ROBBERY & MURDER

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 125, 13 February 1918, Page 6

ROBBERY & MURDER

TRIAL OF EGGERS CASE FOR THE CROWN DETAILS OF ACCUSED'S MOVEMENTS Bγ Telccraph— Press Ansociation. Christchurch, February 12. The trial of William Frederick Eggers for the West Coast murder was continued to-day. William M'Kay, medical practitioner, Greymouth, gave evidence that on a morning in November James came to his room. He had a wound in the left thigh. Witness extracted a bullet which was similar to the one produced. Tho cartridge was low grade, or James was hit from a distance. There was also a small contusion on one hand, which might have been caused hy James's hand catching the door of the motorcar.

Peter Manderson, of the State mine, a witness of the tragedy, said that when he and his son rounded the bend he noticed a box on tho road, and at the same time saw a motor-car approaching. The car craehed into the box, and a man immediately sprang from the bushes on the side of the road, wearing a mask, besides something tight across the skull. The man made a jump into position with a revolver in each handj calling "Hands up!" Witness and his son got off the road for a few yards, turning as a succession of shot's took place. Witness then moved to watch tho corner of tho road, and noticed the same man on the railway as had stuck up the car. The man had a bag in his left hand. A car then came along, and with tho occupants witness went to the motor-car. Coulthard was lying on the roadside, dying, and Hall was in the back seat of the car. About a minute elapsed after the shooting stopped before he saw the man again on the railway lino. Witness went to Runanga for a doctor, and on returning saw a ladder on tho road. He had not seen it before. Hall's pocket was on fire when witness reached tho car. William Leonard Manderson, son of the previous witness, gave corroborative evidence. Hugh Steele, miner, gavo evidence that he was going to Greymouth on the morning of the tragedy. Near the scene Manderson signalled him to stop, and he and his brother pulled up near the motor-car. Coulthard was lying by the.side of the road, but died a few minutes later, Hall was kneeling in the car, and" groaning. One of Coulthard's pockets was on fire; also his sweater, which was lying across his chest. Witness put the fires out. He saw an empty cartridge case on the road, in a clot of blood, near Coulthard's head. On a rise nearby witness found a billhook.

Adolphus Anderson Shannon, grocer, gave evidence of receiving from Steele a cartridge caso, 32 calibre, which ho handed to the police. Charles Parfitt, clerk in the State mine at Dunollio, described his accompanying Hall to the hospital. While witness was looking into tho car at the hospital James picked up four cartridges and two bullets. Witness found a revolver under tho seat, which belonged to the State Mine. It was a 38-calibro revolver, which Hall -took with him on leaving for Greymouth. When he saw the revolver, which had been recently fired, there were four empty shells and one live cartridge. There was a large hole in the, upholstering of tho car and one in the hood. The latter looked to havo been iircd from inside.

Detective-Sergeant Ward said he met James in Grey mouth on the morning of November 9, and afterwards went to tho scene of the tragedy. He found a place- in the bushes #herc there was evidence that someone had recently crouched. In a neighbouring empty house he found 'that a fire had recently been lighted, and there wero marks as though someone with railed boots had been walking about. Ho also saw another place of concealment from which a. person could obtain a good view of the cutting, 900 yaras away. Ho saw indications that someone had recently been there. Witness described the identification of Eggers by certain people on being taken to Greyinouth. At the Magisterial inquiry accused said that from the point on' tho railway embankment from which James said he had seen the car and the shots fired by a masked man, tho car rould not be seen. Eggers had also pointed out a spot from which the car could bo seen. Ho, was more correct than James, as the car could not be seen from the spot mentioned by James.

Alexander Cruickshank, Inspector of Polico aj» Grevrr.outh, rave evidence as to receiving four rartridee shells from Jpmes and two brllots, all nVinrr of 32calibre. Wihipsn said he did go to the scene of tlip tragedy till two days after the occurrence! About seventeen members of the police and detective force vera enframed in tho investliations. The Ft-ate miners assisted in thr> search. The accused wns nsked, on November 21, if ho would have counsel. Witness explained to him th" conditions under which counsel conld bn secured. Tt was after Eggers had consulted Mr. Joym. that Im ohircter! to attend the taking of Hall's depositions. Mr. Joyce wns sent' for entirely nt the request of the accused. Witness characterised as absolutely false the suggestion that tho police offered to find counsel for Egcers for the taking of the depositions but not for tlio magisterial proceedings. The matter was freely explained to Eggers. he quite understanding the whole -position.

Dr. "Usher, sunerintnndent of the Grey River Hospital, Greymouth, detailed the injuries from which Coulthard and Hall died, and'produced tho bullets extracted from their bodies. After Hall was shotj'in the foro-arm he mirrht have been able to slioot, but not with accuracy. Walter Brook Taylor, traveller, 'Wellington, said that be had known .ipensed for two year l ;. On October 23 he met him on the Christchurcb. railway station. Accused was on his way to Arthur's Pass, and pventunllv went on to Greymonth. Accused had a V cycle, a small bag. and a big bag "'ith him. Fp saw him throo times i> l '"■Vvnviirfh between October 23 and Novpinoor 0. .Tol'ii Ponder, of Dunollie, said lie had hnd two conversations with rbo aroused. t'"> first in comippb'on ivWi io>"o valuable nnpprs aroused said h? hnd lost oi; fho 'nad '■"'tween Or»r-nioiif-li and T >nnn l 'ip. 'WiWss referral liiin to Mr. Hp'l. as tho nnv cm'md comp in, and those aboard rmV) ,f imyp. ni"kod the papers un. In tbp soonnd ncniP™ l *nlf' hi'ni 1-n was buying land for a Christclnirol- - , ' .Tncripli Ot-vpv,- jri'tipr. DunoHip, 0~ imsod +o yisitini Alooolc's pnt.tn"" on Vprpmbor f) +n M, sonip tools. Tliprp , «-is ° "ipn in fin oottaso vhom lip Osmo"'! lionfmak'" - . T?»iniif»n, i>.fn«r of tho ont+rir-". "-"id fi" , - I" , visaed U, on > T .ivnmW a n\id foi'"'l rnnlv +o wi t,l p , s t ' tl"> \m>}\ snid h" had ™».™ fi-nw Hl"»Hnll niul was "-"inn- i"•nvk nt tl- T?«-.ii,,; .-"o P y. , v o,l the mnri. wbnii ho On"l(l I'of >Vlint!fi"q t , — noonsod, to make himself oomfnvfnblp. Ti.«ntliv P"U-rlor.c. lobonror. firovmniiHi 9+nf"fl t'>nt lip 1i:h1 k-on-,, M, o for fifteen months, He understood him

to bo a commercial traveller. Ho saw and spoke to him on Cobden bridge on October 2-J. Witness had expressed surprise that he was still in tho district, and said: "You must have a good thing in your lino of business." Accused replied that there was lots doing in his business between Bruimer and llunanga. . On November 8 ho again saw accused on Cobden bridge, and he drew tho attention of one M'Guire to the accused's presence in the district. On this occasion accused had carrier on his bicycle. Tho Court adjourned till to-morrow.