THE CASE OF WALTER TRICKER.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2630, 1 February 1868, Page 6

THE CASE OF WALTER TRICKER.

(TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE INDEPENDENT.) Wellington, January 27, 1868. Sib, — A few months ago I visited, with other places, Rangitikei, and there heard for the first time the story of the murder of Mr Rayner, and was surprised to find that a man named Walter Tricker, believed by all the settlers there to be innocent, had been confined nearly four years as the murderer. I naturally asked why if guilty has he not been hanged, the answer made was— "No one believes him guilty." "No one believes him guilty! why, then, is he still confined?" " Oh, it was proved that a long time before he had threatened Rayner." That is no proof of murder. Evidently there is a doubt, and according to English law and custom he is entitled to the benefit of the doubt and ought to be set free.

The story altogether seemed to me bo extraordinary, that I was upon my return induced to make some enquiries about the matter, and cannot come to any other conclusion than that the man is innocont. The injustice of keeping a man under penal servitude for a capital charge upon the worthless evidence of a perjured half-caste boy, is so extraordinary that I cannot refrain from making an effort, however feeble, on the inaii'B behalf. I know nothing of Trioker. I never caw him and never heard of him until I visited Bangitikei. The charge is, that Walter Tricker murdered Mr Rayner at 9.30 on the morning of Friday, the 28th August, 1863. The accuser is a half-caste boy, Hamilton, who with a native, Hoani, swore that they saw Mr Rayner alive on Friday, that he breakfasted with them, and paid them money, and gave Hcani a blanket and a pair of boots. It is only necessary to see how Tricker was employed on Friday morning in order to prove his innocence.

He Blept on Thursday night it is proved, at Mrs Campion's, six miles from Eayner'a in a room with two other men, who say that ho did not leave tho room that night. Tricker rose at 6.30 on Friday morning to go to Scott's, about nine miles off, at which placo he arrived at 7.30, and where he staid until 8.30. On his way back he called at Wheeler's at nine o'clock, from Wheeler's he proceeded to Winks', and arrived there at 9.50.

It is therefore manifest that Tricker did not, could not, murder Rayner at 9.30, as Bworn by Hamilton, the distance from Wheeler's to Ruyner's being eleven miles forty chains, or twentythree miles there and back. It is dourly impossible that Tricker could have performed that distance, committed the murder, chased and caught Hamilton and brought him back, and buried the body in fifty minutes, even if he had not ridden tho same horse fifteen miles that morning. Now, let us glance at Hamilton's evidence. He swore that he saw Trickor murder Mr Kayner on Friday morning, August 28th, 1863, at about 9.30. Query— Did he give no alarm, did he quietly stand by and see the murder committed und make no effort to prevent it ? That ho assisted to bury, or did by himself bury tho body is evident, as his footsteps are discovered, but nothing is said about any traces of Trioker'a footsteps, which would of course have been traceable had ho been present. And this is all the evidence against Trickor, his accuser being a hnlf-custo who confesses to have committed perjury at the inquest, whilst all the witnesses for the defence who prove a perfect alibi are all creditable settlers, good men'and true. Under this evidence a man is cotiricted of murder, and £500 paid as a reward to the informer, a. native. If this be justice in Wellington, Heaven help us, ho one knows .whose turn it may be next. There is a supposition abroad in the minds of some persons that Tricker committed the murder on Thursday night, but that cannot be entertained for a moment, seeing that he is charged with committing the net on Friday morning, and two witnesses, the principal ones ngainst him, swore that they saw Ray nor alive on Friday morning, at about 9.30. Failing justice here, I think this is a case that ought to be carried by petition to the throne. — I am, &o, Fiat Jubtitia.