THE WESTPORT TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14281, 1 August 1908, Page 10

THE WESTPORT TRAGEDY.

CHARGES AGAINST CONNELLY.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

(Prr United Press Association.)

WESfI'PORT, July 31. Til tho perjury charge preferred against Connelly accused gave evidence, ami repeated his former statements, with some additions. Under loross-cxamination ho said that he had not told a lie yet in this case. Before it camo into court he had told a good many lies about liourke's death. When ho told thorn in tho hotel that he intended to take Bourke to his lodgings, that was a lie; it was also a lie when he told ML* Bowriug that he had left Bourke opposite the theatre; when he told Murray that he had fallen over with Bourke at the corner, that was a licj when he told the sergeant that he had left him opposite Handly's shop, that was another lie; when he said he had taken Boui-ke up the street as far as Handly's shop and. given him over to two men, but only got his eye on one fellow, and that ho oould not recognise tho other fellow, as he had his back to him, tlrat was ti lie; when he told Inspector Black and Chief Detective M'llveney that he was the only man who had anything to do with Bourke's death, that was a lie. Mr Bowling, clerk of the court, was lying when he said that witness swore, in the Magistrate's Court that Halinon's words to the witness were: "Mind you don't ]<*t out who killed the man, or who kicked the man, or something like that." He did not remember saying at Nelson these same words. Mrs Phillips and Mrs Pearcc wero lying when they said that only two men crossed the street to ,the shed. Mrs Tom Pearce and Lily Poar'ce wero lying when they said that witness was in their kitchen at about 8.20 that night. If Murray had sworn that these mon did not come into Quaker's he was lying. Haakoneon, Halinen, and Andorsen wero lying when they said that Halinen and Anderso~n were not in Quarter's. Tottenham and Eraser were lying when they stated that witness said to them after the body was taken to tho morgue that -the wounds were caused by a knife. His only explanation of his positive denial of any knowledge of Bourke was thai ho did not know the man's name, and did not know whether he gave a false name (King) when, arrested for window-breaking. : Ho .might have made a mistake when he marked the spot on the plan where tho prisoners met him. He had given as his reason for telling the various lies that he was afraid that Halinen was going to take his life. He did not complain to tho gaoler, btit told the inspector. At that time tho men were under lock and key, and he was at the police station. He never mentioned a word a.bout these threats until he had done his eight days, and did not speak about Bourko's death in gaol. It. was Halinen who spoke. He would not swear that he was five minutes away at the ehed;. it might have been five minutes, ten minui «, or a quarter of an hour. Ho had r.iid that ho could not write—only his name,— and he did not write the letter produced, and did not burn a letter to his mother. Questioned by hi« Worship as to the letter produced, and tho signature on the letter shown to him, he again 6aid that h was not his. He .compared the signaturo with his signature to the deposition, and then said that he wrote his name, but not tho letter. Counsel's address opened this morning, but Mr Hannan (counsel for the defence) was overtaken by illness, and' the court, adjourned. At the conclusion ol the hearing in the afternoon, Connelly was (committed for trial to the Supremo Court at Hokitika. Bail was refused. The hearing has lasted 12 days.