CONSPIRACY TO MURDER.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1164, 22 April 1872, Page 2

CONSPIRACY TO MURDER.

It will be seen by our telegrams that a charge of murder, or conspiracy to murder, brought against a Native named Karaitiana, has been dismissed. The other prisoner, Alfred Knox, was committed for trial at the next session of the

Supreme Qourt. He applied to be admitted to bail, but the Inspector opposed this, Inforimng the Bench that the priBO^erJs/iObVacter was thoroughly bad. The Bench refused to accept bail, and the prisoner was removed. The following is some of the evidence in this strange •CfiSPii*^-.'.-—'. , jv--- a «wt-.--»'«a.*»^--jiew!"WTO^ Jl «"*» Haimona said he lived at Otaki, and remembered a <k>nye*Batioiiße£w©wi Khox and Karaitiana ; hie was outside and they •were inside. He heard- Kno« mj 'to' 'Karaitiana that .they should should go to Paikakariki and stop people as they pass, and, if necessary, murder them. Karaitiana was frightened at fjrat, but Knox said they should: cover sineir faces with sheep skins. Tjfcmtiigij&would not consent. Witness saw them standing outside. ?hey were about two feet 'iron? himJ *&. good many people were ? in the house. Karaitiana did not tell him to give this evidence. The people were playing cards. He was sitting at one side. He was ..lying on a table at the window. Witness had no doubt about theconversar tion ;he heard it distinctly. . . •- William Thomas Webber said he, wps a settler living at OtakL On the Sunday before Easter Sunday he went, down to Knox. He remembered a conversation between Knox and Karaitiana. Knox was being taken into custody. A constable called on Karaitiana to assist him. They had him down, and he begged them to let him up and he would go with them. The constable let him get up, and as soon as he did Knox turned to Karaitiana, and said, ■*' I'll split on you about what we proposed." Young Rnox also said, " I'll have you in gaol before to-morrow," Karaitiana said Knox told him he had some work for him. Witness asked what it was. Knox said it was to help him to stop the people who Lad money.' We were to hide our faces in sheepskins. No particular persons were named, but they were to be people going along the road who had money. They were to use a weapon like an eel spear, only larger. He saw the spear at Waikanae. After a man was killed, they were to take his money and throw the body over the cliff. About three weeks ago they had a . conversation. They were playing cards. He then said, " I have some good work for you." Witness asked what. Knox said to go. to Paikakariki. Witness did not consent. He assisted to take Knox. On Sunday, about three weeksago (here the evidence was lost to the' reporters and the Court, as the interpreter onlyjij»nj;tered his English). He left off and then commenced to break into the house again (again the Interpreter's English became inaudible). He said to me stand one side, and he would tell something of me." Witness said " You will not have time ; I will tell before you, and you will be sent to.the.lpck-iip.'' He said if he had a knife then he would have stabbed him. Only, two conversations about the sticking-up took place. Witness did not know whether there were to be any others mixed up in it. The prisoner was not drunk, and was serious about the project. Prisoner did not say when they were to go. : : This closed the case for the prosecution. The prisoner said he had nothing to Bay, only that it was all false. .