TAIHAPE MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1924, Page 4

TAIHAPE MURDER.

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

[BY TELEGRAPH —I’EU PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

IVEI/LIN(iTON", January 2G. In t!ie Taihnpe tragedy ease, hearing of tlio evidence. was continued. Cyril Nichols, whoso car was engaged I: the police, corroborate! the evidence i;f Moghau’s .surrender, and his admission that he had’killed Gemmell. Gemn cll'.s face was badly knocked about, and the upper pail of the body was covered with marks. Moglmn appeared to he perfectly .sober and showed no sign of having been lighting. .Sergeant Matthews described a visit he paid to Moghan’s farm on the morning of .January third. Near the farm lie picked up Riley. On arrival at the farm, witness saw the accused coming lrom t e direction of his house. Meghan said: “I give myself in charge, 1 iiled him. Riley had nothing to do v ill. it. lie called me a Irish-bred mongrel. T struck lum with my fist.” He held out his hands for the handcuffs which were put on. Witness, with Constable Oeraghty and Riley walked towards the house. He saw tin body lying on the grass a few cards from the verandah. In response to a question. Moghan said: “It is Gcmmell’s body.” The body was clad only in trousers and stockings the up-

pot portion being covered with some sacking. The face was very much disfigured. The accused remarked: “The clogs must have been at it during the night.” There was very little blood on the body, but nearby the grass was crushed down and blood-stained, and there was also blood leading to and on vlie verandah, and a later inspection disclosed bloodstains in the kitchen and in UemmeH's room, where tlie bedding was disordered ami saturated partly with dried blood, and some was mi the wall nearly up to the ceiling. When witness returned to the police stition. Mogluin said lie would like to make a statement in writing. He took Moghan to his otiiee where he made the following statement. ‘T, Anthony Moghan, of Raukaura, farmer, wish to make the following slatemenf. A man. named W. G. Riley u ho has been employed by me, inform-

'd me yesterday, that the diseased Gemmell and a Maori, named .John Jackson, commonly known as Maori Jack, had planned to kill me. GemmoM was in my house at the time and Rilev and 1 came from the cowshed. On entering the kitchen, Gemnn ll called *n< an frisk broil mongrel. He repeat- "<! this several times and then be rushed at me. I guarded, and struck him with my fist, lie struck al me first and ! hil him in self-defence. He hit me twice on the chest. This happened u Hie afternoon. 1 bad paid Gemot II oil mi the first, of January, but lie refused to leave the place. I.ater in the evening Riley and I found Gemmell l\;ng on tlie ground in front of my house, lie was insensible, and we tiied to bring him round, hut lie did not come round. 1 sent Riley to ring up lor the police and for a dnelor. lie vent to Banks’" place to ring up, but Hanks was away. lie then went away, and I told him to go into Tai1a pi and inform the polii-e and a doetor. I have read the attached .statement which is true and made at my on i request.” Moghan added that lie would not say more until lie had seen a solicitor.

Further formal evidence was given fit ('oil-tables Gcraglity and King and b' Ills. !i. Al. Hay, ami Mac Diarmid. am! by John Alexander Hurley. Government Bacteriologist.

Mr Hurley deposed that he found 1 1 u■ n an blood stain, mi "Meghan's clothes

The- ease for the prosecution then clc-ed. The aroused ".as cominUKil for trial ■’i the next silling of the Supreme ('ouri at Wanganui. The verdict of the Coroner who sat op the I cncli with the Magistrate was that tl l '. deceased John Gemmell died at R-aiikura on the third day of January. 1524, fjoio. injuries received at the hands of Ambon" Meghan.