CHARGE OF MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1917, Page 1

CHARGE OF MURDER.

[PER CRESS ASSOCIATION.—COI-riUGHV.j , THE GISBORNE CRIME. GISBORNE, September 17. At the Supreme Court, Frank Inkster alias Edward Clayton, aged 17. V years, was charged with murdering Olnf Anderson and Harvey Bradley at A\ airongomni, on .July 22nd. Accused who preserved the calm demeanour which characterised his appearance in the Lower Court pleaded not guilty. Mr. T. L. Burn ard appeared for the defence and Mr. F. W. Nolan presented for Crown , Prosecutor.

In opening, Air. Nolan said that thy evidence to be submitted by the Crown was circumstantial and would relate to a chain of circumstances respecting the. death of the two men Anderson and Bradley. I'our men, he proceeded were employed at \Aahongoimii, II miles from Tupaeroa Camp, and 12 miles from the homestead. Anderson and Bradley were mates and had worked together for a couple of years. Keogh was foreman. Inkster was the youngest and had only been on the station 10 or 12 days before be weld on the job. The men wore engaged iu cutting tracks toi sheep to come through in spring. Keogh was in the habit ol going to tflie libmest.iV.ul every weekend. On July 18th. three of the men went out shooting. Keogh Was bacK first and replaced the ammunition rifles ill the lent in their usual position. The rifles were slung to the ridge pole and the ammunition was placed in the. hunk. When the party returned Anderson who had remained at the camp produced a watch which ho had lost some time before and which ho had found in prisoner’s bunk. Prisoner said that'lie bad got it from a native named .foe I’otae and Anderson asked was it true Mint prisoner bad stolen“a quid” from I’otae. After this incident Anderson and prisoner were, not on speaking terms. Keogli left for the homestead according to custom oil the Saturday. Next day prisoner also arrived at the homestead stating that Anderson intended to leave and sent him for the pack horse. Ihe evidence would show that there was no need for accused to have been sent down to the homestead for the paekhorse, as there were pae.khorscs in the AL'ingaporo pad iTiTclc n tfrr-'il i e camp, and further Anderson had got gear to carry on the paekhorse. The inference the Crown wished them to take* was that theye men were shot on July 22nd. Keogh returned t« the Camp on Alondav”followed at some distance by prisoner wftb tbi' paekhorse.; Keogli found the bodies at the camp and went back to report the matter, lie met accused at the Alangaporo paddock and informed him that the two men in the camp were dead. Prisonjy asked him wherothey were shot, apparently knowing that they were shot though Keogh had not stopped to examine the bodies. That was bis first question. His next was, would they send for a doctor. > Later, before there was any suggestion of murijer. accused said to Apouri, a native pack-man, that if he (wensell) was to fall into any 1 rouble lie .could make, himself comfortable with the contents'of his portmanteau. The remark was significant in view of otliei remarks he had made. The- accused was the first man to make any assertion as to there being four wounds in Anderson’s body and this, when the postmortem was in progress, before anyone was aware of tin* number of wounds. Counsel proceeded to detail prisoner’s flight from the homestead, and bis subsequent capture. Dr Davis gave formal medical evidence to show that Anderson was shot ill four places, three of the wounds being such as would cause death, and Bradley in two places, both fatal rounds.

Michael Keogh, one of flic camp party, was giving evidence on the lines of counsel’s statement when the Court adjourned till to-morrow.