WILFUL MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 312, 10 January 1908, Page 2

WILFUL MURDER.

THE HELEXSVILLE TRAGEDY. Per Press Association. llelensville, Thursday. At the inquest on the body of Wctst, Mrs Elizabeth Shanks deposed that on the afternoon of the 7th prisoner Stuart came to 'her house in a very excited state. He stilted that lie hud kilh'd West. He seemed quite sensible, but looked as if he had been drinking. She identified a hat produced (which had a clean cut through the erown and was smothered in Mood) as the hat usually worn by West.

John James Ilinds deposed that he was in Mrs Shanks' house when Stuart arrived. Stuart told him lie had murdered West, and asked him to go and ece, telling him about the dispute and how tin 1 deed was committed. Witness went out to Stuart's eamp and entered the whare. He found an axe covered with | blood lying in the middle of the floor. I "He found the body lying on the ground, partly leaning against a tree. West had a horrible gash in the head. There was blood over his face and a pool of blood on the ground. I Constable Tapp deposed to having arrested Stuart. When witness picked up the axe Stuart stated, "That is where T cut him down," adding that be afterwards dragged the body into the ficruh.

Tlie jury fonml a vordiet:-- u That Edwsird West en mo by Ins death through n blow from an axe inflicted hy William Stuart, and that William Stuart wilfully murdered him." Stuart was removed to Helonsville, where ho will be brought before the Court.