CONNELLY'S CONFESSION. How Bourke met his Death.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12581, 30 September 1908, Page 5

CONNELLY'S CONFESSION. How Bourke met his Death.

HOKITIKA, September 30

Connolly's confession of the Burke murder at Westport is to the effect that he took the man out of an hotel with the intention of robbing him, and went to a shed, Where he stood Burke up against a dray. In a struggle he hit Burke, knocking him down. Connolly then lost his temper and kicked Burke, inflicting fatal injuries. A knife was not used. The knife and one of the pipes found on Connolly were Burkes. Mrs M. Pearce, who gave evidence, was not about at the time of the attack. Hallinen and Anderson, now serving seven years for the manslaughter of Burke, are innocent men. The story of their connection with the crime, and the reference to the tobacco as a connecting link, were concocted by the prisoner while in gaol, in order to save himslf . Connolly avers that he did not-commit murder, robbery being his only desire. Chief Detective Mcllveny received the confession from the prisoner when he interviewed him after the trial and sentence last night. The detective asked Connolly, now that he had had a full and a fair trial, if the verdict was a just one.

Connolly, hanging his head, replied, "Yes, sir," and in reply to further questions, agreed to tell the true story to Detective Mcllveney, and then did so, the statement being reduced to writing by the detective. Afterwards the statement was read over to the prisoner in the presence of the gaol officials, Connolly assenting to its correctness, and signing the documents in plain, bold handwriting : "William Connolly."

After the Nelson trial, when HaUinen, and Anderson were sentenced, Mcllveney at that time went to Connolly, in company with the Crown Prosecutor, Mr Myers, and asked him if the verdict wa3 correct. Connolly then adhered to his former version ot the three being implicated.

The case has excited great interest here, and last night the Court was packed to hear the verdict.

The Judge's summing up was generally in favour of the accused, telling the jury they were practically trying the same issue as the Nelson jury.\ The jury were nearly four hours absent, and their reversal of the Nelson finding is now vindicated by Connolly's confession, which will be a great relief to the public mind.