THE CANTERBURY MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1923, Page 3

THE CANTERBURY MURDER.

FURTHER EVIDENCE. [by TELEGRAPH—PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH. Aug. 22. Kisscll. in continuing his evidence' regarding the night of the tragedy, said that hr* remembered leaning against the stable door and wishing Mackenzie dead. He didn't remember going to the lmt and getting the rifle*. He remembered having difficulty with the gate at the woolslied, but did not know why he was there. He next remembered being in tie* courtyard, but could not recollect the explosion or whether MacKenzie made any noise when the shot was fired. He remembered nothing more. ACCUSED’S SISTER. CHRISTCHURCH. Aug. 22. I*’iirtln*r evidence for the defence in the Kissel murder trial was given by Frames Beatrice Taylor, sister of Kis sol. who said that MaeKeiizie’s atliture tow ards her brother was one of exaggerated affection. MacKenzie used to put his arms around him, and kis* .'ind hug him. MacKenzie used religion as a cloak to cover up bis past lifer" “Nothing, except what my instinct told lie* ! always disliked him. tie had a big inllucnce over the buv." “What was Kissel’s attitude towards MacKenzie “He did not want to go to MneKenzie, but he went to him at Christmas time oil one occasion." 'To Mr Donnelly (Crow n Proseento.) • She knew that MacKenzie was outwardly a very religious mail, and grent--1 v inti*rested in iliuixh work. “Did you know that MacKenzie took this job at Quail Island, because he wanted to do good to others'" "Thai wasn't what be told us. lie said lie took il because la* was out ol work.” “You knew that MacKenzie offend to pav for Kissel to go to Christ's ( nlleger" "Yes. but Max wasn’t a gi oil enough scholar to go there.” “But lie had Ins proficiency certificate ” “No." “MacKenzie seemed to la* taking a genuine interest in the boy.'" “Yes.” "Well, in that case, do volt consider it fair to say as you did. that MarKenzie was only a hvpoi rite, and used his religion to cloak his past r" No reply was given. "Do you consider that e lair stalenii'iit to make of a man who is dead, and (an't answer for himsellr" "I would say it if he were alive. I'ni here to say w Tin ! I think.” “Do you know that Kiss'! wo- a heneficiarv under .M.n Krnzie's will.' “No." ‘ “Did you know ol tie* existeui e ol any will signed or unsigned '" "I didn't, know of any will." Mr Donnelly read MacKeiiie’s unsigned will io witness, and a letter addressed to Kissel, and said: "Do you think that's the letter of a hypocrite h" "No. I don't." Mr Domicile : "Do you still think it s lair lo sav tins man was a hypocrite I-" "Yes."' “Is there anything that call male* von change vour mind'” "No." Mr Donnelly : "I'll leave it at that." "I WISHED HIM DEAD." In 1 1 is evidence. Kissel in describing what happened after the lalal shot was fired at. MacKenzie. said: "1 had very /ivid dreams that night. I dreamt that I' shot that girl. I got up as usual next morning. I won t say the dreams alarmed in* 1 , hot I had suspicions that tilings were mu qui'e right. T went to work. 1 middii'l gel MiuKetizie out of my mind. He wa-ai i haunting me. or going alongside me. blit I went through I la* hell I had had with him in connection with the practice he had taught I had dinner and wnl to my hut. I saw that the rille had been used. D began to dawn on Hie that there was more in the nightmares than I thought. I saw that there were two bullets where there should have been Hire". I thought wit li liutrnr: "Have I really killed him:-" I asked Mr Gonrlay if he thought 1 was sane. Mv words ml all ol •' mumble.' What Goiirlay said in evimust h * rigid. I was what you d , ~l| disturbed by that tune, and I eollld not leave things as they were. I went * over to Coldstream in the direction ol j ||». house. Outside the gate I saw Martin and Birch. I wanted lo g"l Ihe uncertain! v over as soon a~ P"— sihle. I asked if I had hurt Mm Benzie. Marlin said: "You've killed him!" U all came io me at mice that

it was not a dream that I was a mm defer, and a criminal, and ‘ collapsed on the ground." .. "Did coil go out shooting with 'l.neKen/.ie !" asked counsel. "Oulv once with him alone. ..('mild you have shot luni then.I had several importunities to do so when n would lone gone oil a' a" accident in everyday life. I could mil hove brought invscir to kill Inin, all bough I w ished him dead-"

I \V \S T IRED OF LIFE CHRISTCHURCH. Aug

Kissel gate la- evidence hi an ''Ntiaurdiua ril v clear manlier, shoving a cm,inland ol English which ammmtcd 111 eloquence. Kissel "os siilqei lei o a sover **t hv Mr i ,,,n ‘ noli v (Crown Prosecutor’). K'ssel denied that he had ever tried lo blm-k----mail Mo< Ki-nzie Mr Dmmelly (to .-reused); ' Did sou ~vrr reliivmbrr discussing the qm-'timi nf murder will, W al-h . \i c’.lseil : Yes. I reineiiiher m, mui mi |hr iimill>*• cpuiisum. ht‘iiu£ 11 ‘ ... i and I forget whether l said I was til ' of life, am! had mm more net to do. “'"ichtS tiho ~.,ked hili, how chi a person would nee ;,Vl,c to he hanged, and that you had a g,„„i m >i„„,t <>i«i r’t:i ■ “i can't rcmenihcr tlmi. ••liave vmi anv re, nlh-mimi ef baying tub! Walsh that you had a I'-'L ~ mind «o shoot vein- mother r . * ; ••When did you l-rsi • ,!l , . wluit you and MacKenzie were uoing

was wrong k about Tw!;: warned 1-y a man tlml I vva* iluintT \vnmj4.

insanity at the time Dr Perev Chisholm, a specialist m ' ,|| ~.,se- am-,' lengthy evidence j i liei votls lllsi.ls's. ~,11 ..I , ,ji u technical nature. He 11 j tiim at the time Kissel committed the , -rime he was suffering from a dismsi , , :,V hk' mind to such .... extent as o make him incapable of urn er.-iam.,,, | in Ins personality. H-e nature m hi* , a, '- t l - !u . , was iidjcurin'd till to-mor- j • r °"’' Cl IR ISTC'H UI’CH. Auft 23. I Tho Kissel murder trial, - m', - ::r v«-'™ j Mr Donnelly tCrowu Hro-mitur ■ Mr Donnelly; »« ' v,!l 1 this crime was more gross t^.usual, because ,t was the m'.l-a - J sleeping unarmed man . j ‘'Then that plea -‘'mild ‘ * U ‘ j iU) stan,hint provided by la" . I’ understand that you don't say K--sol's irrosponsilnlity « ht T r'VliJh- Ma'cKenzie. and ho didn't know the physical net ho ".a* eomuilttl,:£wer- -H,s personality Jkl!ow the nature of the noL his poisoiKiliD. nf . o |,in- — - t .p- statements*^