COMPANION’S STORY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17408, 5 November 1930, Page 11

COMPANION’S STORY

COLERIDGE SHOOTING EVIDENCE OF QUARREL THE TRIAL OF OQLENSO (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The first witness in the trial of Alfred James Stanley Colenso on a charge of murder was Arthur Edward Crawford Farquharson, Cohmso’s companion. The witness, who had been ill, was allowed to sit on a clmir in the -body of the court while giving evidence. lie repeated his statement as made in the Lower Court as to his meeting with CocJtlnini. Among various exhibits lying on the floor of the court the witness identified a rifle and swag, the latter containing a billy carried bv Colonso. The witness said he and Colenso were Sitting in the pit when Cock burn came up and accused them'of stealing his billy, but he was given a denial. He then turned round and called witness and Colenso “liars” and “a pair of .” Both men stood up and Cock burn said they would have to lip out their swags, hut this they refused to do, saying that they had nothing of his. Geek burn then used more filthy language. He seemed to be getting very angry, and the accused, who was holding the rifle in front of him with his arms extended below his waist, stepped a lift’to- further back from Cockburn, making - the distance between them four or live yards. Witness had liis back to tho other two. While hc : was bent down to do his bag up witness heard a shot, and when lie turned round Cockburn was practically -on the; ground and the accused was still about the .same distance f rom him. Witness heard Colenso say that he would defend himself. Cockburn was threatening the accused. Farquharson was examined at length bv the defence. I

Mr. Stacey: Did you notice anything strange about the way Cockburn was lodking at Colenso? —Certainly; ho was staring at him; he could not keep his eyes off him. Did Cockburn say to Colonso, “That Ls no good, there is something wrong somewhere when you go on like that ?” —Yes.

I)o you ■remember seeing Colenso filling the magazine?—No. You remember him putting a bullet in the breech of the gun when he sat down in the pit? —Yes, but I could not say if the magazine was full. Did not Cockburn at one time, when using language, tell Colenso not to answer him hack?—Yes.

Did you see Colenso retreating to tho back of the pit?—yes, because Cockburn was getting more fierce, using language and throwing liis arms about. Did you say these words to Cockburn : “Get away, you have upset this boy’s nerves again?”—Yes. Do you remember Colenso saving anything to you-just after the shooting?—Y T es, he said that the gun or rifle went off unawares.

His Honor: Did you say anything about that in the Lower Court ?—No. 'The witness said Colenso told him he had cocked the rifle on the chance of getting a rabbit across the valley from the gravel pit. Dotcetive-Sergt. Y'oung said that clothing on the chest of Cockburn was saturated with blood, but there was no sign of charring. He described Ihe arrest of the two men near Cass. When Colenso was charged with the murder of Cockburn, he said: “Will they hang me for it?” To Mr. Stacey, the witness said that the statement was given without pressure. The court then adjourned for lunch.