TRICKER'S CASE.

Evening Post, Issue 83, 16 May 1865, Page 3

TRICKER'S CASE.

Vffttfc EDITOR 07 TUB WANGANUI CHRONICLE. >* Rangitiki, April 26, 1865. As believing that Tricker is innocent of the crime for which he is suffering, I wonder that those who were at one time stirring in the matter seem to have relaxed in their efforts on his behalf. What can be the cause of this apathy ? Surely, sir, it cannot he that these gentlemen have been influenced by such representations as are contained in the letter which I forward to you with the request that you will publish it in order to show what are tbe grounds on which Tricker is held to be guilty. I am, &c, A Subscriber. Rangitiki, December 2, 1864. Mt Dear Mb. Stock — Now that Tricker's sentence is commuted, and nothing that we can do or say will alter his fate, I shall, if you like, be happy to give you ior your satisfaction any information I can upon the subject. Tricker's cock and bull story about a conversation with me relative to a road trnderground is a *nere fabrication ; not only am I myself certain of this, but the constable who served the warrant on him asserts the same, and he was present the whole time with us. There is a track across the swamp by which I have crossed myself on foot without getting the water over my riding boots, at a point in the swamp in the line between Mount William and Scott's, both of which you can see from a hill beside the swamp just at this crossing. I found this crossing out after receiving your second letter on the subject of swamp crossing. I had then never been near the swamp, and knew nothing of it, although I always believe, what I believe I said in Wellington, that so long a swamp would have a shallow place in it somewhere in its length, so after receiving your second letter I determined to investigate the matter—made the constable take me into the sandhills and point out the swamp, which he did, and left me within two miles of it. I went to the swamp prepared to prove it the whole length. I a perfect stranger to the place, never having been off the track from Bull's to Scott's before, went to the narrowest and mo9t likely looking place, got over in eight minutes and returned in four and a-half (4£) minutes wiihout having been in more than twelve or fourteen inches of water, and I moreover found that a man had some time before been aero.'B it at the same place; for part of the crossing lays over a thick raupo swamp, so thick that it bore my weight as pressed where the raupo had been bent down before; I say thi9 was a man's track, for below the raupo there was about three and a-half or four feet of mud, quite enough to have swamped an animal, which I think would have^ walked through, not on the raupo. I have been sorry to see how strongly and publicly you have taken up Tricker's case, without such an intimate knowledge of all the minutise of the affair as might lead you to think differently. I have, I confess, the most deep conviction that Tricker is the murderer, and that opinion was formed with greater opportunities for coming to a decision than anyone else could possibly have had ; as the captor of the half- caste, foreman of the coroner's jury, as Magistrate staying at Bull's while the inquest was eoing on, no one could have had such facilities as I had for getting at the real facts of the case as they transpired. Believing as I do that Tricker is guilty of one of the most cold blooded murders ever perpetrated, you cannot wonder that I should say this, that I look upon it as a providential circumstance that twelve jurymen were formed who would find the man guilty on the evidence which was before them. I cannot help believing that ere long the truth will come out ; but Ido believe that your strenuous exertions on the prisoners behalf have raised his hopes and prevented what otherwise the insupportable companionship of his crime alone with himself in his solitary cell would long ago have driven him to, viz., a confession of his guilt. As it is, judging from what I know of the man's character, I have no hesitation in saying if he ever gets his liberty again it wiU be only with added caution, perhaps, to find another victim. I use strong language, but I really conscientiously do believe that I have ample reason for so doing. I shall he happy to answer any questions you put to me, but one thing I must request, viz., that you will not use my name to Tricker at all.— l shrink from him and drefct) the man so much. My name is so intimately associated with a conviction, I ftvfnot hesitated to make him and his Jt&ndft aware that I consider myself With Kirn a marked man ; and even after tbe !isuie of years, if be should be set free, hfS release would be the Bignal to me for departure from his neighbourhood. This being the case you will easily understand

why I do not wish to be brought to the man's thoughts, though I do wish to help you to a reversal of your present opinion. I remain, Yours very sincerely, A. W. F. Halcombe.