THE OTAPIRA GORGE MURDER.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 21

THE OTAPIRA GORGE MURDER.

INCRIMINATORY EVIDENCE AT THE

INQUEST.

ARREST OF A RELATIVE OF DECEASED'S WIFE.

Invercaegill, July 28.

The inquest on the body of Richard Bell, farmer, Lora Gorge, near Winton, who was shet ou Monday night while returning from a farmers' club meeting and died three hours later from hemorrhage of the bloodvessels of the face and throat, was commenced to-day, but was not concluded.

The gun which was found plunged in the niud at the scene of the tragedy has not yet been traced to its owner, but the very definite statement by deceased to his wife was deposed to, implicating John M'Crae, her uncle, a man ot 00, and the lessee of a farm adjoining

Bell lived on good terms with his neighbours, but about a month ugo had a claim made on him for L 3 as damages carsed by his cow gotbing.ab a stack of oats belonging to M'Crae. The matter was referred to the arbitration- of two neighbours, whohstessedthedamaye at 12s. This M'Crae was dissatisfied with, and asked for two practical fanners as assessors, but no action had been taken in that diieetion.

The evidence given up to the despatch of the report does not include that of Bell's wife and daughter ; but William Irwin, a neighbour, who was roused by deceased's daughter, deposed that the girl cried at the window, saying, " Rise, William, fust ; dad's shot by John M'Crae at the lower gate." Witness arose and went to Bell's immediately. Replying to a question from witness, Bell said, " I'm dono," and shook hands. Ho was vomiting blood, teeth, and bits of bone at intervals. Witness did not ask deceased who shot him, because he thought it was the place of his wife or father, who weie present, to do that. Had a conversation after Bell's death with Mrs Bell as to how it came about. Addressing deceased's daughter, witness said, "Jennie, if what you called in at the window to me is true, you will require to be very cautious in what you say, because the policeman will take down everything you say, and you'll want to tell nothing but the truth. This might be a hanging matter, and you'll want to stick to the truth and nothing but the truth." Before the daughter had time to reply, Mrs Bell snid, "It is true, and too true ; Jennie was following me close behind, and she could hear it." She then stated that she said to her husband, " Dear Richard, who murdered you ?" and he replied, "John M'Crae shot me off the horso at the lower gate."

No arresb had been made up to the time of the latest news from the locality. Tho gun found seems nearly now. It is a muzzle-loader, of inferior construction. Tho maker's name is "Moore, London." Tho police have not yeb been able to find anyone who sold a similar weapon here.

John M'Crae was arrested to-night for the murder of Richard Bell, and brought before the Coroner's Court.

Further evidence was given by Bell's daughter, to the effect that she heard her father say that M'Crae shot him.

It was intended to take the deposition of Mrs Bell to-night, and Inspector Hickson will then apply for an adjournment for a week.

July 29. The inquest on Richard Bell, who was shot at his own gate on Monday night, was adjourned at 11 o'clock last night for two weeks to enable the police to trace the ownership of the gun. John M'Rae, an old settler' in the district and the father of a grown-up family, has been arrested on the charge of murder and remanded for a week. At present the only evidence against him is the statement of Mrs Bell that the deceased told her that " M'Rae did it."

August 1. Nothing further has yet been elicited lo throw any light on the Otapira tragedy. Inspector HicksOn and a number of the police are still iv the district. No one has yet identified the gun.

Ab bhe inquest held on the body of Richard Bell, farmer, who was shob ab his own gate on the night of the 25th ult., the evidence of Mrs Bell and John M'Rae, a son of the man who has been arrested, is thus reported in tho Soubhland News :—: —

Catherine Bell, widow of deceased, deposed that her husband lef t home for the meotiug of the Hokonui Farmers' Club about 6 o'clock on Monday evening. Late in the evening, about 11 o'clock by their timepiece, which was a little fast, she heard a shot in the direction in which her husband would be coming home. She was in her bedroom when she heard the shot, and went to the front door, but, hearing no other noise, came in again. She went to the fire, but gob restless, and wenb to the door three separate times, and listened each time. She then fancied from the inside that she heard a moan, and went to the door and listened, and heard the moan again. She stood at the door for abont a minute, and turned in when she heard a person, as fu* as she could make out, moaning and groaning' again. She turned back to the door, v\hen she heard further groaning, and felt convinced that t>he distinguished his voice in it. She put on her boots and went out, followed l-y her daughter. As she passed the hen house she hoard thn moans coming from tho direction of the creek. Her daughter then screamed out, " Pa's shoe, and by M'Rae," and she foil down. Witness had not seen her husband by this time, bufc she said, "Hold your tongue child, and come on." Witness sang out her husband's name, and ho answered several times. Sho did not stop when her' daughter fell, and as soon as tho latter got up she followed witness. When she gob to the gale she called oub, as far us she could remember, ''You're shot, Richard." Tie had ou a white overcoat, and when she got v*> to him she said '• In the name <.f God, Kicliard, who shot you?" He replied, bub not distinctly. She understood him to s-iy, "M"l{no ili.l it" or " M'Rae shot me." I cannot mind which, bub something to that effect. As fur sis I mind now I said, "Oh, Richard, Kichard, what, shall w(j do ?"' He moaned in reply, ond as far us she could make out, said •• I'm done for ; I'm done for." She then said she would send for Mr Irwin, but he did not reply— only moaned. She then proposed to scnl lo Mr Trcndcr, who was the nearest ni-ighbonr, and her husband led her to understand by a sign that h« wished her to do so. She then sent her daughter. She had not bhen seen his injuries, b it tluugiit be was done for, and urged him. if he thought he was going to leave this world, lo prepam for ib. He was stretched on his stomach at the time. He then reached his hand to her and she took hold of it, and he. raised himself to his feet. He walked to his home with very little assistance from her exi-i'j.t that lie staggered once or twice. She kept urging him to think of the next world, and he multenil a little, but she could not make- it out till she reached the house. With the reflection of the light from the passage, the door of which was open, she saw his injuries, and said, " Heavens, Richard, how can I look at your

