FOR HIS LIFE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19785, 8 March 1927, Page 7

FOR HIS LIFE

SULLIVAN ON TRIAL FACES MURDER CHARG’ BLOODSTAINED HANDS TRAGEDY ON A COUNTRY BOAD [ Per Press Association. T , GISBORNE, Tho recent tragedy near Was investigated at the Court to-day before Mr Ostler, when John Sullivan was/ cd with tho murder of Jerem j liamson on December 1 laßt,*j After evidence had been given gard to tho plans of the scene of Um I tragedy and tho examination of human blood stains, Dr. Forbes, of Opotiki, detailed tho Injuries to the victim. Norman McKinnon, n taxi driver, said ho was engaged by Sullivan aod Williamson to drive them to Mr Duncan Kerr’s property, where they expected, he judged from their remarks, to got work, Both wero ‘‘pretty drunk.” On tho way to Korr’s Sullivan talked a great deal, but answered rationally when witness spoke to him. Sullivan wanted to stop for a drink at one point, but witness would not stop. When near Kerr’s gate they met Kerr, who had aboard his car two Maori adults and a sick child. Both parties stopped, and, hearing that the men had come to worki for him, Kerr said he had not engaged them. Ho suggested that witness should take the Maoris in to the Opotiki hospital ■while he took the two men on to a camp. Unprovoked Attack. Sullivan and Williamson got out anfl stood by their swags on the roadside and Sullivan asked Kerr if they could sleep in his woolshed. Kerr refused to allow this in case it affected his insurance on the wool clip stored there. Sullivan tried to hit Kerr, and witness told him not to. Sullivan then shook hands with Kerr, and then started to pull off his coat to make another attack on Kerr, who was turning away. Witness again stopped him Williamson took no part in the argument, except that when Kerr explained why they could not sleep in his wool shed. Williamson agreed that it was right. In consequence of Sullivan’s attitude, witness advised him to return home. Witness held Sullivan as the car was being turned, but he broke free and ran up to Kerr’s car on the driver’s side and made a grab at Kerr. The latter pushed him away and he fell on the road. Witness later left Sullivan and Williamson on tho road with their gear. This wao about 3.15 o’clock. Witness did see the men again that day, but next day went back to where he had left them. He found the marks of

a struggle and blood stains on bottles and sticks lying about. Body Found In Scrub. Duncan Kerr gave corroborative evidence in regard to meeting accused and tho previous witness. After leaving, continued witness, he returned homo about 4 o’clock. While witness was talking to Herewini, a Maori, later, tho latter’s wife said: ‘‘There’s a drunken swagger chasing Maggie in the gorge.” Herewini galloped off, witness following a few minutes later. At the spot where he left Sullivan and Williamson he saw a hat hanging on a manuka bush, and a swag and a sack on tho roadway. He searched and called for the girl Maggie, but finding no trace, returned to where the swag was. Then he saw a man’s crossed legs lying parallel with the road, about ten feet in the manuka. He saw Williamson with blood smeared on his cheek. Witness thought at first h< was alive. Ho searched for the girl,, and as Tl< reached the school paddock saw wini, Drake (schoolmaster) and Sui livan sitting on the grass. As witnest rode up Sullivan, pointing to witness, said: ‘‘That’s the man who helped to kill my mate.” Witness did not reply. Sullivan approached witness, swinging a whisky bottle/ and witness and the Maori left. Sullivan stayed on while Drake ’phoned the police. "While there Sullivan seemed to have sobered up compared with his condition when f witness left Sullivan and Williamsor earlier in the day. Witness went home and got bandages, and with two Maoris returned to where Williamsun was lying. They took him out of the manuka and then realised that he wa» dead. There was a mark on the road as though the body had been dragged into the manuka. Near the manuka were two heavy rewarewa branches and broken bottles. Attack on Maori Girl Henry Herewini, a Maori boy, safd when he and his smaller brother were riding on horseback from school they saw a man—whose hands were covered in blood on the roadside, not far from Kerr’s gate. As witness was passing, tho man called out: ‘‘Go quick ana ring up the nearest doctor.” Theio was no sign of any other man, but further back witness saw patches of blood and broken bottles. In reply to the Judge, witness saTd he could not recognise the man he saw on the road. Maggie Herewini said she was coming home from school with another girL They saw Suilivan, who asked whose car was stuck down the road. Witness said it must be one of Fleming’s. Suilivan asked how far it was to France s place, but witness could not tell him. There was blood on Sullivan’s hanih* and he asked witness for her dress re tie his hands up. Then he grabbed witness by th< shoulder, but she slipped away though her dress was tom down tin shoulder. Witness and her companloi ran away ind Sullivan ran afte witness, yelling ‘‘l’ll kill you, T’l kill you.” But he could not catcl witness.

The Court adjourned at this stage and the hearing will be resumed to-mor-row. ‘ M