THE TAIHAPE MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 February 1924, Page 3

THE TAIHAPE MURDER.

IPlUniEit IAJDE'.CE, [nr TMr.MGRAI'It—PER Pit ESS ASSOCIATION. WANGANUI, l-'eh. 15. At, lue luncheon ad.iour inieiit lour witnesses had been examined. One. Oliver, deposed that Geiunicl was a good man with his lists and was not afraid oi Moghuu. lie had told accused on one ceea-eut (Inn he could beat him m i square go will: bis list.-. \\ item s hea rd the aceti-ed tell Geinimll Dial ii' lie runlil not leave his wife alone he wooid get rid ol him. Witness considered that accused and Gvminel were both quick tempered. ( 'entitle! l v.as accustomed to using bad language. Ile saw the deceased with Air.'. Moglu'll. lie told witness on one oci asion t hat lie "had a meet on.” Tlie accused was in a | cu- in the shed handy at the time, and lie could hear the remark. Ili-my Slierliuiirne. a carpenter, of Tai],ape. said that Gemmeil told him on one Oi-easion tliaT there w«s trouble lire" ing. Moghiwr had intimated i wiliii—N that ll,' wanted to get lid of having to pay maintenance money to Ins wife. Air- Meghan had challenged luiu on one occasion in Taihnpe about saying things about licr. lie replied that he did not want to hn\o anything tii do witli her. Mr WiHord submit I'd the witness to a -evere cross examination regarding hi- meeting with AI:.- Meghan hy the Blew cry. anil Ins pulling imi -ingle note- cut and telling her how long it took him to cacti litem, ami that she ci old earn them quicker. W itness deii’id this. lon he admitted that he pilled out the note- with sonic eigarluii-. Mrs Aiogi'eu did not, tell him tout there was. a plot, and that -lie would have nothing lo do wuli km It” denied Dial be met .Mrs .Meghan at nigh;. Examue, ioi. by ‘ '• iinsel elicited that Meghan bad employed Geiiimi':!! to spy in Air., Alovban. who was all -god to an uusal i-tactory liie ill AV• •i i t:t <: 11. Moglia 11. wishing to obtain ( > c'toiive to secure a divorce. Gemmi. p ml I'.rued v. itboiu having necom-pla-hed bis task, am! Afoglinn gave him a jon mi the larin. In roiisoqcenee of hoar, mg CciinmtT! tell aunt her mart I Cat lie had a meet on with Airs Alog- ; an D il night. Alnghan became furious : re! . ’-ad Gemmeil of having played t»:■ ii • ■ u.wnrds him all along. ’lbis belie: wa:, iicceiitiialed by tile fact that, (* : run occasion, Gemmeil tailed to give a pre-arranged signal when Moghan was waiting at a dam near his home lo i alcli Airs Moghan with men. AI New Year. Moghan. Reilly. Gemmeil, and a Aleut i, .lack, arranged to have a party. A good deal (4 drink was consumed and all were in a stale of drunkenness. Dui iii-v that period. Gemmeil died, AlogJia;i allegedly telling witness that lie ti.i’l killed the man. FURTHER EVIDENCE. "WANGANUI. Eeb. 15 At the murder trial, after some medical evidence. Cyril Nicliolls said he hen id the accused say while being driven to the police station. "T killed him. Riley had nothing to do wvtli it. f struck him in self defence, didn’t 1 "Riley?” The latter repli?d: •■You done it and you will have to pit up with the consequences.” The accused was very calm and in witnesses’ opinion perfectly sober.