HOTEL MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 20200, 10 June 1927, Page 7

HOTEL MURDER

PAHIATUA CASE EVIDENCE AT INQUEST HINDU ALLEGES AN EVIL EPITHET (Per United Press Association.) Pahiatua, June 9. The inquest in the hotel murder case is proceeding before the Magistrate (Mr Free) and the District Coroner (Mr Wilson). Constable T. Swan said that in response to a message he arrived at the Commercial Hotel at 1.40 p.m. last Saturday. In the kitchen he saw the barman, William J. Barrett, lying in a pool of blood. At the police station the accused, a Hindu chef named Deva Kala, said “I’ve had bad luck to-day. I have a wife and two boys in Bombay, India.” Witness asked what religion accused was, and he replied a Hindu. Accused repeated that he had had bad luck at Pahiatua that day. He alleged that the barman caine into the kitchen for lunch, and said to the Hindu: “Are you leaving on Monday?” Accused replied: “Yes, 1 have given a week’s notice. “The barman,” he added, “called me a black, woolly . I had a bread knife in my hand, and cut his head and .” Witness continued that the Hindu talked about his wife and kwo boys, saying that he came to New Zealand in 1919, and went back to Bombay in 1921, returning to New Zealand in 1923. He had been a fortnight at the Club Hotel and two months at the Commercial. Was he sober? Witness: Yes, sober and calm. Thomas Davidson, kitchenman, said that deceased and himself exchanged greetings shortly before the tragedy on Barrett’s way to lunch in the kitchen. Later he heard moans and saw Barrett on the floor. He thought he was in a fit, and caught him by the shoulder. He then saw the gash. As he was afterwards going into the kitchen he passed accused going out. He had not heard anything in the way of a discussion between deceased and accused. Subsequently he said to accused: “Did you do that to Bill?” Kala replied: “I kill him.” The only other thing he said was: “The chickens are in the oven, Tom,” referring to the dinner being prepared for the nignt. Accused used to cut up the bread with a small Chinese chopper. H. P. Perry, licensee of the hotel, also gave evidence, and W. S. Routledge, flay porter, described how, on accused’s statement, he found a chopper in the sink. Constance Lester, housemaid, said that after hearing a fall, she saw the Hindu walking away from Barrett’s body. There was no one else in the kitchen. Other evidence was given by Ruby James and Myra Davidson, waitresses, and Mrs Frances J ago, manageress of the hotel. Mrs Jago stated that when she questioned Kala the latter said: “I kill him, I kill him.” Dr. Dawson also stated that accused admitted the act. Witness considered that only a person accustomed to use an instrument similar to that used could have committed the act with such strength and skill. Constable Burrell said that when accused by Mrs J ago, before witness, of the murder, Kala did not reply. Witness noticed that Kala was trembling but was perfectly sober. The Coroner returned a verdict that deceased died from a wound wilfully inflicted by Deva Kala. Accused was then charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. He was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Palmerston North, on August 2.