ONGAROTO TRAGEDY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 266, 4 August 1921, Page 6

ONGAROTO TRAGEDY

SECOND TRIAL AT HAMILTON NBW WITNESSES CALLED By Telegraph—Press Ajuoclatlou Hamilton, August 3. The second trial of Hakaraia Te Kahn for tie murder of Richard Elliott at Ongaroio on Easter Sunday, was continued to-day. Campbell Hamilton gave evidence that during the search for deceased he discovered a dead duck and a trail of blood. The next day Te Kahu was told by the police to take the lead, but he did not Stop when ho came to the bloodstains. A constable pulled him up and asked him if he knew what the bloodstains were. He replied that ho did not know. The prisoner afterwords remarked to witness in Maori that if it had not been for the bloodstains the police would not have known that something unusual had occurred. Some days later witness asked the prisoner if any friends had given him money to keep or change, or if he had changed a £5 or JCIO note at Molrai. He replied, "No. Two £6 notes were cashed at Mokai." William Given gave evidence as to finding the body. , ~ ~ Evidence was given by the police as to the nature of the wounds. John Clarke, accountant for the timber company, said that on. Good Friday he put two £5 notes in Elliott's pay envelope, and also paid Te Kahu j>9 145., including one £5 note. Michael Brady foreman, gave evidence as to giving Elliott his pay envelope, and William M'lndoe, surfaceman, said he saw Elliott open his pay envelope. Frederick Young, a new witness, a guard on the Taupo railway, said ho saw Brady deliver a pay envelope to Elliott. He had on several occasions seen a brown leather wallet in Elliott’s possession similar to the one produced in Court , . Three other now witnesses, members of Elliott's gang, said that Elliott finished work at 2.30 o’clock on Easter Saturday. Ho did not change money for any of them during the day. Onj said he had seen Elliott with a wallet similar to that produced, but he had nevet seen Te Kahu with one. The spot where the gang worked was lonely, and Elliott was not likely to have done business with anybody but the gang. No other people ’were in the vicinity. Clyde Norman a member of a "twoup school” at Mokai on Easter Monday, said he changed a £lft note for Te Kahu. The prisoner took the note from a brown ; wallet similar to the one produced.\ Witness later changed the note at PutaTUTU. ’ George Seymour Baid that on Saturday night Te Kahu and Sarah Herepeka visited the Mokai Hall, where a "social” was in progress, and when asked the price of admission, said it was too much. Witness eventually let them in J^ 0 - Witness eaw- tho prisoner et the "twoup school” take a -CIO note from a brown leather wallet. He heard To Kahu say that when the -210 was gone he had more. . Robert Davis, bushman, said he won J 23 from the at "two-up,” the prisoner tendering a '£s note. Joseph Thornton, bueh foreman, said he saw the prisoner with two £5 notes in the "two-up" ring. Some days later, when assisting in the search for Elliott's body, he picked up two empty cartridge* Selim Neppar Baid that on Easter Monday the prisoner purchased goods, paying a -25 note. Next day he banked money. , Prank Caterer in charge of the Mokai Post Office, said that among the notes remitted to the chief office on Tuesday were two £5 notes. The numbers of these were given. Constable Wright detailed the search for the body. Wearing of the case is expected to last until Friday.