THE WAIKINO MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 19123, 15 December 1923, Page 5

THE WAIKINO MURDER

JOHN HIGGINS CARGED STORY OF THE TRAGEDY ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL (Per United Press Association.) PAEROA, December 14. John Christopher Higgins appeared at the Magistrate’s Court this morning before Mr Salmon, S.M., charged with the murder at Waikino of Kelvyn Maurice McLeod and Charles Alan Stewart and attempting to murder Robert Theodore Wood, John Bustard, Kathleen Sarah McGarry, and Herbert James Olsen. Mr V. R. Meredith (Crown Prosecutor), assisted by Inspector Wohlman, conducted the prosecution. Mr J. J. Sullivan appeared for accused. The Court was crowded to overflowing. Higgins, supported by five constables, entered the Court. He is a tall man, and somewhat stooped, though he bore a calm demeanour. He looked furtively round the Court when called upon to answer the charges. He wore gold-rimmed spectacles, and stood in the dock with his arms folded across his chest. Prior to the Court opening, he informed a Press representative that since imprisonment he had gained in weight. Counsel for the prosecution intimated that he did not intend opening the case. Colin Mason, farmer, residing near Higgins, stated that Higgins went to his place just before noon on October 18 and borrowed a horse to take wood to Waikino, remarking that it would be the last order as he was giving up the firewood business. Higgins made reference to the fact that his own horse was dead, declaring that someone had killed it. Robert Theodore Wood, with his right arm in a sling and looking haggard, was assisted into the box, but was unable to remain 1 standing. His evidence was on the lines already published. So far as witness knew, Higgins never before visited the school. May Bell, school teacher, said she was teaching the infants’ class outside Reid’s study window when she heard Reid say, “Well, you’re going to take the law into your own hands.” Later she went into the infants’ room and heard a heavy fall in the study. She met accused in the doorway of the primer class-room. He had a pistol in his hand and walked into the primer room, where he fired a shot. He then went into her room, walked up to the front desk and fired. Witness and other teachers then got behind the cupboard for shelter, while the children rushed pell-mell for the doors and windows. She heard several shots fired in the room. Accused seemed quite calm and moved about the room deliberately. Evidence was also given by Alexander John Bustard, describing how accused shot him in the groin at a distance of about three paces, while witness was trying to get out of the class-room. Kathleen Sarah McGarry related how she met Higgins in the morning when he bid her “Good morning” and asked after her mother and father. W r hen he went into the class-room he shot at her, the bullet striking her leg. She managed to get outside. Witness added that when Higgins went into the porch at the school he said, “I am here for revenge.” He repeated ’this when in the study. Asked what was the trouble, Higgins replied that he had been persecuted for fifteen years by his neighbours and the world in general and that he could not get justice. Higgins suggested witness should leave the school, as he did not want to hurt him. During the whole conversation, Higgins pointed the revolver at him, holding the weapon at his hip. He said to Higgins: “Surely you would not shoot innocent children. I did not think you would be such a coward.” Higgins replied that that was what he was there fore and wanted witness to get out of harm’s way. Witness replied that he would not leave. He had to remain, and if there was any shooting, he must shoot him first. Witness said to Higgins: “Why don’t you go to the battery and shoot the men.” Higgins replied in the negative, stating that he was there for revenge. Higgins walked to the study door, keeping witness covered with the pistol, and then to some further appeal from witness, Higgins replied: “You will have it then, take it.” With that Higgins fired point blank at his head. Witness collapsed on the floor. Accused then went out and commenced shooting in the school. Later accused came back into the study. Witness was lying with his face down and couldn’t see accused, but could hear him moving about and pushing paper into a book in the cupboard. He then dragged witness across the floor and tried to cram him into the cupboard. Accused then dragged the furniture about. Meanwhile, witness was lying helpless on the floor. The wounds witness received were a broken jaw, and a bullet wound in the neck, resulting in paralysis of the right shoulder. There had been no ill-feeling between him and accused and he had given no provocation. Doris Irene Hewitt, teacher, corroberated the evidence given by May Bell as to Higgin’s calmness and shooting deliberately. He appeared to pick out certain children. She made an escape while Higgins turned his back. Elma Georgina Sutton, teacher, said accused came into the primer room, looked around for somebody and appeared to aim at the boy Arnold Wadsworth. The latter ducked below the desk. Accused then went into Standard 111 and IV room and deliberately shot at the boy McLean. To Mr Sullivan: She would swear on oath that accused deliberately shot McLean. As far as she could see, not a single shot was fired at random. Constable Trash gave evidence that he escorted accused to Auckland. During the journey, Higgins talked freely with witness, mentioning the events leading up to the tragedy. Accused intimated that he had spent £lOOO cn his Waitewheta farm and it was the worst deal he could have made. Referring to the shooting, Higgins said : “I am prepared to face the consequence for this terrible deed. I know I was doing wrong, but couldn’t help doing it. The devil was in me.” Counsel elected to reserve his defence, and Higgins was committed to take his trial at the sitting of the Supreme Court in February. All other charges were withdrawn.