THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1918, Page 3

THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

'A writer in the correspondence column of the Christchurch “Press’ 1 says: '■Sir, —The following is an extract from a. letter which appeared in this morning’s issue of the “Press” under I tlie above heading apd signed by “Anai hast” ; ! . “Were the bullets found in the i body of Coulthard proved conclusively | to have been fired from a revolver in k the possession off Eggers No. The bullets in the murdered man’s body iwere 33in. calibre. The revolver in •Egger.’s possession was, I am led to understand, a 38 in calibre. It' was admitted iri evidence that it was possible for a 32in bullet tohave been fired, but the gun expert stated that if so the magazine of the revolver must have been very carefully cleaned, evidence which I should consider very inconclusive.”

It is obvious that the above paragraph relates to the evidence that I gave in Court, but it contains several mis-statements of what I actually did say, and I therefore feel it necessary to briefly reply. Tile weapon found in the possession of Eggers was a .32 calibre automatic pistol, and not a .38 calibre revolver as stated by “Analyst.” pistol had eight cartridges in the magazine there were a number of .32 calibre automatic cartridges in tho handbag carried by Eggers, and a still larger sum. ber of similar cartridges were found in a box at his lodgings. The above-men-tioned cartridges were‘manufactured by two different firms, but tho bullets of one make could be readily distinguished from those of the other. The bullets found in the. bodies of Coulthard and Hall, and also in the car, were all .32 calibre automatics, wore of two different, makes, and exactly similar in every respect to those found on Eggers All the loose empty shells found on the scene of tho tragedy were made for a .32 automatic pistol, and here again were two makes. I was asked if the weapon found on Eggers had been recently fired, but this I was unable to state, as the pistol had been most carefully cleaned, The weapon used bv Hall was a .38 calibre revolver, and when fired it-contained four empty shells, and one live cartridge. It would be quite impossible to fire the .32 calibre automatic pistol cartridges from the .38 calibre revolver or vice versa. T fully realise that my evidence was most difficult to follow, as I had to deal with so many “exhibits,” but T am sorry your correspondent did not ascertain his facts, as he could have done so had he favoured me with a- visit.— Yours etc., W. H. TIRDALL. March Bth., 1918.