THE TAIHAPE TRAGEDY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 2687, 26 January 1924, Page 3

THE TAIHAPE TRAGEDY.

MOGHA N CHARGED WJTII MURDER. SOME .SORDID DETAILS. Taihupe, Lust Night. The Ta’lmpo Court was packed to its litmus: limits this morning, in-anticipation of the Moglmn tragedy cn.-e being called on. In spite of his having lost flesh and having greyer hair, giving him the appearance of greater age, Moghan looked welt phyDeally, and did not appear to feel keenly the extreme seriousness of his position. He held a short conversation with his solicitor, and was then charged with the murder of Gordon John Genamel!. The case for the police was conducted by Inspector Eouby, of Wanganui. Sergeant Matthews produced a series of photographs of the interior and exterior surroundings of the dwelling. William 01 liver, a .shearer, deposed that he knew prisoner, and was engaged in shearing. Moghan ! not reside on the farm. Gemmeil and John Riley were working for Moghan. Accused’s wife was not there, and they did not live together. Moglmn I old Gennnell to look alter ike cattle belter or clear out. An altercation ensued on December 31. Witness took two gallons of beer to a shed, about 7 o’clock in the morning. Moghan, Rilev and “Maori Jack” came up about 9 o’clock, but Gennnell was nol there. He last saw Moghan on January 1, when he said Genimell know his wife was in a house of ill repute in Wellington. Witness first heard of the murder on January 3rd. No new facts were evolved in further evidence, which lasted the greater part of the day, except that one witness, James Banks, stated that on the afternoon of the tragedy, he saw Moghan trying to lift a man in the cow yard, and later saw a man trying to rise from the ground. Witness was about three hundred yards away at the time.

It was also stated in evidence that Moghan had been conspiring with Gemmell for the purpose of obtaining a divorce from his wife. There was also a suggestion in evidence that a dog had been at the body during the night, but this was discounted by the medical evidence. According to the evidence, John Jackson and Robert Riley were not present at the time of the tragedy. The case was still proceeding when the telegraph office closed.