THE NEW PLYMOUTH MURDER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6847, 8 May 1890, Page 3

THE NEW PLYMOUTH MURDER.

Inquest Continued. [Pkb Peess Association.] NEW PLYMOUTH, Mat 8. The inquest, which was adjourned at five o'clock on Tuesday evening till this morning, wjib resumed. Sergeant Duffin stated that he was passing Sole Bros, butchers* shop ou Saturday night, April 12, at a quarter to ten, whenhe saw Mati Eai in there talking to others. Asked him if he had been in the Kecreation Ground or on the racecourse on that morning ? The Native said, " No." George Sole touched witness on the right arm and said, ""You are after the wrong man; you had better look to (mentioning a name)." Witness replied, "That vrill not do." Witness went home, and no steps -were taken to arrest Mati Kai till Sunday. Constable Scully, witness and Mati, on Sunday morning early, went to the Recreation Ground; after that arrested him, as he considered he was warranted in doin? so on the materials gathered. Duffin, under cross-examination by Mr Samuel, said he did not see any marks of violence on the body till it was turned over. Did not see the hat and stick of tho deceased when the body was found. Went afterwards to look for them. Did not see or search for new boots in Maloney's house. The clothes were not searched till the body had been taken up into tho roadway. There wag nothing to indicate that the body had been dragged to where it was found. Saw no footprints, as the place wa3 strewed with dead lewea. The track to where the hat and stick were found was made as if by a dog crawling in. l*i was all covered over. The left side of Maloney's jaw was knocked in, and the left eye knocked about and. black and closed. The body must have been, l^ng in the place some time, as the clothes were damp. Yesterday was the first time he had made a thorough search of deceased's house, which has been in charge or Charles Carnell. Knew nothing about Maloney's private affairs. Deceased did not drink, and was a very honest man.