ONGAROTO MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 19295, 5 August 1921, Page 5

ONGAROTO MURDER

A BACTERIOLOGIST’S EVIDENCE. TESTS OF BLOODSTAINS. (Per United Press Association.) HAMILTON, August 4. In the Ongaroto murder trial to-day, William Tonics, Government analyst, said he found blood stains on the riding pants. He could not tell by chemical tests whether it was hunvn blood. Frederick Armitage, Government bacteriologist, said that by bacteriological tests he found some human and some pig blood on the pants, but the stains were separate. Since the last trial hp had made about 1303 tests. He also found human blood on a rock and on titree. At counsel’s request witness read published letters from two authorities pointing out the unreliability of certain tests, and suggesting that unjust verdicts might be given through placing too much reliance on laboratory work. Witness, under cross-examination, said he would have regarded it as a reflection upon himself if the Government had appointed another bacteriologist to check his tests.

His Honour said it was quite within the province of the defence to have appointed another bacteriologist to make a separate test.

Witness said he had performed the teat 3000 times. His test enabled him to say positively that some of the stains were human blood and others pig’s blood. William Hazard, gun merchant, Auckland. described the effects of the shots. The evidence has been concluded and counsel will address the Court to-morrow.