MERCER TRAGEDY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1356, 17 January 1905, Page 3

MERCER TRAGEDY.

PRISONER’S EXPLANATION*

; Per Press Association. Auckland, Inst night. A statement by Mutton, committed for trial a! Moioer on Saturday fot tho mur- : ddr of Mrs Dillon, was put in by tho prosecution, though ohnllongod by tho lawyer for tho defenoo. Tho statement was made at tho time of tho arrest after tho prisonor had boon cautioned, and was as follows : “ I wont to Dillon’s about 2 p.m, with Mr Giliics, of Waitakaruru, and Dan Somerville, flaxnaill hand. At Mr Gillies’ wo went'to tho paddock to catch n horso which had been hierd by Otjlvic. Tho horse was caught when wo got thoro X

don’t know who by. Wo went from ihero to Nod Martin’s farm and caught two horses, ono of which was hired by me, and tho other by Somorvillo. Somorvillo, Gil lies, Jimmio Buttorwortb, and Ogilvio went to tho flixmill, and I camo back to Mrs Dillon’s, and I asked tho little girl namad Robinson if I cjuld soo Mrs Dillon, and sho said “Yes,” and held my horse while X weaAi' aiid saw hor. I remained talking to Dillon for about five minutes, and out aud took m3' borso, and rodo to Msk Jr. X wont back to soo her, as I had not been paid for tho horsbo-A.a: 0 h had been theio good while. I just romaiaed for a lit 6• 0 while, and asked hor if sho had boon paid for the other horses, and X got no repl3' from her, and I 1 efe. That would bo about 4 p.m. Tho girl llobiusou oatuo in tho front door as I came out. When I first saw Mrs Dillou sho was 13’ing on ths 3ofa, and X considered that sho was drunk, and when I agalu visited her sho was stiil on | the sofa, and appeared to ho in the same I condition. Thoro was no ono in the honso | with Mrs Dillon during tho times that X visited her.”