PAPAKAIO MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1918, 30 October 1906, Page 2

PAPAKAIO MURDER.

8 THE TRIAL.

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Oamaru, last night. The Papakaio murder oasß was commenced to-day, when John Findlay was oharged with the orime, Mr Oreatb, Crown Pcoseoutor, appearing for the polioe, and Mr Hanlon for the acoused. In opening Mr Oreagh stated the facts, and mentioned that it was oonoluded that

two ballets were fired. Bennie was known ' to have cashed a cheque three weeks beore the murder, and careful enquiry had 1 showed that Rennie wonld have about JBL 18s left in the house at the time of his death, a sum that corresponded almost exaotly with what aooused had in his possession on the day after the mnrder, though on the previous evening he was known to have had no money at all. Among deceased’s missing effects was a razor with the name on it of a Dunedin barber, who was now out of business and had been os for some years, and a similar razor was found on a piece of land at which Findlay was working on the day after tho murder. Twelve witnesses were called as to the I finding of tho body, the disorder of the house, etc., being similar for the most part to that given at tho inquest, The git] Junnsion, who auied as Bennie’s housekeeper, deposed that Findley visited the house on the afternoon before the I murder, canvassing for a bakery oart whioh he proposed to start, and enquiring how maDy peop'e lived there.

Sergeant Griffiths deposed that in addition to a ohisel lonnd inside the bedroom, whioh had apparently been used to open the drawers and writing dark, there was another chisel outside the kiiohen window whioh appeared to have been uaad topciza up the same window. The evidenoa of several witnesses who saw the aooused in the vioinity of the soeoe of the tragedy was also taken, a-'d bb to his exprrsed de-ire to keep out of the way of tho police lest they should arrest him and return him to the Port Stephens, from which he said he was a runaway sailor. Charles Henry, of Dunedin, a gunsmith, deposed that in his opinion two bullets were lodged in the head of the deceased, the second having been a shattered one. Had the shot been fired from a rifle it would have gone right through the head, and lie concluded therefore the shot was from a revolver,