WHERE WAS DECKE?

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 145, 11 February 1932, Page 5

WHERE WAS DECKE?

(Press. Assn.-

the karere murder ACCUSED TOLD POLICE . . ' HE WAS NOT ; U A . ^ \'A THERE* J ; * GUN IN HIS WHARE

— By Telegraph — Copyright);

PALMERSTON N.' Wednesday. The hearing oT'the charge against Nolman Robert- Deeke-for- the--allegi. ed'murder of Edwin;- Jdhn Blakeway at Karere was i'esumed this "mornihg. S. Y. Goode, a f arm hand formerly employed at Fitzherbert,* said D'ecke , stated to him- that if the policef had found any Western cartridges round his whare, br that he had --purchased any, he would have been done- fori Witness was • at the whare wheii Deeke opened a box, he threw "some d'ocument - on- the'fife "sayihg: -""There is- sonie more eVidence 'the police won't get." i- cr u. * R. L. Meehan, aged 17 years, stated he heard Ddcke say -toi witness' -Sis'tei Betty that hh - would stop - Blakeway mairrying her, On Octoher 18> Deckfe talked ahout murder' and - asked what the police were dobking for- down the r'oad, saying that if he was'riot "shot in" or hhnged he would he leaving the country. " ' * - • ' " EVidence on Ammunition. DeteCtiVe" Russel shid" he 'ititerviewed accused, who said he Was afraid he did make some -tbreatg -.against Blakeway three months -previously, hut only in the heat of the moment. Witness detailed the shells, •bullets," etc., handed tb Dr. Hector, inclfiding 65 shells which had been fired -from ?3 rifles, .The'. only : place iri Palmer*ston North at thht time 'whefe51;^ Western Luhraloy co'ated cartridges could be 'obtained from was* Gbllinon and Son. All ,22*..Walther rifles within, a radius of 100 miles from Palmerston North, aboUt - '80 had* beph tested and the shells s.ent to • Dr; Hector. ; " * v • • Detective Barling stated that he tobk pqssession of.the-empty cartridge -ases. found'at Karere and also'a- ljve rimilar cartridge. A search was later made of accUsed's wh-are where - a Walther rifie was found hanging hy • the sling. " It was not dusty 'hut the other article's in the shed were. The'fe v/as no sign of a cleaning rod. "The rifie appe'ared to . have been cleaned recently. Lafer witness got the 'cleam ing rod and a hroken firihg'pin-ir^n frpm aecused. '* " ' • *''* * **" 5 Jnspector. Cummings, in giving evi'ence; read a lengthy statement -hy Decke detailing his'- friendship— with Betty Meehan, thd' purehase 6f ;a rifie; -nd his movemeilts ou August 23." i Was -Not There Inspector -Gummings - stated that -.ceused, in a written -statement, said 't was . highly improbable- that any-. ".nehad: taken ,the rifie -and put* it '■>ack. Iftbis rifie were discharged, "nd the bullets baused -the -death of . Blakeway, he did not know hpw they got there. He did not* .know how he vas going to -stop -Blakeway marrying Betty, althbugh he had- said he1' would, TIe had not-taken-the- nifle out to Kapcpe that night, and added, "If the fifle were used to kilh -Blakeway, at certaih]y points to me, hut I say I was not ''here." :• v -. *•, f , • *• »i » -After being questiouted, accused 'aid'that if he had*a rpw-ynth Blakeway and accidently killed him in-de-"endingbimself,- he would be oxoused. To' Mr.. Ongley : Decke had p.omp t.o ' he: police station to register the -rifie **nd , was asked to -give: a- statement; h.e quite willingly. agreed. The stateT ment started at 10 a.m. and contin-,-ued until 10 p.m«, with jbseaks? for "uneh and dinner. • - * • • ? When . Decke was shown the report by Dr, Hector he became perturbpd rnd tears came into. his eyes..* .. . > Evidence was 'given hy.;*. George Harold Bycroft, gunsmith; who ,i:e--alled Detective Barling firing two -hots from Decke's, rifie, They then '•ompared-the markings on the shells raused by the. firing . pin with" the markings on the cartridge found in Karere. -Witness did not think-, thby were alike, but his examination Vras *v superficial qne only, and further, the cartridges were not of th'e saxhe make. Detective Barling agr6ed«with him at the time. . * ' 1 At this stage the court adjourned.