MURDER CHARGE

Taranaki Daily News, 19 April 1934, Page 7

MURDER CHARGE

DEATH OF STATION COOK knife wound in the neck FELLOW WORKER FOR TRIAL TRAGEDY AT PORANGAHAU STORY OF STRUGGLE TOLD By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Waipukurau, Last Night. As a sequel to the death on March 11 of a cook, Jack Williams, who was employed at the late Sir George Hunter’s Porangahau station, Harry Capewell, a cook, appeared in the Magistrate’s Court this morning on remand from Napier, where he had been sent from the Waipukurau court, charged with the murder of Williams. The inquest proceedings, which were adjourned from March 12 at Waipukurau, were continued simultaneously before Mr. H. W. M. Kendall, district coroner. Mr. H. B. Lusk, Crown Prosecutor at Napier, appeared for the Crown and Mr. C. G. Harker, Waipawa, for CapewelL James Cecil Neale, registered surveyor employed by the Lands and Survey Department, Napier, was the first witness z called by the Crown. He said that on March 20 at the request of the police he visited Papakihau station, Porangahau, in the company of Detective-Sergeant Bickerdike and two constables. The men’s quarters were pointed out to him and witness took measurements and prepared a plan of the building (produced). Walter Thomas Budge, employed at the Papakihau station for about 20 years, * gave evidence that he knew Williams, who was also employed at the station, but left to go to Porangahau station about three months before. He had known Capewell since January 1. Capewell had been employed as a cook at the Papakihau station from that date. On Sunday, March 11, witness was at the station at teatime, when Capewell was also there. He saw Williams at the station about five o’clock. He came through the dining room when the employees were having tea and went into the kitchen. Capewell was also there.

“HAD A SPOT OR TWO.” Williams appeared jovial, and witness throught they, had had a “spot” or two, although witness would not say Williams was drunk. He often came to the station. He noticed a bottle of beer in Williams’ pocket. Witness with other employees went on to the back verandah. Later Capewell and Williams also came there. He heard Williams say to Capewell that “he was not going to take these jokes from him.” Capewell said it was quite all right. Williams appeared to be looking for trouble. Capewell went toward the kitchen and Williams remained on the verandah for a few minutes. Then he said: “I’m going back to see Harry again,” going into the whare and along the passage. Williams and Capewell came out again shortly afterwards. They were a little more “stirred up.” Then ‘Williams took his aoat off and made a rush at Capewell, who simply pushed Williams and both fell down. They were trying to hit each ether, but no damage was done and both were separated. Capewell went into the house again. Williams was the aggressor. He was following the other man about. During the struggle Williams appeared unsteady on his feet. • Capewell in witness’ opinion was sober, but was getting excited by being followed. Afterwards Capewell went into the house and Williams stayed on the verandah, witness and others trying to keep him away from Capewell, but he went back into the whare and said: “I’m going to see Harry again.” STRUGGLE IN KITCHEN. Witness went into his room but wondered what would happen and strolled toward the kitchen. He heard a scuffle. He went to the dining room and saw the two men in grips at the kitchen door. Williams had his back to witness. They were swaying about, but fairly upright. He noticed blood and pushed Capewell away from Williams. Taking hold of the latter, he said, “Good God man, what have you been at.” Capewell said: “My God, I’ve been trying to take a knife off him.” Witness saw nothing of any knife at the time, but there was blood on both men, chiefly on Williams. Witness called for help and walked some distance with Williams, who collapsed. He noticed a wound in the left side of Williams’ neck. He let him down on to the floor and he died practically immediately afterwards. He never spoke. Capewell and Williams were the only persons he saw in the kitchen when he separated them. He did not immediately look for Capewell. He noticed blood on the latter’s hands and face. Capewell later seemed worked up. Williams seemed to get on well with the men on the place and witness never saw Capewell in a' bad temper. Capewell tpld witness that he was very- hasty.

Knives were kept in a rack in the kitchen, close to where the men were struggling, said witness. He identified the knives produced. As far as witness had seen Capewell and Williams had always been good friends. John William Helm, for 12 years foreman of the Papakihau station, gave corroborative evidence and said he saw Williams and Capewell struggling on the ground in front of the verandah' after tea. They were trying to hit one another. Budge and witness separated them. He did not hear them say anything and could not say which man went to the whare first. Williams was slightly intoxicated but not drunk. Capewell appeared to be sober. ° Witness could not say whether he had had any drink, however. A little later he heard Budge call out “Jack!” He saw Williams lying on his back bleeding from a wound in the left side of the neck. On request he gave Capewell a cigarette. Capewell later said he would like a sleep but was told Williams was in his bed. He replied, “Let him lie for half an hour.” Capewell appeared quite normal. Witness arranged to call the police. There was blood on Capewell’s apron and singlet. Witness identified a horn-handled knife. There was a trail of blood from the kitchen to the dining room and an empty whisky flask in the scullery. WILLIAMS WANTED TO FIGHT. Howard Mills, a shepherd at Papakihau for four years, said he saw Williams was “a bit under the influence of drink.” He heard W’illiams ask Capewell to fight. The latter said he did not want to, but after barracking Williams made a rush at Capewell. Both fell and struggled on the ground. They were separated. Later witness followed Jack Helm as far as the dining room and saw Williams lying on the floor. His face and neck were smothered with blood. Capewell was leaning over him calling “Jack!” He next saw Capewell back on the verandah with his hands and clothes smothered with blood. He seemed very excited. Subsequently witness and Capewell played crib, the latter playing fairly well. Nothing was said about the trag-

edy, after which Capewell appeared to be well under the influence of drink. Before his death ‘Williams appeared to be drunk and not capable of defending himself. Capewell and Williams were always on the best of terms as far as witness knew.

Henry Doran said he had assisted the cook at Papakihau for about five weeks before the tragedy. He gave evidence of the mixing of ale and whisky, and said he thought he and the two men had more than one drink. An argument took place over the turning out of batches of bread, Williams claiming superiority over Capewell. The latter did not reply. Williams asked Capewell to fight but Capewell said he was an older man and was not able to fight. He walked out. Later from his room witness saw Capewell and Williams struggling but he did not leave his room. WILLIAMS’ REAL NAME. Brian Francis Hughes said he knew the man who passed as Jack Williams. His real name was Leo McKee, with a “middle name” of Patrick or Joseph. His parents lived in Tyrone. He recognised a photograph produced. Dr. C. Raymond gave medical testimony. He said he made a superficial examination of the body at Porangahau, when Williams had been dead less than three hours. In his opinion a wound behind the external border of the left collarbone caused death. It could not have been self-inflicted. It required considerable force. The only external injury to Capewell was a slight abrasion above the right knee. Dr. William Reaumond Fisher corroborated the previous witness. Constable R. H. Moss, Porangahau, said Capewell appeared quite sober and rational. There was a trail of blood from the body to the kitchen. Constable D. H. Sutton said Capewell smelled of drink but appeared sober. He made a statement and signed it. This said that Williams came to the kitchen with a bottle of whisky and a bottle of beer and drank the liquor after it had been mixed. Williams attacked him with a knife. He took the knife from Williams. He did not remember what he did afterwards. He thought there might have been a struggle. He had always been a good friend of Williams. He had referred to a knife which he said Williams had picked up from a table, a large carving knife being recognised. Counsel for Capewell suggested that in view of Capewell standing trial on the major charge the inquest be adjourned till after the Supreme Court hearing. The coroner agreed and an adjournment of the inquest was made sine die. Capewell reserved his defence and was committed to stand trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court at Napier.