MURDER CHARGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 9

MURDER CHARGE.

ACCUSED MAN'S DENIAL

"NOT IN THE LEAST AFRAID.*'

TIMIDITY OF A WITNESS.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

DUNEDIN, Friday.

• William John Hardie, accused of murdering Jo Leung Shum at Kyeburn Diggings, Central Otago, on July 17, wag to-day committed for trial The court-room during the final stages of the. preliminary trial resembled a pawnbroker's shop, as the police produced over (50 exhibits. At the suggestion of Mr. A. C. Hanlon, counsel for the defence, the statement made by accused when he was arrested was read. Detective Lean read the statement, in which accused said he left Allan Cain's place at 3 p.m., when nobody was at home, for Naseby. He saw Constable Fox and told him that he was ill. He had then no intention of leaving for Dunedin. He had tea with Allan Cain, to whom he had shown about 2oz of gold, -which Walter George had given him the previous day. He swore that on Tuesday he neither saw nor spoke to any Chinaman. He had been to Kyeburn Diggings a long time ago, when he was working for the Hon. Robert Scott. "Not Connected With Shooting." On the night of July 17 he slept in his own hut and rode into Naseby the following morning on Cain's horse. Cain motored him from Naseby to Ranfurly, where Cain sold 2oz. 2dwt. 18gr. of gold, the large piece being that amalgamated by Walter George, while he (Hardie) had himself blown the remainder at Caversham. The train had drawn out while he was t king to a man named Hunter. He had stayed that night at 31, Lee Street, where he often stayed. He did not remember seeing any police on the train. He had telephoned from Caversham for his rug, which he had left in the train. In the statement Hardie said he had heard in the train that a Chinaman had been shot at Kyeburn. "I s *ar I was in no way connected with "shooting of the Chinaman. I am not in the least afraid of any Chinaman, identifying me as the man near the hut or the man given gold," he concluded. \ The Identification Parade. Sub-inspector Fahen gave a full account of the identification parade. Sixteen young, clean-shaven men, some dressed similarly to accused, were placed in a row. Accused was told he could object to any man and could select his own position. Miss Law, the interpreter, and Sue Pee were then brought into the yard. He told Miss Law to tell Sue Pee to walk up in front of the men and if he saw the man who visited his hut to place his hand on his shoulder. After the interpreter had spoken, Sue Pee stood for some little time. Witness asked Miss Law to get Sue Pee to walk forward in front of the line. Sue Pee continued to stand in the same place. The interpreter said Sue Pee declared he was frightened to go forward. Witness told Miss Law to convey to Sue Pee that thefe was nothing to fear. Sue Pee refused to touch any man, saying he was frightened. Sue Pee was looking about and was smoking. After a renewed lapse witness said they could not stand there all day. Miss Law said Sue Pee knew the man who was in the row, and would not go near him. He said the man would not look at him. Sue Pee was urged to identify the man, but he replied that the man was standing with his feet apart. He was looking upwards, he was wearing a red striped tie, and was seventh in the line from the brick wall. For some time Sue Pee could not be induced to look at the man. ../.._.