WHALLEY’S TRIAL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1932, Page 6

WHALLEY’S TRIAL

COMMITTED TO SUPREME COURT.

BENCH REMARKS ON DELAY

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association)

TIMARU,* June 9. .

The hearing of the charge against William John Thomas Whalley, a former chef at The Hermitage, Mount Cook, arrested at -Hokitika, that at Mount Cook on November 5th.,. 1931, he did murder William Edward Wogan, was continued to-day before Mr. E. D. Mosley) S.M., when further evidence for the prosecution was heard. ? Evidence \ya s siven by Police-In-spector Bird, sharply questioned by the Magistrate as to his reason for not calling an experienced Detective sooner, the 'Magistrate remarking upon the extraordinary length of time between the death and . the police activities. “I come fresh into this matter, and it is • extraordinary - Ido not want/to say “a bungle,” but it is exraordinary.”

Witness: ‘‘Every inquiry that could he made was made by Detective Mackintosh and myself, and we reported to Wellington.” Evidence was given by DetectiveSergeant Young, who said that Whalley had made contradictory statements as to where deceased was when the shot wag fired.

' Sergeant C. J. King (Hokitika), gave evidence regarding. Wogan’s_ non-shooting-habits. . _ vH/Ai'. ‘ ' Leslie F. Tisclall, director of a, Christchurch gunsmith "firm, testified ■regarding experiments with, the rifle, saying that the utmost distance that he could hold the rifle-from the side oL h>s head and fire was four and.;a half inches.

At the conclusion, the .Magistrate declared that the theory of suicide was. .entirely precluded, and the same applied to the theory of accidental shooting. He commented on the extraordinary delay in getting experts to investigate. .Accused was committed for triad at, the next session of the Supreme Court.