THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3194, 19 September 1917, Page 6

THE WAIRONGOMAI MURDERS

TRIAL OF FRANK INKSTER TAKING OF EVIDENCE CONCLUDED By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisfaorno, September 18. The trial of Prank lukotcr for the murdor of Olio Andersen and Harvey Bradley at Wairongomai on July 22 was continued at the Supremo Court to-day. Michael Iveogh, ono of the party working at the oamp whero the tragedy occurred, gave evidence that he left tho camp for the homestead on Saturday, July 21, leaving Andersen, Bradley, and tho prisoner in the camp." Next day the prisoner arrived at the homestead, and said that Andersen had sont him for a packhorse, as he was going to leave the camp. Witness left on tho return to camp on Monday morning, prisoner following at some distance. Ho iound the bodies as already described, and, returning towards tho homestead, he met tho prieoner about a mile from the camp with the packhorse. Witness told the prisoner of tho tragedy, and took tho packhorse and rode it bare-backed to the station to report the matter. When on the way back to the homestead ho heard shots fired in tho vicinity of the tin wharo. Crown Prosecutor: About what tirno would it be when you heaTd tho thots? — "Between 2.30 and 2.45."

Crown Prosecutor: You also saw two horses; what were they like?—" Yes, a roan and a bay, both newly ridden ana covered with sweat." His Honour: Did you see tho riders? — "No." . Mr. Nolan: Were there any indications that the tin wliare had been occupied?—" Yes, there were a couple ot sticks still burning in tho fireplace. Mr. Nolan: When you went apon the Tuesday to get tho bodies, did you calL at tho tin wharo?—"Yea." Mr. Nolan: Who did you find there?— "Two Maoris." „ Mr. Nolan: Who were thcy?-"I only know ono by tho name of Pua." Mr. Nolan: Mr. Ludbrook got them to go on to tho camp to help?—" Yes:' Mr. Nolan: Hid they ride?—" Yes." Mr. Nolan: What horses?—" The roan and the bay." When he met accused on the Monday (alter finding the bodies in camp) witness said he wasgoing to report the matter, but said notuing about the police. His Honour: That was all the conversation?—"! only remarked about my feet being a bit tired after running all the way. I alio made a remark when I saw two horses at the tin wliare. I said I wondered whether it waa tho boss and a 6liephewl." . His Honour: When you were walking down did you. talk about matters at tho camp? —"No, I don't think so." Mr. Nolan: This was rough travelling, and you were going as fast as you could? _-"Yes." The three men away from the station on the Sunday wore Joe Pokai, Apirana Aupouri, and Olie Andersen. Uitness described the position of the bodies when found, and a Winchester rifle which had been recently fired. There was no sign of any struggle in tho galley.. Witness was present when accused was interviewed by Sergeant M'Donnell for a statement for tho inquest. On separating for dinner, the sergeant remarked, "1 will soo you again." Accused replied, All right." Subsequently, however, it was reported accused had disappeared, and search was made for him. He was found in a cowshed at Pachiroa Station, on Sunday, August 29. i . William Williams Ludbrook, partowner of Wairongomai Station, and' mnnager, deposed that accused came into ilia employ on May 28 last, under the name of E. D. Clayton. Bradley and Andersen had worked for him off and on tor tfiree years. Thero were neighbours at tho homestead,- but none at the back, being all standing bush. Thero wero no neighbours at all near the camp. Iho only way for anyono to go to camp (riding) would be up past the homestead to "the track. It would bo very difficult lo got from any othor quarter, unless I' l ' hi Hurikift, there being no track. ihjy would have to como thnmgh standing bush. On Monday afternoon, July 23, lveogli reported what he had found at tho camp, and witness consequently reported the matter to tho police. Witness accompanied tho party out to the camp next day, riding with accused part ot the way. He asked accused what had caused the row between Andersen aud Bradloy. Accused said he did not know, but saiv Andersen bring his fist down on the table, exclaiming, "I told you 6o before." Andersen then struck Biadley a blow, and that started the fight. Bradloy, he said, got the best of it, and thumped Andorsen out of tho galley inlo tho sleeping part of the tent. He said Andersen stood there waving his fists about, swearing at Bradloy. lie further said that about breakfast time Andui'sen told Kim (accused) he was going to get out of the job, aud asked accused to get a pack-horse. A boy called Pua l'okai and his niato joined the party at tuc tin wliare when on tho way out. He knew they were there. A fthephord had given them permission, to sleep there that night. • His Honour: What were they doiug there?—" Snooting pigeous ;f tho truth were told."

Bis Honour: Had they a rifle?—"No, a shot gun." His.Honour: Hud you any ithcr Winchester rille on your station h—'"No. This was tho only rifle on the station." Apirana Aupouri, a packman employed on Wairongoinai, deposed that on tho Monday evening accused came to. his room and wanted to take some clothes out of the box ;ie had left tl.ere, also some important documents and books that fie had in the box. Accused said that if he (accused) should get into any trouble over this matter he (witness) should have the contents of the box. He did not ask accused what he moant by getting into trouble. Next day after coining back with the bodies accused caiue to him and said, "If Johnston had not seen more than one shot in the deceased they would not bave sent for the doctor, or tho detectivo anil inspector." He also said that the only mail he was afraid of was the sergeant, but he would "give him a go." Several witnesses were called to repeat statements which accused nail made to them at the homestead after the tragedy. These showed that accused had >jen appiehensive of "falling into trouble over the affair." ,

Peta Hirania deposed that on the day the inquest was held accused told him ho was going to run away from this tiouble, and asked witness about getting a horse. ■,

Eric Welch, station han3 Tit Wairongomai, said ho saw accused with Detectivo M'jjeod after arrest. Accused remarked that they could not _do anything with him as ;ho was under 21, and they could only put him in a reformatory school till ho was 21.

Sergeant M'Donnell, who had the prisoner in charge at Tokomaru Bay ' for threp weeks after his arrest, detailed conversations with accused. Speaking of his arrest accused said the police caught him while asleep or he •would have given them a "go" for it. On another occasion accuscd remarked that he would be a fool to tell the police all he know.

Detective M'Lood gave evidence as to the arrest of accused. On the -way to Tokomaru accused, asked whether they save gaol and reformative treatment at the same time. 1 La.ter, at Tokomaru, accuscd remarked Unit if lie could havo got a horse the police would not liave caught him so easily. He added that lie would have got a job on a Maori station for a couple of years, and crown whiskers and then pot. awav on a ship.

This concluded the ca-so for Hie Crown, and Mr. Humanl intimated that ho did not intend to call evidence for the defence. Mr. Burnard proceeded with his address to the jnrv. stressing the nurely circumstantial nature of the evidence, and urging that, there was nothing to convict accused with the crime, which might easily hove been committed bv any person with a knowledge of hush country.' Counsel suggested the possibility that the two men were murdered bv an outsider, who then placed the rifle and Ihe bodies in such a position as to suggest murder and suicide. Tlie position in n-liic'i the ride was found was not a natural one.

TTis Honour intinrntoi] that, lie would sum nr> in the morning. and Ihc hearing was adjourned till then.