THE ECHUCA MURDER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15892, 11 October 1913, Page 9

THE ECHUCA MURDER

FREEMAN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL;

SCHOOL CHILDREN'S EVIDENCE.

Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. MELBOURNE, October 10. The inquiry into the murder of the lad Anderson in the Echuca district has been resumed. A girl aged 11, a cousin of the victim, stated that Freeman sometimes had disputes with Anderson, and had pointed a pea rifle at Anderson. A sister of the accused, aged 12, said that her brother had blood on his stockings and trousers on returning home oa the day of the murder. A schoolboy gave evidence to the effect that Freeman and Anderson had a fight at school a year ago, when Freemaji made signs indicating that he would shoot Anderson or cut his throat. Freeman (a deaf and dumb mental defective) has been committed for trial on ai charge of murder.

A murder of a particularly atrocious character oocurred at Kauyapella, in tha Wharparilla district, about 20 miles from Echuca on September 29. The victim was a 15-year-old boy, named _ John Adam Anderson, who had been residing with his uncle, Mr John Anderson, of K&nyapella. He left home on a rabbiting expedition, . taking with him an axe and a dog. Ha failed to return home, and a search by his unclo about 1 o'clock in the morning resulted in the discovery of his mutilated and headless body about a mile and a-half distant from the homestead. When Mr Anderson commenced his search for the missing boy he hoard the dog which the boy had taken with him barking furiously, and he proceeded in the direction whence the barking came. When ho approached the spot the dog ran to meet' him, and whining continuously led the Bearcher through some dead wood timber to the spot where the boy's body lay. The head was missing. Mr Anderson returned to his home, and at daylight sent word to the Echuca police, who formed the j impression that the boy had been battered to death with an axe, and the head cat off during the attack. After a search, the police found the hoad hidden under some dead timber and bark, 70 yards from where the body, lay. Tho head was battered and cut about in a frightful manner, bearing no fewer than nine huge gaping wounds, inflicted j with the blade of an axe, which was lying close by. The features were rendered unrecognisable. On making a further examination of the body the police found that the cause of death was a gunshot wound in the heart. Apparently the (shot had been fired at a distance of about 30 or 40 The following day t!be police officers arrested Clarence Freeman (14) son of; a prosperous farmer, and charged him with, the murder. The accused, a woll-baiit lad, is practically deaf Rnd dumb, aod, furthermore, he is of weak intellect. When tho police resumed their investigations they; raado the disoovery that when young Anderson wont rabbiting ho was accompanied by Freeman, who took a gun with him. When the detoctivcs aought to interview Freeman they had a groat deal of difficulty: owing to his afflictions. A relative of tho boy assisted them, and eventually something in the nature of a statement was obtained.

Freeman did Dot conceal the fact that he acoompanied. Anderson. Ho said that late in the afternoon a person met them, and taking his (Freeman's) gun, fired a shot at Anderson, and then using the axo, severed Anderson's head from his body, afterwards planting tho head in some timber about 70 yards away. Freeman assured the police that he watched the stranga man killing young Anderson, and then ho turned and went home. He said ho took a circular course, but the blaok trackers who were employed in the investigations discovered tracks which showed th&t Freeman walked almost in a straight line,from tho ecene of tho tragedy to his parents' home.

Moat pathetio scenes were witnessed ,at the accused boy's home when the detectives informed his parents of their intention to place him under arrest