WESTPORT MURDER CASE,

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13907, 19 May 1909, Page 6

WESTPORT MURDER CASE,

TRIAL OF CONNELLY

Per Press Association

CHRISTCHLTRCH, May* 18. The trial of Connelly for the Westport murder was continued to-day. Sergeant Cullen stated that Connelly told him that he had left Bourke at Hardlev's tinsmith's shop on the night of the "murder. Afterwards Hallinen and another man took Bourke round the corner towards the river. Brown, a painter of Westport, identified as like those belonging to Bourke, a penknife and pipe produced. Dr. Simpson detailed the wounds on Bourke, and described the blood stains on Connelly, Hallinen and Andersen's clothes. In cross-examination, the doctor said that two of Bourke's wounds could have been caused by a knife, but- the wound on the cheek was by a blunt instrument. . Detective. Mcllveney gave vidence regarding the statements made to him by" Connelly. He stated as absolutely untrue Murray's evidence that he (witness) misread* Murray's statement regarding Connelly's Hokitika confession. The Judge was of opinion that Mcllveney should have taken question and answer. . rieplving to Mr Stringer, witness stated "that Connelly's statement—"l iilone killed Bourke," was made in reply to his (Mcllveney's) question, k "\Vhat i« it you now say," and Connelly s statement that Hallinen and Andersen were innocent men was Connelly s own remark. .. This closed the Crown's case, tlie other witnesses for the Crown being required for rebuttal. Mr Hanlon briefly opened for the defence. He laid stress on the fact that the evidence for the prosecution pointed to Hallinen and Anderson as the perpetrators. He called Miss Harcourt, barmaid at Lennie's, who saw bloou stains on Hallinen's clothes before the row in an adjoining fish shop, and Bull and Lennie, who also saw stains. Fraser, bos'un on the Canopus, gave evidence regarding the stains on Hallinen's clothes.. . Cockerv, licensee of the Royal Hotel, stated that Hallinen gave a description in his bar of :?n assault on a man answering to the description of Bourke. Hallinen"was sober, but apparently amused about- something. Cross-examination was witli the object of showing that- Hallinen was describing a fight he had with a steward of the Talune the same night Bourke was murdered. McDonald, a labourer-, gave evidence substantially the same as Cockery's. Constable Rutter was under examination when the Court adjourned.