ALLEGED MURDER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 298, 17 December 1932, Page 7

ALLEGED MURDER

THE FOXTON TRAGEDY PRELIMINARY HEARING THE FATHER’S EVIDENCE [ Per Press Association.) LEVIN, Dec. 16. The preliminary hearing of thf charge of the murder of his brother John Spencer Easton, at Whirokino on November 22, preferred agains Allan Roy Easton, begafi before Mr Stout, S.M., in the Levin Court thi. morning. C. M. Wheeler, civil engineer, produced plans of the cowshed and surrounding of the scene of the tragedy. Scnior-Sergt. Dinnic deposed that he could find no finger-prints on the gun picked up about 100 yards from the cowshed. Richard Allen Easton, father of deceased, said that accused would be seventeen in May. On the day of the tragedy he and his sons had milked 21 cows, when Roy said to Jack that he had better milk another before starting to separate. Jack said that witness and Roy could finish in plenty of time, but the latter repeated his remark, whereupon Jack got in another cow. While deceased was out of the bail Roy said something to Jack which witness did not hear, but Jack immediately got up, went into Roy’s bail and shook his brother by the shoulder. Witness intervened, and Jack went on milking. Roy finished his cow. emptied the milk, and went away. He looked as if he was crying and was thoroughly upset. Witness saw Roy going through a fence towards the house. Witness and Jack continued milking for six or seven minutes, and then came the report of a gun. Jack got up and walked to the *yard fence with his hands to his chest. He said: “Dad you had better get a doctor. I’m hurt.” Witness ran to a neighbour’? to telephone for a doctor, and when he got back Jack was dead. When he first went across the yard to Jack, witness saw Roy running away. He looked back and could have seen Jack, but whether he did so or not he could not say. Witness picked up a cartridge case about six feet from the cowyard fence.

Continuing his evidence witness said that there were two guns and two rifles in the house, but there was only one shotgun cartridge left. Roy did not come homo that night. The next afternoon witness saw him near the Whirokino Bridge. He told him to come home. After walking along a little way Roy said: “How is Jack!” Witness told him that he was dead. The gun found near the bails was recently repaired. About 50 cartridges had been since fired. Witness fired three of these and one misfired.

Dr. S. J. Thompson detailed the condition of the wounds as observe! at the post-mortem. Sidney Tisdall, arms expert, de* posed from marks on the post in the cowbail that it was evident that the shot had been fired from between the top and second rail in tho cowyard fence, a distance of about ten yards. The hearing was concluded this afternoon. The police evidence was to the effect that accused made no reply whor charged with murder. Whci bu ing taken to Wellington he remarked to the escorting constable, “The detee tive is an old fool. He thinks I killc< my brother but I didn’t mean to hur« him. ’’ Accused pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence. He was committed for trial at Palmerston North Supreme Court in February?

DUNEDIN CASE POLSON FOR TRIAL. [ Per Pres? Association.) DUNEDIN, Dec. 16. Thomas Polson, charged with attempting to murder Ruth Corlett :n a boarding house in the city on November 14. was committed for trial by M”. H. W. Bundle S.M., in the Police Court to day Bail was not applied for.