CHARGE OF MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18622, 28 April 1932, Page 8

CHARGE OF MURDER.

MANGAMAHOE SHOOTING. DEATH OF ELDERLY COUPLE. ALLEGED ADMISSIONS BY ACCUSED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) PAHIATUA, Thursday. The hearing and Inquest In connection with the, Mangamahoe shooting opened In the Magistrate's Court. The magistrate was Mr J. Miller, and the coroner Mr E. Q. Eton, of Mast6rton. John Dillon Corrigan (23) was charged that on March 28, at Mangamahoe, he did murder his parents. James Donald Wilson, architect produced a ground plan of the Corrigans’ house. Lewis Joseph Corrigan, sheepfarmer, of Mangamahoe, 20 years old, a brother of accused, said that on Sunday night, March 27, witness went to bed" about 11.45. His parents were in bed. Witness had been asleep a little time when the noise of two gun-shots fired in the house awoke him. He did not take much notice of them at the moment, as lie was very sleepy. Just afterwards accused walked into the bedroom and said: “ I have shot mum and dad. You had better get up.” Witness did not believe accused at the time, so the latter went into another room and woke his sister Agnes. The latter then spoke to witness, as a result of which he took a candle from her hand and went to his parents’ bedroom. He could see 'his father had been shot. He did not, see his mother then. Witness, terrified at the sight, turned and ran out of the house to Birnie’s (a neighbour) place. As he was running out of the house he heard accused ring up the police. Birnie also telephoned the police. Agnes Elizabeth Corrigan (16) said that about 2.30 in the morning she was awakened by her brother John. Accused said there had been a tragedy, and their mother and father had been shot. She was too scared to ask him who shot them. She just thought to herself that John had done It. He seemed to be very cool. They just waited quietly until the doctor and police arrived. Witness continued that immediately after the sound of shots she heard ■accused running back to his room in his stockinged feet. Accused came to witness’ room dressed in working trousers, a dark singlet, and boots, and not wearing a coat. He looked unusual. His eyes looked peculiar in the dark. Her brother was of normal disposition, and showed no eccentricities. Only the week before accused told her that he had never felt better in his life. Accused had some fads regarding food, and did all his own cooking. He would not eat anything cooked by anyone else. Disliked His Parents. Asked if she could give any reason why her brother should shoot their parents, witness 'Said: “Well, I don’t think he liked them himself. I don’t know why he disliked them, but I think ho did dislike them."