THE RUAHINE MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 7 January 1915, Page 8

THE RUAHINE MURDER.

ROTTMANN CHARGED WITH MURDER. By Telegraph.—Per Press Association. i Mangaweka, January 0. The adjourned inquest touching the death of Joseph McCaun, Lucy Amelia ■McCann, his wife, and their 13-months baby hoy was resumed at Mangaweki this morning, before Mr. W. R. Haselden, iS.Ivl. The previous evidence waft only of identification of the bodies. Ai% tliur Rottman, who was arrested on sus« picion of committing the murders, has •up to the present adopted a composed'lnt -terest in the proceedings. Mr. Ilutton, Crown Prosecutor, of AVanganui, conducted the proceedings for the Crown. He outlined the nature of the evidence lie called, mainly on the same lines as previously published. Mr. Hutton'stated that evidence would bo called to show conclusively that the iw juries could not be self-inflicted. There were only four people living on the farm, and three were found dead. A reasonably ; view of the evidence to be called was ,'that tho remaining member of the four,' committed the crime. A Bhirt I found in Rottman's rcom was blood" j stained. l" The lirst witness was Herbert Sweet, j a neighbor of the McCanns. He saw | McCann last before noon on Sunday, I December 27. He was quite cheerful, and arranged to come and help witness 'shearing next morning. He did not arrive, nor did he send any message. I - Albert Patehett, manager of the Rua- ■ hine Factory, which McCann supplied, said that fourteen suppliers delivered their milk about the same time each ■morning. McCann arrived usually at 7.45. On Sunday he arrived at that! time, and 6G9lb. were delivered. On Monday Rottman brought the milk at 0.30, and was tho first to arrive. Rott- \ man said they were in a lmrry, as Joe .was going fleecing. The milk that day weighed 5341b. He pointed this' out to 'Rottman, who said that Joe had spilt a. can of milk. In no previous case haft McCann's supply dropped so suddenly* and in no. previous case had any supply [.dropped to the extent of one-sixth of the supply. McCann's drop of 1101b. was : unprecedented. Xo milk came from McCann's on Monday, and witness and j Poole went to McCann's house, which' • was locked up. They went to the cowshed, and opened the door, and saw I McCann's body in a pool of blood, with i his head split open. They closed the 1 door and came away, and informed the

police. i Gustavo Kreger deposed to visiting i the McCanns with Felix Fox at 4 p.m. on Tuesday. The doors were locked, but I tlioy effected an entrance by a window, and found Mrs. McCann and the baby, •in the front bedroom. The bodies were cold. They visited the, cow-byre, and ■found McCann's body. Later they found an axe near the cow-byre; covered' with blood-stains and human hair. There was evidence that milk had been spilt. Archibald McMillan deposed to seeing Rottman going to the factory early on Monday morning. It was a warm jnorriing, and he noticed Rottman's coat was buttoned to hide his shirt. He appeared in a great hurry. Rottman was using only one hand; the other was in his pocket. Rottman here, for the flrst time, availed himself of the right to ask a question. "You say I only used one hand. How can that be, when I made 'a cigarette whilst getting the whey?"

1 Witness replied, "I did not see you making a cigarette, or smoking either." Evidence was given by James Bad j land that he saw Rottmann at Rangiwahia on Boxing Day. Rottmann Bald McCann could milk the cows, and he did aot care if he got the sack. He nest • saw Rottmann at Mangaweka on Mottj .lay mominc;. Ho said McCann had had! i the check to lock the back door, and ha , had had the cheek to go in the fronfl i door. Rottmann said McCann was goi'ing to Fcilding that day, driving via' ' Kimbolton. Witness asked, "How about the cows?" to which Rottmann replied, i "Joe is coming back, and he will milk' the cows." .Witness understood from | what Rottmann said that McCann had ' not spoken to him on Monday morning, let alone reprimanded him. 1 Dr. Turnhull described the injuries of ! McCann, Mrs. McCann, and the child. The former had six wounds. Four pene* j trated tin; brain sufficiently to cause death. Mrs. McCann had four l severe I wounds, and one penetrated the brain, , being sufficient to cause death. All would J cause immediate unconsciousness. The I baby had two wounds, which penetrated I the brain. A shirt was found in RottI mann's room with blood-stains, but he was unable to determine if these wel# of human blood.

. Constable Essen deposed to informing | Rottmann tliat the new alien regula- [ tions prohibited him leaving the district without permission of the police. Rott< mann said he had no intention of leaving the district, as he was doing well in his present situation. However, Rottmann left Mangaweka by train a few minutes later. He had found a Woodstained tomahawk on the grass und® ,the window of Rottmann'a room, but no trace of milk spilt in MeCann'a cowshed and its vicinity, which had been searchingly examined. William Neal, who had been in the company of Rottmann on Boxing Day at Rangiwaliia, said Rottmann was drunk in the afternoon, but sober when he left at midnight. Rottmann said he did not want to go home till MeCann was in bed, as lie would reprimand him for being away. Thomas James said he saw Rottmann ride into Mangaweka on McCann's horseon Monday morning, and leave it at the stables.

The Coroner stated that he would take time to consider his verdict. To-morrow Rottmann will be tried oa three charges of murder.