MURDER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 24 September 1930, Page 9

MURDER CHARGE

COLERIDGE TRAGEDY COLENSO SENT FOR TRIAL \ STATEMENT BY ACCUSED VERSION OF EYE-WITNESS “COCKBURN WAS ABUSIVE” By Telegraph.—-Press Association. Christchurch, Sept. 23. Charged with murdering Robert William Cockburn at Lake Coleridge on September 3, Alfred James Stanley Colenso, aged 32, appeared before Mr. IL P. Lawrey, S.M., to-day. Colenso did not, plead- and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. For .the preliminary hearing to-day the court was crowded. Arthur Edward Farquharson, labourer, who had been Colenso’s companion in the ■ Coleridge district, described the movements oh the day of the tragedy. He said that he and Colepso were goinc towards Murchison’s station when Cockburn, whom they ' had met previously, came up and complained, of the theft of his lunch. Farquharson opened •his swag. Cockburn then accused Co- .. lenso of having his billy, and he demanded- that Colenso should open his *wag. Cockburn used abusive language. Tlie meh were close together arid Cbck- • ■ burn was throwing his arms about. Farquharson heard Cockburn say to Colenso: “Don’t be silly.” Colenso said: . “Self-defence.” This was while Farquharson had his back- to both of them. < Then he heard a shot. He could not say_whether.Colenso.had the rifle or not. When he looked round -. Cockburn had nearly died. Witness urged Colenso to accompany him to the station and give himself up, but Colenso decided not to. Inspector Cameron: What was said? Witness: The man who was shot said, “You will suffer for this, old boy.” Further examined, witness said that while the three of them were talking ■ ■ Colenso was holding the rifle at his hip. Witness did not heard any threat made. Detective-Sergeant Young said that when arrested Colenso, said he had shot a man at Coleridge the day before. The man,, said Colenso, had called him all the names he could lay his tongue to. ' COLENSO AT POLICE STATION. Detective-Sergeant Young gave evidence of the arrest of Colenso and Farquharson about a mile from Cass. The two' men were seen approaching, but they left the road and made off across 'country. Witness followed them and ' ' seeing one of the men had a rifle covered with a sack bailed them up until other police arrived. Both men. were handcuffed and were taken in difierent cars to the Christchurch police station. Colenso had said: “Yes, I shot the iiian. He called me all the ? —-— he could lay his tongue to.” Witness warned Colenso and then asked him if he wished to make an explanation, Colenso’s statement ran: “I was carrying my swag on tile way toward Mur 1 ehison’s station with Edward Farquharson. About noon I saw a man from Murchison’s plough camp on the homestead road about two miles from the station. He came up to me and called ; 'me for all and lie could lay his tongue,to. 'L-haVfiL.no idea.vyhy ’■he did this; Tuiad Sievcr seen him be- ; fore. He accused- me of' stealing an : old milk billy and said he had sent for the police. V “He continued to abuse me and was : going to strike me. I was holding my rifle' id defence to keep him off. It was loaded and the trigger was cocked. I was trembling and was all of a shake. 1 had it pointing at him and it went off. It struck him on the right-hand side. He" fell to the;.'road, putting his hand out to save himself. “My mate -gajd U A Stun! ’. And I ran. across country with my rifle, leaving my swag there;;, I did not know the man was deadq:';. It was the sight of blood that made me run away. , ' “TheLpld man did not take any part in the shooting. I did not take anyth,ii)g,/fpm the man’s camp.” . ’ Detective-Sergeant Young said that Wheff , charged with murder Colenso replied: . “Will they hang me for it?” fitting’as coroner the' magistrate gave his finding in the inquest, into the death of Cockburn. Ho found that Cpckbum died from a gunshot wound, this wound being inflicted by a rifle held by Colenso. Artliuf Edward Farquharson,'aged 58, Colenso’s companion, charged' with being aji/idle and disorderly person with means of support, was remanded. He will not be called upon to appear provided he remains'at a Salvaton Army home and reports daily to the police.