PUKEKAWA MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 18983, 18 November 1920, Page 5

PUKEKAWA MURDER

TRIAL OF S. J. THORN. THIRD DAY’S EVIDENCE. (Per United Press Association.) AUCKLAND, November 17. The third day’s proceedings in the trial of Samuel John Thorn, who is charged with the murder of Sydney Seymour Eyre at Pukekawa on August 24, took place to-day at the Supreme Court before the Chief Justice.

William Henry Hazard, gun merchant, said that he had dealt in rifles for over 35 years. He examined Philip Eyre’s gun on August 26, and his opinion was that it had not been fired for months. When he looked at accused’s gun on August 30 he found that both barrels had been fired some time previously, the left the more recently. Both barrels had been cleaned. The right had apparently been' cleaned a second time. The left barrel had a black substance in it, not having been thoroughly cleaned. He believed that it had been fired within a week or ten days. The Peters cartridges in the gun case contained 'Nos. 6 and 7 shot. His firm had supplied that kind of cartridge to & Mrs Eyre for accused at one time. The shot found in deceased’s head agreed with the No. 7 shot in weight. After examining the murdered man’s room he had concluded that the shot was fired from the outside left corner of the window in a downward direction. The firer would have to fire from the left side. He did not think the gun could have been fired from any other angle. Medical evidence was given to the effect that deceased had been killed in his sleep. A number of residents of the district were then called by the Crown. Charles Vincent, a farmer of Pukekawa, said that his farm was between Eyre’s place and Glen Murray. On August 24 he went to bed about 9 p.m. Soon afterwards his degs barked and he got up to see what was the cause. He saw and heard a horse coming towards Tuakau. That was from the Glen Murray direction towards Eyre’s place. It was too dusky to see whether there was a man on it. Witness went to bed, but was disturbed again a little after 12 o’clock. This time ho went out, because it was unusual for the dogs to make a noise at that time of night. He went outside the fence on the second occasion, and he then heard a horse travelling back towards Glen Murray. He did not see it that time. The animal was trotting going in, but it cantered coming back. Cross-examined, witness admitted that in the Magistrate’s Court at Pukekohe he had stated that on two occasions he heard the horse galloping, and that he said nothing. Witness said he saw no rider, but he saw the beast coming along the road. Mr Singer: A beast ? Witness; It was bound to be a horse, because no other animal would come along the road at (hat time of night. His Honour; Do you suggest that it could have been a cow? —(Laughter.)

Mr Singer; It might have been a bull, a nude, or a donkey. John M. Stewart, cream carrier, Pukekawa, said that about 8 a.m. on August 24 he noticed fresh horse hoof prints near a post about 150 yards from Eyre's house. He was curious and followed them right to where the road branched off towards Glen Murray. The prints were pood and different from others on the road, and were on the wrong side of the road both ways. The front shoe prinks had certain peculiarities. The shoes in Court would make exactly the same impression, he guessed. Cross-examined by Mr Ringer, witness, said be had heard of the murder and examined the marks because of what he had beard. He did not follow any other prints. He had never seen the shoes until to-day. James Granville, of Glen Murray, the employer of accused, described the horses on his property and the kind of shoes they wore. Micky was the only one wearing plain shoes. On Tuesday, August 24, accused commenced ploughing a piece, of land some distance from home, going to camp there. The horse Micky was in his charge. Witness was not continuously present when the police took a statement from accused on August 25. The police party stayed the night at his house. .Next morning Detec-tive-Sergeant Cummings told witness that Thorn had refused iu get in the horses. Witness told Thorn to get them in, and this whs done. Sergeant Cummings then proceeded to examine the horses. Accused asked which horse they wanted, and witness said he thought it was Dick. Sergeant Cummings was looking at the hoof prints and, calling Constable Thompson, he said, “I think Micky’s shoes will do.” Accused gave a. start and said. “Ob'" and turned a bit pale. The. police then single ! Micky out and removed his shoes. Thorn came saying that the marks on the shoes corresponded with those on the road. Witness told accused that it was a very serious thing, and that he had better go to the inquest, to see if anything was said about, him. Accused was quite wiling to go, Detective-Sergeant Cummings then tried Thom's saddle on Micky, remarking that it fitted. Witness replied that it was on Dick the previous day. There was little if any difference in girth between Micky and Dick. Cummings then said there was a print of a saddle on the cover. Witness invited Thorn to look at it, but the latter refused to do so.

To Mr Singer, witness said that when he lonlk delivery of the horse Micky the animal was suffering from lamper? and iiad to he left on the way home for treatment. It was not true that lie knocked up on bis first journey. This was a few weeks before the date of the murder. Witness denied also that the horse almost knocked up when finally taken home. At this stage the Court’ was adjourned.