THE CHARGE AGAINST THE HANGMAN.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4180, 13 December 1884, Page 4

THE CHARGE AGAINST THE HANGMAN.

[by telegraph.! AVellington, This day

IT. IT. Heyman, alias Lewis, the hangman, Avas charged yesterday with inciting to murder a Chinaman on the .'jrd instant. The only evidence Avas that of Pekaman Apurou, a Maori, an accomplice of Lewis, and the Bench held there Avas not sufficient evidence to convict, and tho accused Avas discharged, but ho has still to answer a charge of burglary. The following is the evidence given by the Maori :— Pekamau Apurou deposed that ho siivv accused on the 3rd of the present month near tho Bank of New Zealand, 011 Lamb-ton-quay. After they had had a drink they separated, but Avitncss met accused again soon afterwaads. They met in Willis-street, and walked up that thoroughfare together. They stopped outside the Union Hotel for same time engaged in conversation. They talked about breaking into the Union Hotel. Afterwards they Avent iq> to Te Aro House, and from thence they Avalked towards Campbell's shop. They did not go inside, but looked in at the Avindow. Accused said, "Look; there is plenty of Avatches, aud jewellery here. AYe Avill kill the man first, then the Avifc, and then take the things." AVitness said, "All right." They then Avalked away, coining down into Lambton-quay. The arrangement about entering Campbell's shop Avas that Avitness should go inside and kill Campbell and his Avife,-while accused remained outside and looked out for the police. They went up to the shop about 11.30 that night and tried to open the front door Avith a key Avliich accused produced. They found they could not open tho door because there Avas a key already in the lock. They then tried to open the door of Campbell's shop Avitli a Avirc key. Tho second attempt to get into the shop was made at 2.30 in tho morning. The arrangement Avas that Campbell and his wife should bo killed Avith a stick. The hangman put Avitness up to a wrinkle by telling him to knock Campbell behind the ear. They expected to find Campbell aud his wife in bed. AVitness did not like the idea of killing Campbell. Witness did not like to kill anyone. Witness had never inttnded to kill Campbell. If they had succeeded in opening the shop door he Avould have stopped outside and allowed the accused to go in and murder the Chinaman. AVitness would then have gone doAvn to the police station and told about tho affair.