THE TAIHAPE MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1924, Page 2

THE TAIHAPE MURDER.

EVIDENCE CONCLUDED. [by ua.KUKAvn — run chess association.] WAXGANTT, Fob. 15. Al the Meghan trial evidence for tho prosecution lias eoncttludod and Air Marshall had addressed the Jury before the luncheon..adjournment. .Air AA'ilford intimated that he would not call any evidence for the defence. The police evidence diselu-od m> now f**;,lures to those in the Taihape Court. Sergt. Matthew** said tho accused did not. try to evade them in any way us when the police arrived at his home he had asked Riley to get a doctor. At four that morning lie asked Rdoy wliethcr Ocmmel was dead or not. A\ itness admitted that Mogliau may have got blood on the right arm of Ims shirt lifting up someone who was bleeding. VERDICT OF MANSLAUGHTER. DO CRTS OF HIS SANITY. AYAXGANFT. February 15. The case in which Anthony Mogliau is charged with the murder of Gordon Genimell. near Taihape, on January 2, vas continued in the Supremo Court to-day, when the Jury, alter twenty minutes’ retirement, returned a verdict of manslaughter. At Mr AYillord’s request, sentence was deferred to AA'elliugton on March 11 til. The continuation of tho evidence for the prosecution occupied the whole morning. It was a repetition of that given in the Lower Court. Dr. MoDiarmid. of Taihape, said that be was sure GemmoH’s injuries could not have been caused by lists alone, itiiHigh it was possible that the cuts on the head were due to falling against a door or a shovel. Mr Hurley (Government Bacteriologist t could not say that there was blood on the clothing or hoots submitted to him for examination. Cecil Xii-holls. mail contractor, Sergeant Matthews, Taihape, and Constable Gevraghty related the occasions on which Moghan had admitted having killed Ccmmoll in self defence. No evidence was called for the defence. Mr AA'ilford in a seventy minutes’ address to the jury, contended that there ea. no evidence as to how Gemmcll met his dentil. There were only statements by num who had 1 >eeJi in suel( it .state of intoxication that they would mil he expected to give any coherent evidence. Even if Moghan had killed Gemmcll (luring a quarrel and light, lie was so under the influence of liquor •is not io lie aware of what we had iloiit till the shock of finding the dead body restored him to sanity. When lie said: '‘Take me! I killed him!” this, toe one expression heard by Banks, showed that Moglutn did not intend to kill Gemmcll. Mogimti did not. know Genimell "as dead, though death had at that time occurred. Had Moghan desired to mutter Geinme!!, there were in the room a loaded and tin unloaded gun, two shovels and two hats. lits Honour, summing up, said there was t*o evidence of a suggestion of livable between Genimell and others ,i 1 the house. There had been the ao c-Uiul's repeated assertions that ho had it.lk.j Gemmcll, although that did not twcumiily mean that he had murdered him. There was no doubt liie evidence ot Reilly and Maori Jack was unreliable to some extent, on account of their dt an ken state. There appeared to ho no doubt the man whom Moghan picked up and asked to shake hands and ho iriends was Genimell. The only question to cause the jury any difficulty was whether Moghan was guilty ot murder or manslaughter. It' asking the Judge to postpone sentence. .Ah- \\ iliord said lie wished to make inquiries regarding Meghan's committal to an asylum years ago. The (’town Pioseeutor stated that tho rci ords snowed that .Mogliau liad boon in an asylum twice, suffering from delirium tremens, officially stated as religious mania, caused by drink.