WESTPORT MURDER.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13810, 22 January 1909, Page 5

WESTPORT MURDER.

TRIAL OF CONNELLY

Per Press Association

The «M WESTPORT, Jan. 21. . J-iie evidence m support of the RntT ° f f^ r ■■: <>*■: Ernest John JftPff against Wm. Connelly, was .for the most part a-repeti-tion of that given .-it. other trials; j„ so tar as it related to Connelly's movements.

Mrs Maria Pearce described in ' detail .an assault she, alleged, she saw Conne ly commit on Bourke, . stating that Connelly . when Bourke was down, battered the latter with a beer bottle and_«ien,dra g ged him ahto- a shed: " Mrs Phillips gave [testimony -corroborative in part of Mrs Pearc'e's evidence alleging. that she saw the two men, Connelly and Bourke ,together and saw Mrs Pearce watchinc events. . -

Hugh Dunean,- wliff discovered the body of. Bourke, added as fresh evidence that as he was' going from' the shed for the police,-he saw k woman whom, he did not know, on the footpath. . . ■■•-.■• :.-.•■

;■ Sergeant Culleh, in evidence, said in answer to .a question by accused, that he never Heard .accused' state in Westbort, " I tpkl. Detective Mcllveney I \ras the only one to .do anything to Bourke that night-" :;.•"*.-'■ : Margaret,Carlyon, ,the. gaoler's wife, Said that Connelly, in one of the conversations she had with ,him, said lie was sorry for the two men, adding, "I am willing.to dp five to seven to tip to fifteen years,, and then come out a young mail." ' ''. .' ■•■ ■

Chief Detective Mcllveiiey deposed to a conversation he''had'with Connelly in Westport rela'tive 'to Bdurke's death", when he ordered Connelly to speak tlje truth, and lie made a statement accusing Halliheri and'the late Anders .Andersen of the oriinc.' At the conclusion of the-Nelson trial of the two men, witness asked'Connelly, "Are you sure there is no mistake about this?" and. ho replied " No; sir; there ■ has been no mistake;" Immediately afterwards witness, i.n .company 'with Mr Myers, Crown. Prosecutor, saw Connelly, whom Myers addressed, stating, '!' Connelly, it'is not tod late,. if there has been anything wrong in your evidence sav so now,", Connelly replied, "There is-nothing wrong; if God should strike mp ;deatl-, +ho three, of us'are in it." -After the Hokitika perjury trial,' Connelly confessed,to witness that lie alone killed Bourke.

• As the doctor was absent in Wellington, the Court was adjourned till Monday, to get his, evidence;,; :