PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14240, 21 October 1920, Page 5

PUKEKAWA MURDER.

preliminary trial. ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) AUCKLAND, Wednesday. The hdaring of the preliminary trial of Samuel John Thorn, aged 34 years, charged with the murder of Sidntj Seymour Eyre at Pukekawa on August 24th, was resumed this morning heroic Mr. J. M. Poynton, S.M., with whom Mr! P* R. Webster sat as District Coroner for Pukekohe to return a coromal finding on the evidence as to the cause of death. . , , ~ Detective-Sergeant Cummings detailed at length the result of his investigation into the mih'der on August both. Witness, Sergeant Cowan, and Constable Thompson made general lnqunies at Granville’s and they visted Thorn s eamp at Granville's in the evening. They found a light in the whare and accused was in bed fully dressed, except for his coat, hat, and boots. He was apparently-asleep, but a candle was burning by his bedside and a book was beside it- When roused, he sat up and said, “Good evening, Mr. Cowan to Witness told accused ot the,tragedy and asked him if he was on good terms with the family. Accused replied: “Sid and 1 had our .differences, but I got on all right with the rest." • , When asked why he left Lyre s he said he had been given notice, as Phil had left school and could work on the farm. . In reply to further questions, accused said -ho had never written to Mrs. Eyre in his life, nor had she to him. and when asked what letters he had in ids camp lie invited witness to look. Witness discussed, the murder -with accused, who remarked that it must have, been done by someone who knew the run -of the place. When the motive of the robbery was suggested accused said he didn’t think that could be so. He said lie had assisted Mr Eyre to put his bed in position. In reply to a -suggestion that he and Mrs. Eyre had been intimate, lie said, “Have we? Who told von?" Witness, said: “Where were you last night?" and he. replied, “Im not going to say, but I was not out. ’ ’ Witness said the question was whether or not he was in or out that night, and accused said, “Did anyone see me out ? "

Witness mentioned an unconfirmed report that accused was - out (a report that had not since been confirmed) and accused asked, “Were they talking tc me?'’' Accused said that Granville had left him at d p.m. and that there was no one to back his word that he was not out. They went across to Granville’s house, where accused made a statement. and was told he would probably In' wanted as a witness at the inquest. After his statement was made witness pointed out that his movements on Monday night, but not on Tuesday night, were in question. Again he replied, “I am going to say I was not out.” Asked by witness when he would put in a statement about it, he remarked, “Please yourself; 1 say I was not out, ’’

The coroner brought in a verdict that the death of Eyre was caused by a gunshot while ho was asleep in his bed, the gun having been fired by someone outside the house who was familiar with the premises.

Mr. Poynton then resumed his scat on the Bench, and accused, who pleaded not guilty, was committed for trial.