STRONG COMMENT IN MURDER CASE

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 248, 10 June 1932, Page 5

STRONG COMMENT IN MURDER CASE

(Press Assn.—

POLICE OELAY LOWER COURT HEARING IN HERMITAGE TRAGEDY ACCUSED COMMITTED Sfrong criticism of the lack of enqusry made by the police in regard to the death of William Edi ward Wogan at The Hermftage,. Mt. Cook, on'November 5, 193ly .was made by the Magistrate, Mr"' E. D. Mosley, S.M.. during the course of the preliminary hear- ; ing of the charge of murder which haSjjheen brought against a chef at the Hermitage, ~ Jo'hn Thomas Whalley, _as a result 6f the fatality. . Mr. MoslJy made - pointed reference to the length of time which elapsed between the date of death and the commencamsnt of police activities.

-By Telegraph — 'Copyright.)

TIMARU, Thursday. The hearing of the charge against John Thomas Whalley, formef chef rt The Hermitage, Mount Cook, who vas arrested at Hokitika, that at Mt. Cook on November 5, 1931, he di'd murder William Edward Wogan, was continued to-day before Mr. Mosley, 3 M., when further evidence for the orosecution was heard. Evidence was given by Police _Inspector Bird, who was sharply ques;ioned by the magistrate as to his reason for not calling an experienced letective sooner. The magistrate, remarking upon the ;xtraordinary length of time between he death and the police activities, said: "I come fresh into this mat,er, and it is extraordinary. I do not vant to say it is a bungle, but it is extraordinary." Witness: "Every inquiry that could be made was made by Constable MacIntosh and myself , and we reported 'zo Wellington." Evidence was given by DetectiveSergeant Young, who said that' Whal,ey made contradictory statements" as ;o where deceased was when the shot was fired. Sergeant King ,of Hokitika, gave evidence regarding Wogan's nonshooting habits. Leslie F. Tisdall, director bf a Christchurch gunsmith firm, testified ■egarding experiments with the riflej aying that the utmost distance he ;ould hold the rifle from the side. of he head and fire was four and alalf inches. ; . At the conclusion the Magistrate leclared that the theory of suiciiie vas entirely precluded, aiid the same xpplied to the theory of accidental hooting. He commented on the ex.raorcjinary delay in getting experts ':o investigate. Accused was committed for trial 't the next session of the Supreme Court.