PAPAKAIO MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1919, 31 October 1906, Page 2

PAPAKAIO MURDER.

TEE EVIDENCE.

PRESS ASSOCIATION Oitnarn, yesterday. Tbe heariog of the case against Findlay in connection with the Fapakaio murder was continued in tbo Magistrate's Court to-day. The evidence goes to prove that Findlay is identical with the sailor supposed to have escaped from the Port Stephens.

Kebfcsa TomlinsoD, residing at the Stewart Settlement, said the accused had been stopping with her off and on sinoe September Ist. On September 20th the accused left, and said he was goiDg to Oamarn on his bicycle. He returned again on the 26tb, and he left and again retnrned to witness’ place on October 4th. Witness having heard of the death of Bennie, told the accused the polios would be round to see him, bb he was on the road at the time, and the aooused replied, " All right; I’m here to see them.” Ao* onsed was not in the habit of staying out late at night, and the night of Oetober 3rd was (be only occasion upon which he stayed out late. John HeDry Beardsmore.gtooer's oarter, said he had known thß acoueed for about three or four weeks before the murder. He had eeen him at Mr Tomlinson's on Tuesday, October 2nd. Witness saw him at the schoolmaster's at Awamoko about 10.30 o’olock in the morning. Near the creek by the master’s residenoe acoueed asked witness for some .cigarette .tobacoo, of which witness bate none. Acoused asked witness to tell Tomlinson he would' be home that night, : He said he had come down the road with a runaway bailor, whom be left at Awamoko factory: road, and that the sailor had gone down to see somebody who was working in the pad* docks, and was going to Beardsmoire’s store to look for work. Accused did not say where ho slept the night before. Aooneed told witness he was going about canvassing for a bakery, Bnd that he was going to apply for a section upon which to locate it. Witness went to Tomlinson’s that afternoon and delivered Findlay’s I message, and tbo articles he had ordered at the store. Witness did not see adoused , ogsin until Thursday, October 4th, in one of Tomlicson’s paddocks. On October 9th witness Bgain saw aooused near Tomlineon’s. They diecusßod the murder, and the latter said he couldn’t see how the man had boen shot in bed from the door tbo way he was lying. Acoused joined in the discussion, and said he thought the murder had not been committed with a '303 rifle, bat with a revolver. The case is still proceeding. Oamaru, last night. The murder case was ooncluded to-day. Evidence was called as to the movements of accused on the Ist and 2od October, showing that he was in the vicinity of deceased’s house, and that ho frequently said he was a runaway sailor * from the Port Stephens. George Tomlinson, a Grown tenant on 1 Steward Settlement, and his wife deposed to acoused residing on and off with them dnriDg September and the early part of October, and to the finding of a razor, produoed, at a epot where accused was rabbiting on tbo day after the murder. Albert Barsdall deposed to having re* . ceived from Rsnoie a razor like this in his hand to bo reset on several occasions. It boro the engraving, ” Made specially for - J. McQueen.” Rennie had five razors in all, which witness had set on various

ocoasions, and four of which he was able to identify. Constable Wade deposed to four razors being found in deoeased’s bedroom, and

one empty ease in the kitchen. Evidence was called to show that accused spent tbs night of the Ist at Georgetown hotel, and that he was found in bed at Tomlinson’s at 6.80 a.m. on the 3rd October, having, he said, arrived from Oamaru at 1 o’clook that morning. The accused’s statement to Detective Fitzgerald when arrested did not Bgree with these depositions.

Among accused's effects was a large black handkerohief with two holes, which

the police suggest waß used as a mask when Bennie’s bonse was entered. Aooused was committed for trial at the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on tho 19th