan’s on December 10th. Gemmell and Riley were working for Moghan. Gemmell and Moghan had an altercation about, some cattle and Gemmell said to wit ness: “I’m on a meet to-night; what about coining down?” Witness replied: “It’s no good to me.” Moghan was about five yards away and could have heard what was said. M'oghan called Gemmell and they had words, but witness could not hear what was oaid. Moghan {old Gemmell to come to the house and get his cheque. Geiqmelt said ‘ ‘Right Oh I” and both left together. On December 29tli witness heard Moghan tell Gemmell that he was paying too much attention to the women.

H. Sherbcrarne said he worked for Moghan in November and December lii3t. Moghan’s wife called at witness’s house and wanked to rent two rooms but the request was not acceded to. A few days later Moghan raid his wife wanted to come back, but he wouid not have her and would not pay tho bitch any more maintenance money. Oi* New Year’s Day witness went to Moghan’s for mqney and was met l.v Gemmell, who told hinv there . was trouble brewing. John Jackson (Maori Jack), a nativa, said he knew Moghan well, had worked for him and gave Moghan a hand with the shearing. Olliver brought two gallons of beer for them and they drank it. Moghan also took two gallons to his houeS and the same four drank it. Moghan said he .vanted to oatcli Gemmell with his wife. Witness went with Moghan to an old brick kiln. They were there to spy en Gemmell ahd Moghan’s wife. Moghan said he had to wait till he got a signal from Gemmell. No signal came and Moghan said Gemmell had played false. Witness said he again went to Moghan’a New Year’s Day. Riley suggested they should make a day of it and they all agreed. They pooled £6 and Morgan and Riley got thq liquor from Taihape. It consisted of seven gallons of beer, two bottles of whisky, and two bottles of rum. Moghan and Riley vf<ere both under the influence or liquor When' they returned. Gemmell joined them, but they did not finish the drink. Next day Moghan accused Gemmell of oarrying_ on with his wife, which Gemmell denied. Witness walked to the verandah and heard Cemmell sing out, and saw Moghan come away front Gemmell who was lying down. “I WILL BREAK YOUR NECK ” Gemmell got up and said: “I think you have broken my arm.” And Meghan said: “I will break your, neck before I have finished with yon.” Witness then left to catch a horse. On returning he saw Gemmell lying on his own bed, but he saw no blood about. Riley was lying -under a tree in front of the house. Witness slept out, being drunk. To Inspector Fouhy: Witness said that when he left to catch a horse Mo ghan appeared to be in a great rage. Moghan was neither drunk nor sober. Robert Riley said he was on his way from Taihape to Moawhango on December 29th and saw Moghan at the gate of his farm. He went into Moghan’s and had a drink. The only other person there was Gemmell. On Sunday afternoon Moghan told him he had paid G-cmmell between £SO and £6O to go to Wellington to catch his wife on the street or with another man. Moghan said to witness: “You have tho whare; that will suit you alright,' Bob.” Witness replied: “A married woman was no good to him.” Moghan. then said he would give £SO or £GO to get rid of her, adding that Gemmell was meeting his wife and another woman every Bay. Witness stayed at Moghan’s on Tuesday and went to town wiih Moghan for liquor. They got back to the farm in the afternoon. Witness was fairly full when he got there, and next morning found himself in bed with two others. Ho helped Moghan to milk and then went to nis whare to sleep.' “NOT ON YOUR LIFE.” Next morning between 4 and 5 o’clock he went To 'the gate and saw Moghan stooping down in lront of the house. The sun was just rising and he called out: “'Good morning.” Moghan, who was just outside the verandah, said: “Come and look what L have done to Bob. I’ve killed tho robber. He won’t interfere with my wife any more.” Witness, continuing, said the body of_ Gemmell was lying against a small wee clad only in a pair of trousers. Moghan asked if ha was dead. The body was quite cojd Witness said: “He’s dead all right.” Moghan asked what he would do, and requested witness to help in burying the body. Witness replied: “Not on your life, I’ll ring up the sergeant.” Moghan was very excited when witness told him he was going for the police, and said: “I’ll dash soon settle you,” and he went towards the house where ho had a gun. Witness did not wait hut went to Spooner's house and told them that Moghan had murdered a man. He waited at Spooner’s while the police were rung up. Sergeant Matthews and Constable Go-raghty came out. Moghan met them at the gate and 6aid: “I have killed a man and "give myself in oharge.” Moghan put up his hands to have the “darbies” put on. In the motor-car Moghan said to Constable Geraghty: ‘‘l killed Gemmoll, Riley had nothing to do with it. Gemmell struck me first, didn't he, Bob?” Witness replied that he did not see any fight nor did lie see one strike the" other. Witness was locked up but he didn’t know whether he or the policeman was drunk. He thought Moghan was more mad than drunk when he saw him with Gemmell’s body. He last saw Gemmell alive on the morning of January 2nd, when ho was in bed with the Maori, Jack. There was plenty of drink in tho house. James Banks, farmer, gave evidence that on January 2nd at 2.16 o’clock Moghan was in the cowyard, but be could not say who was with him. At 3.30 o’clock ho saw Moghan pick up a man but did not know who the man was. Witness was about three hundred yards away and did not hear the

man speak. The man laid down in the same place again. Moghan then went into the house and came out with the Maori, Jack. Witness saw a man in the garden and try to rise after Maori Jack, and Moghan left him but fell back again. Moghan went and picked up the man and went towards the verandah of the house with him. He could not say if ho took the man into tho house. Witness had not seen Moghan since that time and he did not see Gemmell that day. Ho could not say if the man Moghan picked up was Gammell, and could not say at such a distance if Moghan was drunk. The court then adjourned to view the scene of the tragedy.