COLERIDGE TRAGEDY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 9

COLERIDGE TRAGEDY.

CHARGE OF MURDER.

THE SHOOTING DESCRIBED.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. CHRISTCHURCH, September 23. Before Mr H. P. Lawry. S.M., to-day, the police proceeded with the charge against Alfred James Stanley Colenso, aged 32, a farm labourer, of murdering Robert William Coekburn at Lake Coleridge on September 3. The court was crowded.

■ Colin Archibald Stuart, a motor lorrv | driver, described how he had given Cocka on the moaning of the tragedy, vv itness passed two swaggers, and Cockburn got out of the lorry and walked back. Witness continued on. He looked back and saw Cockburn standing in front of the gravel pit. He was then about 300 yards from him. The time when he last saw the deceased was shortly before 2 p.m. When witness passed the spot on his return journey he saw Coekburn lying on the road. The body was on the spot where he had last seen Coekburn standing. Cockburn s pipe was in one hand,_and his matches in the other. Arthur Edward Farquharson, a labourer, who had been the accused’s companion in the Coleridge district, described their movements on the day of the tragedy. He said he and Colenso were going towards Murchison station, when Coekburn, whom they had met previouslv. came up and complained of tire theft of his lunch. Witness opened up big swag. Cockburn then accused Colenso of having his billy, and he demanded that Colenso should open his swag. Colenso used abusive language. The -men were close together and Coekburn was throwing his arms about. Witness heard Cockburn say to the accused; “Don’t be silly.” The accused said: “ Self defence.” This was while witness had his back to both of them. Then he heard-a shot. He could not say whether Colenso had the rifle up or not. When he looked round Cockburn had nearly died. Witness urged Colenso to accompany him to the station and give himself up, but Colenso decided not to. Inspector Cameron: What was said? Witness: The man who was shot laid: “ You will suffer for this, old boy.” Further examined, witness said that while the three of them were talking Cqhnso was holding the rifle at his hip V itnefef did not hear any threat made. Witness then proceeded to describe his movements with the accused after the tragedy. Witness said that during the conversation on the road before the tragedy CockInn u was moving about a good deal. Witness did not see Coekburn fall after the shot was fired. When he saw him he was lying on his left side, almost fully extended. Inspector Cameron: How long did you remain there after the shot had been fired ? Witness: About five minutes. And what was being said or done during that five minutes?—l said: “My God, the man’s shot.” I said no more. Did the accused have anything to say after the shot was fired? Witness: No! Detective Sergeant Young said that when arrested the accused said he had shot a man at Coleridge the day before. The man. said accused, had called him all the names he could lay his tongue on. Colenso did not plead at all, and was committed for trial at the Supreme Court.

The inquest was then held, when the evidence already heard was read over to the witnesses and confirmed. The coroner returned a verdict that Cockburn’s death had been caused by internal hemorrhage following a gun shot wound, in the right chest, causing laceration of the lung, this wound being inflicted by the discharge oi a rifle held by Alfred Janies Stanley Colenso.

Arthur Edward Farquharson, aged 58, was then charged with being deemed to be an idle and disorderly person at Cass on September 4, in that he had insufficient lawful means of support. Mr Stacey: I suggest that he stay in the Salvation Army Home until the hearing. The case could be adjourned sine die.

Inspector Cameron agreed to this. He said that the police did not wish Farquharson to be punished. Farquharson was accordingly remanded. He will not be called upon to appear so long as he remains in the Salvation Army Home au Addington and reports daily to the police.