CHARGE OF MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7815, 6 August 1904, Page 6

CHARGE OF MURDER.

(By Telegraph — Press Association), Wellington, Last Night.

Tho trial of James Bai-r, on a charge of having, on May 21, murdered Chas. Robertson, was commenced at the Supreme Court today before Mr Justice Cooper. This is the case arising out of tho affray in Charlton Avenue, in which it is alleged that Burr shot Robertson, a sea-faring man, with a revolver. The aflair took place in a house occupied by Barr's wife, from whom prisoner was separated. The case had not concluded when the Court rose.

In the course of tho evidence for the prosecution, Arthur Harry Holmes, Clerk of the Magistrate's Court, who attended at the hospital when the accused was charged with attempted murder, said he took down Robertson's depositions as produced. Tho Registrar of tho Court then read the depositions, which stated that Robertson was a lamp-trimmer on tho steamer Kiripaka. On Sunday, 21st May, he went home to a house occupied by Mrs Ban , . That night Barr came to tho house —the first Robertson knew of his arrival was when he caught him by tho back of the neck and fired a revolver at him. Robertson jumped up and struck Barr, got him down, and tried to take the revolver from him. While Robertson was on top, a second shot was fired, and he said to Barr, " You have got one on to ma. , ' After the sou tile was over, Barr told Robertson to shoot him. Robertson had been boarding at Mrs Barr's for about live or six months, but Barr had not lived there during that time. Robertson knew Barr before he went to board at the house. Barr did not accuse Robertson directly with being intimate with his wife, but Mrs Bantold him that Barr had accused her. Robertson asked Barr about the accusation several days previous to tho 21st May, and he said he would let him know on the Saturday night (when the shooting affray took place). Robertson was not a married man.

Evelyn May Mielkc, a married woman, previously known us Miss Macarthy, who at one time lodged with Mrs Baa , , said that about <s.i)o on the night of May 21st she entered the house in question, and found Robertson there. Banentered about five minutes after witness, carrying a. revolver in his hand. Ho immediately seized Robertson by the back of the neck, saying " Now you

I've got you." and tired a shot at him. Fiobertson rose and a fight resulted, both men falling on the lloor, deceased uppermost. Witness tried to grasp the revolver, but failed. Then she heard a second shot, and Robertson said' ; You've got one on to me this .time." "Witness then went outside. There she met Mrs Coyne, who entered tho house and spoke to the two men about the scut'l'.a. Further up the lane witness met Mrs Barr and returned with her. Witness went to the front room, and from there she heard Mrs Barr asking the uisn to hand over the revolver. Shortly afterwards she came to witnoss with a revolver similar to the one produced.