THE RUNANGA MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1918, Page 3

THE RUNANGA MURDER.

EGGERS ON TRIAL.

THE HEARING CONTINUED

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( CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 12. I Alexander Cruickshank police; inspeeJ tor, Greymouth, gave evidence of receiv ing four cartridge shells from James and two bullets, all 32 calibre. Witness did not go to the scene of the tragedy till two days after the occurrence. About seventeen members of .the police and detective force were engaged in the investigations and the State Miners assisted in the search. Accused asked on November 21 if lie could have counsel and witness explained the conditions under which counsel could lie

secured. It was after Eggers had consulted Mr Joyce that he objectedMo attend the taking of Hall’s depositions

Air Joyce was sent for entirely at the request of accused. Witness characterised as absolutely false, the suggestion that the police lmd offered to find counsel for Eggers for taking the depositions. The matter was freely explained Eggers quite understanding the whole position.

Dr. Usher, Superintendent of the Grey River Hospital, Greymouth, detailed the injuries from which CoultItard and Hall died, and produced the bullets extracted from their bodies. After Hall was shot in the fore arm l"’ might have been able to shoot; but not with accuracy.

Walter Brook Taylor,' traveller, Wellington, said be bad known accused for two years. On October 23rd he met him on the Christchurch Railway Station. Accused was on Ms way to Greymouth. Accused lmd a bicycle, a small bag and a big bag with him. He saw him three times in Greymouth between October 23rd and November 9th. John Pender, Dunollie, said he had two conversations with accused. The first in connection with some-valuable papers accused said lie had lost on +lw road between Greymouth and Dunollie. Witness referred him to Mr. Hall as

the pay ear find come in. and those aboard might have picked the papers up. Ip the second conversation accused told him he was buying land for a Christchurch firm. Joseph Garvey, miner, Dunollie, ' nosed to visiting Alcock’s cottage o>’

November 9th, to get some tools. There was a' man in the cottage whom he identified as accused.

Osmond Alcock, bootmaker, R-unang-i owner of the cottage, said Im visited '

on November 3rd, and found a man in une of the front rooms. In reply to witness the man saic! he had come from Blackball, and was going to work ar the Rewanui mine. .He told the man, whom lie could- not identify as accused to make himself comfortable. Timothy Saunders, labourer, Grevmoutli, stated that he had known the accused under the name of McMahon for fifteen months. He understood him to be a commercial traveller. He saw andispoko to him on the Cohden Bridge on October 24th. Witness expressed surprise that he was still in the district and said “You must have a hell of a good thing in your line of business.” Accused replied that there was lots doing in his business between Brunner and Runnnga. On November Bth he "gain saw accused on the Cohden Bridge and drew the attention of one McGuire to accused’s presence in the District. On this occasion accused had a carrier on' his bicycle. /

The Court, adjourned till to-morrow

THE TRIAL CONTINUED

CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. The Runangn murder Trial was contin nod.

Evidence was given by George Roberts, an employee at Kettle ' Bros., storekeepers, Greymouth, Thomas McGuire. labourer; Christian Nisfien, hairdresser; Maine Mundv, a restaurant keeper; Archibald Arrol Stewart, brewer; Alexander Brown, aged 10; William O’Neill, aged 13, who identified accused with incidents near the date of the' crime.

Other witnesses this morning were Harold William Welib, hotelkeeper, Greymouth; Arthur Perky Butt, ironmoulder: Anton Falkenbach, Manager of a motor garage at Hokitika. Their evidence was chiefly that of identification.

Other identification evience was given by William Gerard Keller, hotelkeeper, Hokitika ; Morgan O’Brien, hotelkeeper, Christchurch; and John Watt Ferguson Cycle Dealer, Christchurch.