KYEBURN MURDER

Southland Times, Issue 20632, 2 November 1928, Page 8

KYEBURN MURDER

HARDIE ON TRIAL FURTHER WITNESSES GIVE EVIDENCE CONCLUSION MAY BE REACHED TO-DAY (Per United Press Association.) Dunedin, November 1. The Kyeburn murder trial was resumed this morning. Moses Brown, a gold miner, stated that he had been mining for 48 years in various parts and had been engaged as an expert in connection with prospecting and dredging. On July 23 at the request of the police witness went to Shum’s place and supervised the washing up of the claim. Witness examined the samples handed him in the Court by the Crown Prosecutor and stated they were taken from Shum’s claim. “In all my experience,” added witness in reply to a question, "I have never come across gold of the same rusty oxidized appearance except in this place.” Witness further said that he was familiar with the gold iu all parts of the district and gold of the kind procured was obtained in no other claim but Shum’s. His Honour asked what gold witness was examining, the Crown Prosecutor stating that he was comparing the gold sold to <he bank with the three samples taken from Shum’s claim. Witness said there was no difference between the golds. Mr A. C. Hanlon asked if witness didn’t say before a Magistrate that not having seen the fourth sample come out of the box it was impossible for him to say it was identical with the other three samples. Witness replied: I am so absolutely certain that the samples are identical that 1 don’t see I could make that mistake. Witness added that what occurred was that he was asked if he could swear the gold came from the claim, and said he couldn’t, because to swear that he would have to see it come out. Isaac John Parfit, a miner, said the gold sold to the bank and the gold obtained from Shum’s claim were practically the same in colour. Blowings from the gold from Shum’s claim and the blowings returned by the bank were somewhat alike. Charles Thomas Hore, a miner, said he washed up Hardie’s claim and from what he saw it would be impossible to get more than two dwts out of the workings. He tried several prospects and got one and a half grains to the yard. Detective Lean gave evidence as to accosting accused in the street, who was warned about making a statement. He said he did not know any Chinaman at Kyeburn, nor had Be shown photographs to a Chinaman. In a wallet on accused was found paper indicating that he had sold a little over two ounces of gold to the Bank of New South Wales on July 18. When accused was told the photographs found on him were to be shown to Sue Pee he said he showed them to a Chinaman in the Kyeburn hotel three weeks before. Sub-Inspector Fahey described the identification parade in which 16 men, all 6 feet high, seven of them dressed similarly to accused, were lined up. Accused was allowed to choose his position in the row. Three witnesses have yet to be called. The case will probably be concluded tomorrow.