THE JOHNSONVILLE MURDER CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2535, 27 January 1923, Page 4

THE JOHNSONVILLE MURDER CASE.

EVIDENCE OF MAORIS.

Wellington, Y'esterday. The hearing of the charges against John Tuhi for the murder of H. H. Knight, was continued before Mr i E. Page, S.M., at the Magistrate’s : Court yesterday. | A Maori witness named Rua MoI kara stated, through an interpreter, i that he knew Tuhi whom lie had met ! six months ago. He had seen , Tuhi and a sailor together, and after the latter left, Tuhi took up his residence at Knight’s. Witness id- ! entified bedding and clothing including a coat now being worn by the accused as the property of the deceased. In connection with a missing blanket and mattress, Tuhi had said that they had caught fire. After Knight’s disappearance, the bed upon which he had slept was removed from the kitchen to another room. The kitchen window was not as clean during the time Knight was there as it was after his disappearanee. Before the discovery of Knight’s body, the ground in the vicinity had been flat and covered with grass. The accused had stated that the deceased was at Petone. q’he two fishermen, Durant and 'Grant (whom witness identified in Court), had come to Knight’s place after his disappearance. One purchased a horse and cart and another a trap. Witness remembered seeing Tuhi there, helping to fix up the trap, and he also understood, the accused to sell a ease or box to Durant. Nearly all the fixings of the house were put in a trap and taken away by Durant. Cross-examined: Witness used to work for Knight, but when employed there, did not sleep on the premises. He slept there only on one occasion. Ernest Rush worth, a farmer at Khandallah, said that he knew the deceased who used to take a shoit cut home throng witness’s property. Tie last saw Knight alive about October in Lambton Quay, Wellington. He knew the accused Tuhi, who had often come to witness’s farm. He knew him by the name of Jacobs. Witness had often milked some of. Knight’s cows and had been given the milk for taking care of the animals. In August of last yeai, Tuhi was very drunk and came into witness’s cowshed and asked if Knight had been there. He intimated that he was going to wait for Knight, so as to get rid of him. Witness told him that Knight had gone home early in the evening. Tuhi said he would go home and lay the -out. ■ At this stage counsel for the defendant objected to this evitjpnce

After Knight’s disappearance, ed, that it was quite in order.

being taken, but the magistrate ralTuhi said he was away in Chrstchurch. To another, lie said that Knight had gone away and would never come back. At various times Tulii sold horse and cart and eggs from the farm. The hearing was then adjourned till to-morrow.