MURDER IN RECREATION GROUNDS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8779, 15 May 1890, Page 4

MURDER IN RECREATION GROUNDS.

day it was. Tho other lady inquired of j her daughter, I think, .and the young girl said, "It -was Friday, because you (the mother) were up picking the fowls, and you left the money with me to pay for the umbrella." I went to inquire to make myself perfectly certain. As I had made a mistake on the Sunday evening I went to make sure. All this was done before we got the reply to the telegram on Monday. I made the statement on Sunday without making any enquiries of persons to corroborate what I said. Before I naado the second statement I went round to sec these people. I can't say when I made my second statement to Mf Samuel that I told about having delivered these umbrellas, but I believe I did. Before I mado the second statement, I made certain that these people would not contradict me about the delivery of the umbrellas. I went to Mr Walsh's house on Monday morning, the same as I went to the other places. I did not see Mr Walsh since the Saturday I took home the work I got on the Friday. I have not asked him since Saturday "as to the day I saw him at the Post Office. I believe I heard that Main Kai was arrested on Monday. When I first heard Maloney was killed I did not know when he was supposed to be killed. I don't read the papers, but I heard it talked about afterwards. I did not deem it important at that time that I had seen Main Kai on Friday. I deemed it important before the following Sunday. 1 made up my mind when the examination was on to send a letter to the Maori's solicitor, that is if he had one, or to the police authorities. My mind was made up that it was important, on the Sunday I went to Mr Samuel.

Ttaffl following appeared i» our Town Edition yesterday :

George Wilson's evidence continued :—: — I believe Mahi Kai had a wide straw hat on when I saw him at the restaurant. _ I noticed the Maori was in the Salvation meeting with my boy about 8 o'clock. He used to look on my boy'a hymn book. I am a stranger here, but I might have mentioned that I saw the Maori on the Friday to several. About eight or nine days after the Friday! mentioned the matter to Mr Samuel. It was in the evening, perhaps at 8 o'clock. I intended leaving for Napier next morning. Mr Samuel said I had better come down to the police. I went with you. I saw Mr Stendish and Inspector Pardy. My examination was taken down by yoa in their presence. [Mr Samuel: This was on Sunday, April 20.1 The examination was taken by you asking questions. The examination was taken down at once, and I liad not time to think into things properly. As I left I made a remark. I said if I had made any little mistake in my evidence I would be very glad to withdraw such statements. That was the first time my evidence was taken down. I was not in your company a quarter of an hour before we went to the police station. I heard Mr Pardy say that he would like a copy of the evidence, but as it was in copying ink he could not get it then. I put my mark to the paper. I said in my examination then where I went after I left the Post Office. I found out afterwards that I gave a wrong statement as to where I went by thinking and a little enquiry. I went down to the treakwater, and made enquiries. The mistake in the statement is in saying that I went to the breakwater after I left the Post Office on Friday. It was on Thursday I went to the breakwater. I found out from the hotelkeeper at the breakwater that I was wrong on the Monday morning. I went out to be confident on the joint. I also went down to a house on the beach, where I delivered an umbrella, and enquired. At this stage George Grey, counter clerk in the Post Office, was called, and stated: I was on duty on Friday, April 11 last. I produce a telegram sent by Mr Wilson on that date, as required by my subpc*ua. From memory I should say it was about 12 o'clock when I received the telegram, but from the timing on the telegram it was actually 12 o'clock. The time was marked upon it within two minutes of receipt. The time mark I see upon it is " M," standing for 12 o'clock. \S c have marks by which we can divide up to 2£ minutes. I have no doubt but that the "time is right. The marks are in my handwriting. I have reasons for remembering it was 12 o'clock apart from the marks, for the Auckland and South mails were closing at 12.30 o'clock, and the money order clerk went to dinner earlier than usual, in order to be back in time to give me an opportunity of closing these mails. A few minutes after the money order clerk was gone I was clearing the box, and Mr Wilson came in at that time, and asked me to write the telegram for him. I told him I had not time, ana asked a messenger to do so while I cleared the box. The messenger wrote the telegram (produced). I have an idea that Mr Wilson gave the name of Howson in convex sation, and not Harrison. I feel convinced that he mentioned the former name. There can be no mistake as to the day, as it is stamped on the telegram. [The other telegrams instructing search for this telegram, and another telegram sent by Wilson to Mrs Howson enquiring about his telegram were read and put in]. George Wilson's examination was then continued : The result of my enquiries at the breakwater was that I found out that it was Thursday I was at the breakwater, and not Friday. On finding this out I went to Mr Samuel, who took dofra another statement. I understood a copy of this second statement was sent the same day to the Inspector of Police This was on Monday, April 21, [The copy of statement sent to the Inspector was here put in]. I had not received the telegram from Wellington when I made the statement. There can be no mistake that the day I sent the telegram was the day I saw Mahi Kai. I drove straight from the restaurant to the Post Office. When I came out of the Post Office my attention ■was drawn to a railway official, and he told me to come down to his house as he had some work for me to do. I did not know the name of the guard then, but since I have learned it was Mr Walsh. I believe I mentioned about tbia guard when I was examined at the Police Station, but I won't be positive. I am sure It was the day that I sent the telegram that I saw Mahi Kai. There can be no mistake about this. I made inquiries at the restaurant on April 21, and learned that the police had been their to make inquiries. By the Coroner : I went to the restaurant as I was not certain as to the date I saw Mahi Kai. I had not got the telegram then. The proceedings were adjourned to 2 o'clock. The inquest was resumed at 2.1 5 o'clock. George Wilson continued, in answer to Mr Standish : I am quite sure it was Friday I saw Mahi Kai, on account of the telegram I sent that day. Another point which makes me sure is that I Baw the railway guard The other point which makes mo sure is that I was grinding knives for Mr Warren on the day I sent tho telegram. Another fact which makes mo sure is that I e ti vere d t' je wor k on tuo Friday morning a&kn towards tho breakwater. I delivered two umbrellas that I had new covered for 6b each. I don't know the names of the

people, but I can show the police the housed The houses are about half-a-mile

from here. I have been to two of these „ people since I made my first statement. I - went to them to ascertain the diy I brought tho umbrellas. One lady eaid 9b« M pot the leait idea w&ert