THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3193, 18 September 1917, Page 7

THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

TRIAL OF INKSTER

CROWN PROSECUTOR'S ADDRESS

By Telegraph—Press Association.

Gisbbrne, September 1". At the Supremo Court Frank Intater, alias Edward Clayton, aged 17i years, was charged with murdering- Olive Anderson and Harvey Bradley, at wiurongomai, on July 22. The accused, who preserved the calm demeanour ivhicli characterised his appearance in the lower Court, pleaded not guilty. Mr. L- !• Burnard appeared for the defence, and Mr. F. A\. iS'olan prosecuted for the Crown.

The Crown Prosecutor, in opening, said the 'evidence submitted by the Crown was circumstantial, and would relate to a chain of circumstances respecting the death of the-two men, Andersen and Bradley, Four men, he proceeded, were employed at Wairongomai, U miles from Tuparoa Camp, and 12 miles from the homestead. Andersen and Bradley were mates and had worked together f bv a couple of years. Eeogh was the foreman, and Inkster was the youngest of the partST Slid had 'only been on the station ten or twelve days bet ore Jib went on the jot. *?Ke men were' engaged cutting tracks ior 6heep to come through in. the sprint;. Ksosrh. was in the habit ot going to the homeawaa every week-end. On July 18 tiire'o of the men went ent shooting. Keogh 'was back first, and replaced his ammunition and rifle in the tent in the nsual position, the rifle slung to the ridge-pole and the ammunition in his bunk. When tho party returned, Andersen, who had remained at tbe camp, produced a watch which he had lost some time before, and which lie had found m prisoner's bunk. The prisoner said he got it from a Native named Joe Potae, and Andersen asked if it was true that prisoner had stolen "a quid" from Potae. After this. incident Andersen and the prisoner were not on speaking terms. Keogh left for the homestead according to custom on Saturday, -and next day prisoner • also arrived at the homestead, stating that Andersen intended to leave, and had eent him for a pack horse. Evidenco would show there was no need for accused to have been sent down to the homestead for a pack horse, as there were pack horses in Mangaporo paddock, near the camp, and, further, Andersen had not the gear to carry on a pack-horse. The inference the Crown wished tbem to tako was that these men were shot on Sunday, July 22. Keogh returned to the camp on tho Monday, followed at some distance by tho prisoner with a pauichorse. Keogh found tho bodies at the camp. Hurrying back to report the matter, he met accused at the Mangaporo paddock, and informed Mm that the two men in tho camp wero dead. Accused asked him where they were shot, apparently knowing they were shot, though Keogh had not stopped to examine the bodies. That was his first question. His next was, "Would they send for a doctor?" Later, before there was any .suggestion of murder, accused said to Apouri, a. Native packman, that if he (accused) was to fall into any trouble he could inuke jiimsolf comfortable with the contents of his portmanteau. The remark was significant in vieit of other remarks he had made. The accused was the first man to make any assertion as to thero beine; four wounds in Andersen's body, and this when the post-mortem was in progress, before anyone was aware of the number of wounds.

Counsel proceeded to , detail the prisoner's flight from the homestead and sultfeqnent capture.

Dr. Davis gave formal medical evidence to show that Andersen was shot in four places, three of the wounds being such as would canse death, and Bradley in two places, both fatal wounds.

Michael Keogh one of the camp pnrty was giving evidence on the. lines or counsel's statement when the Court adjourned till to-niorrow.