face?" As soon as he got in at the door he let go his hold of witness and turned right round, as she thought, to hide his face from her. She went down on her knees beside him, and asked him if M'Rae shot him. He lifted his hand and motioned, aud, as far as she could discern from his voice he said, "No, no, no." She asked again and again, and he still kept up this motion, and, ns she thought, muttered "No, no, no." Trender asked him if it was at the river gates he was shot, andhe made a sign with his hand and n gurgling sound which she understood to mean yes. After some time he indicated that he wanted his eye cleaned, and she cleaned his right eye, which was not injured. She placed her fingers on his hand, and when she opened his eye and asked "Do you know me?" he grasped her hand, as she thought, to show her that he did. She thought he referred to their neighbour, John M'Rae, when he said M'Rae shot him. She knew of no difference between them except the trespass of the cattle. M'Rae was married to a cousin of hers. From her house to M'Rae's would be about a mile across the paddocks. John M'Rae had not been to her house since her husband was shot. His three sons were there next day, but not with a message. She was excited, but calm and steady. She had no distinct recollection of what took place between her and her husband, but there were parts here and there which came to her mind at times. Deceased was, as far as she could make out, quite sensible, up to the last. He led witness to believe that he had no suspicion against anyone. Whether it was through her daughter singing out that M'Rae had done it or the excitement she could not tell, but she thought that he said M'Rae had done it. Her husband was aged 36 years, and was a native of Ireland John M'Rae, generally known as Jockie, deposed that he lived with his father, John M'Rae, at Lora Gorge. His father had 50 acres of his own and 160 leased from Mr Taylor. The leased ground adjoined Bell's, and there was no fence between. Neither he nor his father attended the meeting of farmers held on Monday night. It was a quarter past 10 when he went to bed. A brother older than himself, named Donald, a servant, his father, and himself were there. Donald and the servant went to bed before he did. It was after 11 when he went to sleep. His father wns sitting at the fire knitting a stocking when he went to bed. Heard a shot that night. A few minutes afterwards witness asked his father the time and he said 25 minutes past 10. Asked him who he thought would be shooting at that hour, and he replied " God knows," or something like that. His father was hi the kitchen at the time. His father was not out that night past the door. His father slept in a room with Donald and went to bed about a quarter past 11. He and his brothers had been on good terms with deceased. His father had a sorb of a spite against deceased on account of the cattle trespassing, but nothing to talk of. After the shot he did not hear any person moan — only heard cattle roaring. The gate where Bell was shot would be about half a mile from his father's. Witness and Mrs Bell were either first or second cousins.

Mrs Bell, the widow of the victim, has a family of five children — the eldest a girl of 14 years, and the youngest aged about 18 months. Unfortunately, she is not well provided for, and in her terrible affliction her case is one that calls for practical sympathy.

In connection with the murder of Richard Bell, the Invercargill police are making inquiries for the owner of a double-barrelled gun, which is described as follows : — The gun is apparently new, and is of a very inferior and cheap kind. It has the appearance of having lain in a damp place for some time. The ramrod is a manuka twig, broken at the thick end, and is about half an inch shorter than the barrels. The gun is stamped with the name "Moore" on each lock plate, with h crown at the back of the hammer. The name " London " is on the head line, between the barrels, about six inches from the breech. The gun is m irked number 13 on the web, under the barrels, and has also the letters S. V , the latter letter being in a horizontal position. A small screw is missing from the left lock, and the left hammer does not work so freely as the right one. The right barrel was found loaded with powder, which was somewhat dirty, and with No. 3 shot, which was corroded to a certain extent. Waddi;ig of ordinary brown paper was used. The gun is at present at the Invercargill police station.