WAIRONGOMAI TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1752, 28 August 1917, Page 3

WAIRONGOMAI TRAGEDY.

Charged with having murdered 010 Andersen and Ilarvoy Bradley at Wairongomai on duly 22nd, Frank B. Inkster, 171 years of ago, appeared before Mr B. G. Florence, SUM., at Waipiro Bay last Friday, and was, as previously stated, committed for trial. The accused, who entered the dock smiling, maintained a cool and indifferent attitude throughout, Ur. Davis stated lhat-hc made a post-mortem examination of the bodies o'n July 26th. In Anderson s body there were four bullet wounds, one through the right thigh, one on the right side, one behind the left shoulder, and the fourth entered behind the left ear and emerged near the right eye. Mr Nolan: What inferenee did yon draw from the disruptive effected' the last bullet' Witness: That it had boon discharged at close quarters. The last wound would cause instantaneous death. The second and third would also he fatal. All the wounds were from the back. 'The _ third might have been the first inflicted, then the lir-d and second, and that in (he head last, fa Bradley's body 1 1 1 ere were two bullet wounds, both of which would have been fatal. Due was in the abdomen and one was behind the left ear. The latter emerged over the right eye. This was probably tired from a greater distance (ban the one in Andersen’s head. EVIDENCE OF A QUARREL. Michael Keogh, station hand and overseer, said ho had been at Waiorongomai for the past three years. He knew the accused by (lie name of Ted Clayton. Six weeks before (he, tragedy witness, (he accused, and tbc two deceased went about 12 mites to I lie back of the station |o cut sheep I racks. Witness was in (lie habit of going (o the homestead for the week-end. The other three remained in camp. On Wednesday, .tnlv'lbth, the three went pig' himiuig, Andersen remaining in camp. T3 l cv ton!,- a Winchester nlic from (he ridge pole in the tent occupied bv witness and Andersen, and eight cartridges from under wiine--’ bind:. Bradley and accused .-aw v, iiiic -s get the ride and carlridge-;, Xo oilier person knew where tin I ;.’ were kept. When witness gut head-: from pig hunting, Auden mi (old him dial lie had found in Clayton’,lent a watch which lie had lost at the homestead. A bide later Anderson asked the accused where he got the watch, and accused repin'd. ’■lrom doe I’okai, a shepherd on the station. Andersen said ‘‘Ton are mad. Yon took a quid from Joe I’okai’s pocket, I'll get someone (o lix vim up.” Avecused made no reply.' For the rest of die week Andersen and accused did not speak to each other. Andersen was on good terms with wilnc.-s and Bradley, (hi Saturday, duly 21st, witness went to die homestead. Andersen and Bradley won 1 then on good terms. On the Sunday he met accused coming in from (he camp. In reply to witness, accused said he came ni because Andersen and Bradley had quarrelled. He also said that Andersen said that witness was hanging the work on and was too particular, and (hat Andersen scut lorn tor a pack horse, a.s he warn “getting out of it.” The accused did no l say what Andersen and Bradley had quarrelled about. U would lake a man about live hours to walk in from the camp. Accused stayed at witness' house that night. On Monday morning witness left tor camp, I lie accused following with a pack horse. DISCOVERY OF THE BODIES. Tic reached the camp about midday, and found Bradley lying lacc downwards in a ditch at the back of the chimney, and Andersen was lying on the door in the corner of the lent adjoining the galley, ana both were dead. The Winchester Bile they had in camp was lying at Andersen’s side witli aft arm over the bull, and the barrel pointing in the direction of Bradley s body. AVilness toadied nothing, hut lei I Immediately to report to the station. A lion I eight miles, from the camp he met the accused riding a pad; horse, and told him what lie had found. Accused asked if lie had noticed where the men were shot, and if thev would send for a doctor. During the three years witness had known tin 1 deceased they had got on well together. There was no need for Andersen to send accused for a pack horse, as there were live horses in the paddook near the camp. Further, Anderson had in camp only his blankets and working clothing, which he had previously carried as a swag. The camp, when he >aw it on the Monday morning, had the appearance of a “Sunday camp," having been tidied up. Bradley was in underpants and flannel, with a pair of heavy boots and no socks, and Andersen had on a pair of dungarees, llannel and light boots. HAIR RuUND WOFXD RINGED. Constable Cooper stated that when lie found the bodies both faces appeared to he freshly shaven. In Bradley's right hand was a photograph, and in the left hand there were several photographs, against which his head was resting. The body was in a crouched position in a shallow drain. Andersen’s body was in the corner of the galley, pear the fireplace, The hair round the wound at the back of the ear was singed, and the skull was blackened. A towel was clutched firmly in the right baud, on which the head was resting. Under the palm of the left hand was a tobacco pipe. The rifle was under the right arm, pointing through an opening in the slabs

in the direction of Bradley's head, tin* bodies being separated by the wall. The breech of the rifle was open with a live cartridge in the barrel, ft appeared to have been recently tired. The Magistrate: Where was the accused all this time? Witness: Outside or in the galley. Witness said he found two empty cartridge shells lying about 4ft. from Andersen’s body. There were no signs of a struggle. Witness was present when the accused made a statement to Sergeant McDonnell. After July 26th the accused disappeared, but on July 29th witness found him in a cowshed at Pakikiroa station.