OPOTIKI TRAGEDY

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3610, 8 March 1927, Page 2

OPOTIKI TRAGEDY

SULLIVAN CHARGED WITH MURDER. Gisborne, Milrch 7. The recent tragedy near Opotiki was investigated in the Supreme Court to-day before Mr. Justice Ostler, when John Sullivan was charged with the murder of Jeremiah Williamson on December Istlast, near Opotiki. After evidence had been given in regard to plans of the tragedy and examination of the human blood stains, Dr. Forbes, Opotiki, detailed the injuries to the victim, whose face was battered in. In reply to a. question by Mr. Hodgson (counsel for accused), lie said he thought a normally sane man would have desisted long before he battered a victim to the extent done in the case of Williamson. Norman McKinnon, taxi driver, said that Sullivan and Williamson, whom lie was engaged to drive to the station of a man named Kerr (they seeking employment), were both pretty drunk. Sullivan wanted to figlut Kerr whom they met on the road, but Williamson held him. Witness left them on the road' with their gear, and on going back next day lie saw signs of a struggle and bloodstains on bottles and sticks Ivin libout.

,In cross-examination witness said Sullivan and W(illiaiiiison had been drinking pretty steadily for some days prior to the tragedy. Sullivan was “fighting drunk.”

In answer to the Judge, witness said Sullivan had enough intelligence to follow the conversation between witness and Kerr.

Corroborative evidence was given by Duncan Kerr, and also as to fimlling Williamson lying dead parallel to the road in some manuka, and with his legs crossed. There were marks on the road as though the body had been dragged into the manuka. Nearby were too heavy rewarewa branches and broken bottles.

Henry Here win i, a Maori boy, said that- when he and his smaller brother were riding on horseback from school they saw a man whose hands were covered in blood on the roadlside not far from Kerr’s gate. As witness was passing the man flailed out, “Go quick and ring up the nearest doctor.” There was no sign of any other man, but further back witness saw patches of blood and, broken bottles. •In reply to the Judge, witness said be could not recognise the man lie saw on the road. Maggie TTevewini, a school girl, said that when coming home from school with another girl They saw Sullivan, who bad blood on Ins 'hands. \TTe asked witness for her dress to tie his hands up. Then he grabbed her bv the shoulder, but she slipped- away, though her dress was lorn down fhe shoulder. She and her companion rail away. Sullivan ran after witness yelling, “T’ll kill you. I'll kill von,” but he could not catch her. The Court adjourned at this stage' till to-morrow.