COLDSTREAM MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 97, Issue 15272, 23 June 1923, Page 5

COLDSTREAM MURDER.

KISSELL ARRAIGNED

ALWAYS A BIT “SOFT.”' #• MEMORY APPEARED PARALYSED. By Telegraph —Press Association. ASHBURTON, Friday. ' Albert Kissel was charged this morning, before Mr \V. Mowlem, with the murder of James Mackenzie, caretaker of the Coldstream estate, nine days ago. Robert Martin, the estate, gave evidence of Kissel’s admission that he shot Mackenzie, and identified a' bullet found in an adjoining room. He also identified Mackenzie's handwriting on a will and letter, produced. The police stated that the will, which was uncompleted, included Kissel as a beneficiary. Allan Robert Gourley, a schoolteacher, described a conversation after the murder with Kissel, who was bitterly distressed and complained of a terrible nightmare. Archibald Little (accused's employer) said that Kissel gave notice the day preceding the murder, being irritated because Little took a knot out of a rope coupling two horses. He had always considered Kissel a bit “soft."

George Henry Burch, a gardener, repeated conversations with Kissel, whose memory' appeared to be paralysed. ' Kissel pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed for trial.

An inquest was held concurrently. The coroner’s verdict was that Mackenzie was killed by a rifle bullet fired by Kissel.