KYEBURN MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 21 September 1928, Page 3

KYEBURN MURDER

HARDIE CHARGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association). DUNEDIN, Sept. 21. The preliminary trial of William John Hardie on a charge of murdering Joe Slium at Kyelnirn. Diggings on July Kith was continued at the Police Court to-day. Tlio police photographer produced photographs taken on' the scene.' Ho stated he took a photograph,of a footmark pointed out by a,detective, hut tlie camera moved causing a double imago. He subsequently took at Dunedin mi imprint of Hardie’s left boot. Both photographs were produced.

Patrick McMahon .stated lie was on a job at tlio Masonic .Hall, Naseby, from April 26th to June 6th. Hardie had shown him photos but could not siiy whether any were of the Dunedin Exhibition.

Detective Lean stated on July 18th lie took possession at Dunedin station of a sack swag, addressed to Hardie. Witness had boarded the train at Wingatu to search for Hardie, whom he did not see, but next morning ho .and Detective Roycraft accosted Hardie in Cumberland Street. Witness asked lor an interview and Hardie agreed to go to the police station, where lie admitted the swag was his property. Witness told him a Chinese had been murdered and that suspicion attached to him. Hardie laughed, replying that lie would not murder any Chinaman, and did not know any Chinese at Kvcburii.

'Witness warned accused, who > said, “ I’m not afraid of anything I say. J had nothing to dm with the Chinaman.” Accused agreed to make a statement, which lie signed. Accused took from the swag the clothes lie was wearing on the day of the murder. He-also handed the bqots he was wearing on July l"th, also a wallet containing four pound notes, six photographs, including four of the exhibition, a receipt for gold, a memorandum of tlie sale of gold-on July 18th. Later accused was told Slium’s mate had left ICyeburn lor Dunedin, Hardie replying ‘‘The sooner he comes the better.” Hardie agieec to spend the night a room at the station. . Following an identification parade next day, witness arrested Hardie. When being searched in the watchhouse, Sub-Inspector Fahey told accused he was going to show the ’ graphs to the Chinese who had identified him. Hardie said the Chinese will identify the pictures 1 know; that the Chinese know l showed him the plmto graphs three weeks ago in a Kyeburn Hotel. Eileen Law, a student and interpreter of Chinese, said when asked to point out a man at the parade. Sue Pie refused, saying he was atianl, hut. the man was there. He again refused to point at the man, adding “You go.” He described the position of the man in the row. Mr Hanlon for accused said that it was not evidence against the accused as the conversation was in a language with which lie was not conversant. , Witness said as the result of what Sue Pie said, she approached No. 1 in the row and Pie said in Chinese, “That is the man.’' ■ . Mr Hanlon again contended it was not evidence against the accused. Witness said accused was the man described 'by Tie and the one lie pointed out. ~ , Constable Potts gave evidence as to the finding of a footprint on the edge of deceased’s claim. The impression was covered with boards and later a plaster cast was taken. It was a left hoot impression with nails m 1 ■ ’> J U ] V 22nd witness found the barrel and magazine of a repeating rifle m a gn cl. at the side of the track, 300 yards below the lmt. At the bottom ol a lid. on the other side, the stock was .found Two unused .22 rifle cartridges and a Hilo bullet were found where the Uo parts of the rifle were found. Hanlon, cross-examining! v 1( ■ 1 that no foot prints were so'igat been July 17th. and July 21st. and .!„„ht to show that with so many police there must have been scores of footprints. This, the witness denied. The Court then adjourned for luncheon.