KYEBURN MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1928, Page 3

KYEBURN MURDER

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, Sept. 0. Tile hearing of the murder charge against William John Hardie was resumed at Nascby. Kathleen Louisa Fox, wife of Constable Fox, said that accused called on July 17th., asking for.the Constable. He. seemed to have a cold and was hoarse. She referred him to the courthouse.

Constable Fox related finding the body of Shun at his hut. It was not ransacked. A drawer containing papers and letters was open, but a sum of money in a receptacV was untouched Witness had known accused who was on probation for four months. On July 17th. he was expecting Hardie to report and on leaving the courthouse lie saw Hardie, who handed his paper to witness, saying: 1 want you to transfer mo to Dunedin, I’m not feeling ton well so I'll go down and stop at lay aunt’s place. Witness replied that it would be better to stop in the country, hut Hardie said he wasn’t making headway and in Dunedin his aunt would find him a job. Constable Fox continued that Hardie seemed in ill-health hut persisted that lie could travel. He was pale and trembling all over. Witness felt his hand and head, which were very hot. The pulse was very rapid. Accused said he was going to ride to his hut that night to collect his belongings, as he was catching the Dunedin train in the morning. He said lie had been crook since returning from a visit to Dunedin and hadn’t been out of his hut since' the previous Sunday. Witness advised him to lie up lor a few days and witness could give him work. When witness was leaving next morning with a doctor for Kyclnirn diggings lie saw Hardie riding into Naseby. Accused said he had changed his mind about his transfer to Dunedin, hut would stay there until well, then returning to finish his fencing job for Allan Cains.

W';en the Court resumed, Janies Henry Forward, licensee of the hotel at Kycburn. stated Slium wns'the only Chinese working in tbe district. Michael Kitchen, a labourer, stated lie bad camped with accused from May sth to May 22nd. Accused stated lie was in partnership with Jimmy Cains, goldmining. On July 1 4tli witness sun llardie, who asked him where Slium lived, and witness directed him. lie next saw accused on July 17tl), on tlie road from Nasebv to Mount Buster, proceeding towards the latter. . Witness left Naseliy and half way down saw a pedestrian whom lie didn’t pass. This pedestrian would he about 2) miles from Shinn’s hut. Walter George, a claim holder, stated ho had treated sand for gold for llardie on July Kith. He gave llardie fidwt irold from the sand treated. Accused then said he had been at Mt, Buster since Sunday prospecting, llardie asked him where tbe ( bow lived. Allan Cain, shcopfarmcr. stated

llardie occupied a but on lus property .from Mav 13lli to July 18th. At the cod of June accused asked bun it he j could sell gold for him as it was not «oovm,ic.it to go into Naschy. W itness agreed. Accused said he got the go d out there, not specifying a place- At (1.0(1 p.m. on July 17th, accused met. witness at his shod door. He said he bad a touch or *ffu and was going o Dunedin next day. and asked lor a Mt into Kanfurly next morning. gave him dinner, alter vhioh . • took three photographs from Ins pocket one being of the exhibition. •' <(, ' s then showed him some loose gob ■' lump wrapped m paper •'"> ’ tobacco tin. Witness remarked ■ a nice piece, to a question as oh™ long it took to got ‘be gold, H-udi Sd it. took five weeks hard-slogging. Witness loaned ILmlio a P-my. hramlv and an oilskin coat. • T,V 745 p.m. Next morning be lelt iim l witness him 'to Raivfurly. At the If'inl 6 of New South Wales, witness said: “Now. | will dispose ol it i" 1 ■ handed it to him.