THE MCCANN TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 105, 6 January 1915, Page 5

THE MCCANN TRAGEDY.

THE INQUEST. (BEFORE MR W. K. HASELDBN, S.M,) ROTTER MAN CALM, POLITE, AND SHOWING NO FEAR, HE QUESTIONS WITNESSES. MANGAWEKA, Jan. 6. The special adjourned evidence touching the death of Joseph McCann, bis wife and. thirteen-mouths old boy was resumed at Mangaweka this morning, before Mr W. R. Haselden, S.M. Previous' evidence taken was only as to the identification of the bodies. Arthur Rotterman, who was arrested on suspicion" of murdering the McCanns, appeared, and presented a dishevelled appearance, being unsha ven for some days. He adopted a seemingly composed interest in the proceedings. THE CROWN PROSECUTOR. . Mr Hutton, Crown Prosecutor. Wanganui, conducted the proceedings on behalf of the Crown, and was .assisted by Inspector Wilson and Detective Siddells, Mr Hutton outlined the direction the evidence would take, being mainly cn the same lines as that previously published. Evidence would be called for to prove conclusively that the injuries which caused death could not be self-inflicted. Only four people were living on the farm and three of them found dead as a result of injuries inflicted with a tomahawk. In view of the evidence. to be called it would be reasonable to suppose that the remaining one of the four, Rotterman, inflicted the injuries. A shirt found in Rotterman’s room was bloodstained, and a bloodstained tomahawk wa's fcimd under Rotterman’s window. To-morrow Rotterman will be charged with the murder of the three McCanns. Rotterman arrived in Mangaweka yesterday under guard of a force of ten police, a safe guard being deemed advisable against any rough handling by the residents of the town, but nothing of this sort happened. WITNESSES EVIDENCE. Mr Poole, of the dairy factory,, said at 6,45 on Sunday morning Rotterman was at the butter factory and said he had been to Rangiwahia and had arrived home at 3 a.m. He said he was going home to have gome sleep. He appearel to have been drinking the previous day. On Monday Rotterman arrived at the factory with McCann’s milk at 6.30. He was the first to arrive. Witness remarked upon his early arrival. Rotterman said Joe was going away. Herbert Sweet, a neighbour of McCanns, said he last saw McCann just before noon on Sunday. 27th December. lie wan Ibeu quite cheerful, and arranged with witness to come and help.him with his shearing on the following morning. He did not arrive, and did not send any message as to the cause of his absence.

Constable Essen produced photos, of McCann’s house, showing where Mrs McCann and child was found dead. Also the ecwbail, where McCann’s body was found. He last saw Mrs Me | Cann and child on the morning of Boxing Day. They were then both cbeerfu] and quite well. To his knowledge Rottennan w'as the only person working at McCann’s, Albert Patchett said he was the manager of the Huahine Dairy Factory, situated nine miles from Mangaweka, and a quarter mile beyond McCann’s house. McCann sent his milk to the factory. Either Rottennan or McCann used to deliver the milk each morning. Rotterman was only an employee of McCann’s. There were fourteen suppliers who deliver milk to the factory about the same time each morning. McCann’s milk was generally delivered about a quarter to eight. On Sunday, 27th, McCann’s milk reached the factory about that time on that day. Six hundred and sixty pounds of milk were delicered the week previous. The greatest weight was 69? lbs, the lowest was 654, On Sunday morning Rotterman was at the factory and said he had been to Rangiwahia and that he arrived home at 3 a.m. He sold he was going home to have a sleep. He appeared to have been drinking the previous day. On Monday Rotterman. arrived at the factory with McCann's milk at six thirty. He was the first to arrive. Witness remarked about the early arrival, and Rotterman said Joe is going away. Rotterman was then dressed in his working clothes, and adopted his usual demeanour. Rotterman said he was in a hurry and he got away as quickly as possible. The milk that day weighed 5541b5. He remarked to Rotterman about the small weight, and Rotterman said Joe knocked over a can in his hurry. There was no previous case in which the supply from McCann or any other suppler dropped so suddenly by UOlbs, not even where a can had been spilt. That morning no other suppliers showed anything like so noticeable a drop. Next day there was no milk from McCann’s. At three o'clock Mr Poole and witness went to door; there was no response. The door was locked. They then visited the. cowshed, and on opening the door saw ; McCann’s body lying on the floor, His head was cut open, and blood on his face. The cows were in the yard.

He saw no evidence in the ri dairy cf any milk having been spilt. Ha closed ’he cowshed dcor; came away and telephoned for the police. , Gustave Kroger gave evidence Ihar he visited McCann’s house after throe on Tuesday afternoon. Felix Fox was with him. One of the front windows was up but the blind was down. lie pulled the blind up and saw the body of the child. The bedroom doors were locked, so he effected an entrance by a side windowq He went to the front bedroom and found the body of Mrs. McCann, and also the baby. .Both bodies were cold. Mrs. McCann’s body was covered with bedclothes. He then left the house and visited the cowshed. He then discovered McCann’s body. Twenty-six cows were there and be milked them.-Five appeared as not having been milked on Monday morning. He left McCann’s body in the cowbyrs. On Wednesday morning, near the cowbyre, he found the axe produced. It had dry bloodstains and human hair oa it. The cans were still in the milk-cart, and the harness was on the ground. The milk-cart was not in the shed.. There was no evidence of railk- having boon spilt. Archibald McMillan deposed to seeing Rotterman early on the morning of the tragedy. It was a warm, morning and he noticed that Rotterman Rad his coat buttoned from top to bottom, which entirely covered his shirt. WTi.ea Rotterman was getting his whey, h-e noticed that he only used one hand. He kept his right harsd in his pocket. Rotterman appeared to be in a hurry. Rotterman asked the witness If he considered if possible To put lids on the cans with only one hand.' Witness replied: “I did not gee you putting lids on the cans, but I saw you putting whey in the can.” Eottermana said: You say I only used one hand; how can that be when I made a cigarette when the whey wagoing into the cans? Tou say me putting the whey into the cans witl only one hand. I couldn’t make a. *ig arette with only one hand. McMillan replied that he did not no tice Rotterman making a aigarette o smoking one either. ROTTERMAN’S DEMEANOUR. During the preliminary pen ion f. the inquest Rotterman was very polit and of a composed demeanour.. H answered questions put to him by tl magistrate in a voice that did not b tray the slightest fear or tremor. 'IT® magistrate informed him that could cross-examine the witnesses' ® the conclusion of their evidence,.- hH reply to the inquiry whether he h® my questions to ask, Rotterman rofl up and in a clear, distinct voice, sai® “No, sir.” However, this uniform ifl ply was broken at the en dnf Mr S® Millan’s evidence, when Rotterm® put three questions to the witness® Rotterman speaks broken Engii® uid there is no difficulty in he is a foreigner. THE FUNERAL. fl At the funeral of the victims Conrolly delivered a well appealing address, in which he settlers net to be vindictive towaHj the German nation cn account of unfortunate occurrence. He knew iHi there was strong feeling against JH supposed murderer, but be urged people to restrain themselves any desire to take justice Inca i«H own hands. It was not for the : o avenge a murder, hue they nHH trust that law and justice w(9® bring a proper penalty. . The inquest is still proceeding,