TOKORIMA TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3620, 5 November 1920, Page 5

TOKORIMA TRAGEDY.

ACCUSED IN COURT. TAUMARUNUI, Nov. 4. When the Court resumed to-day ? Lindsay Mackay, farm labourer Ohura, gave evidence. He said that accused came to his. father's on October 14, and asked for Loft's rifle, which was given to him with six cartridges. Accused was quite normal. Constable J. Fleming, of Matiere, detailed a conversation he had with accused on the morning after his arrest. Accused asked permission to go outside. When there he said: "I

want to draw your attention to a skin mark on my finger. " (It was on the right forefinger). Pointing to this accused said "That happened when Teller was shot," but he did not say how.' Accused also said he did not want to shoot witness. He was a fair man, but would shoot him or anyone else if he hajj his rifle and was cornered. Accused slept well, and was quite

normal. Thomas Henry Grant deposed that accused called at his place on October 15 without, a rifle, and was given food, and four cartridges. Andrew Fleming, farmer, of Roto, described how accused knocked at his door at 11 o'clock on the night of October IS. A man named John Hanley was with witness, and both were armed. Accused called out: "I don't want to do you fellows any harm. I iam cold, wet, and hungry." Hanky covered accused as he entered the door. Accused carried a boot in each hand. He searched for shooting irons. He sat by the fire, and was given food. Acused said: "I am as sorry as any of you at the death of Telfer.- He shot himself. He pulled the.rifle into him, and on to my finger.Jj'Df course I am the cause of his! death, but I meant to shoot Jim Loft." Accused way excited.

Constable MaclS T amara deposed tnafc he went; to Fleming's house early on the morning of October 17, arrested Anderson/and' charged him -with the murder of Telfer. Accused said, "A 3 far: as the young fellow is concernect it was an" entire accident." Witness searched and'*found £sl on him,: hm no firearms. ■•;.;.

j Sergeant Cooney said ath while- he l was escorting prisoner, Anderson J said: "I had no intention of killing | Telfer. He and f were'the n't I friends. Tolfer. tried to wrench tne i rifle from me. Had he not done so he would not have been shot. It was in a struggle for the rifle that it went off. You can see the sore on ray finger." Anderson sa'id:—"Jim Loft rs the man I intended to shoot. Had I got him I would be satisfied to swing. It would be a good thing for his wife and family if r had done so. He did not want me to draw my money. If I got Jim Loft, and the two Harlands I, would be satisfied. They drugged me, and are drugging other people, and ruining] them. When I was at the front some of our TeflOws were drugged, and they are doing the same in New Zealand,

A chemist gave evidence that Loft had not purchased medicine. Harland brothers, contractors for* the Ohura County Council, denied thafc they had doped or dr-gged accused, or quarrelled with him at any time. Accused reserved his defence ana was committed for trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court at Hamilton.

THE HENDERSON TRAGEDY VICTIM STILL UNCONSCIOUS. AUCKLAATJ, Nov. 4. The condition of Mrs. Norah Spierpoint, of Henderson, who was admitted to the Auckland Hospital yesterday suffering from a head wound alleged to have been caused by an use used by her son Frederick, was unchanged at 3 p.m. to-day. An operation was performed when the woman was admitted, but she has not yet regained consciousness.