THE TOKARIMA MURDER

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160798, 4 November 1920, Page 3

THE TOKARIMA MURDER

ANDERSON BEFORE THE ooujit;' (Per United Press Association..) ' TAUMAEUNUI, Nov. 3. W. Anderson'was brought before Ml Burton, S.M., charged with the murder of. Prank heifer and attempted murder ofJas. Loft, at Tokarjma. ‘-Mr Gillies, Crown Prosecutor was present. , The accused was defended by Mr George Findlay; of Te. Euiti. . Jaihes Loft gave evidence that when the second- shot was fired outride he recognised the accused; in the dark by the •illumination of the rifle shot. -When the accused first raised the rifle at the ,win-, dbw he was four feet away. Therefore it was impossible for deceased Telfer to grasp the rifle. The bullet which killed Telfer was' a soft-nosed -.BOS. There was /no ill-feeling between witness and accused, Witness hkd never doped accused. ’ There Was uo grievance between them about whisky. Witness never frightened the accused when he was 'going over a bridge by night. Accused went to the maid’s room one nighty but was turned down. Later he said he* was in love with her, and witness said he had some complaint to mate, but nothing more was said. Accused several times threatened' to do the Harland brothers in,' but’said he was afraid/of the rope. The grievance with Harland was that he alleged they doped him in the arm from a two-pronged instrument. Herbert Loft corroborated his brother’s evidehce. He also said he was not sure if, Telfer grasped the rifle,, but he did hot think So., Dr Cheeseman. of Ohura, deposed that : ■■.'bullet' passed tlirouh„Telfer!s right lung and liver. The body was blackened at the point of the’entrance of the r bullet. ■ • . . Margaret Loft, wife of James Loft, corroborated her husband’s evidence. Winnie Heffornan. Loft’s domestic servant, gave evidence that when Anderson camte he said “all the police in Tauma;-, runui are after me.” He was given food, tobacco, and San overcoat. „ Before the shooting,' he “Two of you have to pass out to-night, 'but now will do.” ,Jim-Loft said "Don’t be silly.” ' Telfer, who was sitting on the couch, walked over beside the window and said, “The rifle is filled, with clay, Bill.” Anderson said, "That’s all right.”, Telfer said "Have you got the pills for it?” Anderson said "I have everything.” Anderson then sajd "Clear the room.” Witness then stepped into the men’s room, and djd not see the, rifle. Jim Loft ran into her room and that was all she saw of him. She saw Telfer put out one hand, but could .not. say what, he did. She then saw Telfer fall. The last she saw of Morris he was-going into the passage. James Loft hurried into the scullery. Witness heard , a shot fired, but did not see the rifle go off. She. heard another shot fired outside a'few minutes later. About two months ago accused walked into witness’s bedroom at. half-past four ih the morning. He tried to awake"her; she said, "Who’s there?” and, he replied "Your next door neighbour.” Sho told him to get. out. . After a few minutes’ hesitation he went out. Witness complained to Mrs Loft. i Lionel Morris, engineer at Prankton, gave corroborative . evidence of tha shooting. He was near the gun when it was fired, but did not see the discharge. Was not sure whether Telfer or James Loft was killed till a quarter of an hour later. He, thought he saw someone'fall. Witness rushed to the telephone in the passage. He thought he had- been shot at himself ' in mistake for a; policeman. ‘V ' Alfred'-.George Loft gave evidence .'regarding eleven bottles of whisky which, on October 6th, Anderson brought to the farm, saying he stoic it from Andy Sayers, at Ohura; Witness got him to share the coat with him and pay for the whisky. Witness,. accused, and three others cut seven bottles out in two days. Witness deducted-accused’s' share of the cost from his wages,, and paid him .£SB. ■ ’ ,i A ' • , The case was adjourned till 10 o dock on Thursday. ; , ■