THE ONGAROTO MURDER.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18248, 5 August 1921, Page 5

THE ONGAROTO MURDER.

CONTINUATION OF TRIAL. Per Perss Association.) HAMILTON, August 4. At the Ongaroto murder, trial, Sarah Herepeka gave evidence as to the prisoner’s movements at Easter. He made no mention of Elliott, although he spent much time with her. Detective Sweeney said he took a statement from the prisoner, stating that the two returned from a shooting excursion safely and next morning he left the whare early, leaving Elliott sleeping in bed. Witness also testified to finding a cartridge box in Elliot’s whare, which was orderly, with the bed made. He found empty cartridge boxes in prisoner’s whare.

William Tonks, Government Analyst, said he found blood on the riding pants, but he could not tell by chemical tests whether it was human blood.

Frederick Armitage, Government bacteriologist, said that by bacteriological tests he found some human and some pig blood on the pants, but the stains were separate. Since the last trial he had made about thirteen hundred tests. He also found human blood on a rock and titree. At counsel’s request witness read published letters from two authorities, pointing out the unreliability of 'certain tests and suggesting that unjust verdicts might be isiyen through placing too mttch reliance on laboratory work. Armitage, under cross-examina-tion, said he would have regarded it as a reflection upon himself if the Government appointed another bacteriologist to check his tests. His Honour said it was quite within the province of the defence tb have appointed another bacteriologist under a separate test. Witness said he had performed the test three thousand times. His tests enabled him to say positively that some of the stains were human blood and others pig’s blood . William Hazard, gun merchant, Auckland, described, the effects of shots.

The evidence has concluded and counsel’s addresses will be taken tomorrow.