MURDER OF POLICEMAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 October 1916, Page 5

MURDER OF POLICEMAN.

XKW SOUTH WALES CRIME. REMARKABLE CONFESSIONS, *" MTCUBERS OP THE I.W.W.

A coble message from Sydney stfctei Hint Roland Kennedy and Frank Frana have lipi n found guilty of the murder, of Constable George Joss Duncan, #mS sentenced to death.

The murder took place about 9 p.m. Olf September 28, at Tottenham, a small township in New South Wales, Tbf. evidence <aknn at the inquest, which laiteil four d'.vys, showed that the constable, who Was 25 years of age, was shod while working at his desk. The coronep returned a verdict of murder, felon* iously and maliciously' committed J>J! Roland Kennedy, Frank Franz, and 9#r< bert Kennedy, and committed them foa trial.

Inspector P. A, Whitfield said thai) Franz told hiin that his mother was ofl Scotch birth and his father a German* He said: "The two Kennedys are thd two men that shot Constable Duncan. I was there, and fired a shot also." Franz was taken into the police station, and! made a. statement which was taken down, In the course of it, ho saidl "I have bten led astray by this I.W.W* since ccming to Tottenham. It waft tha two Kennedys, Herbert and Roland, wlwi shot the constable. There were threo shots fired. I was there, and was man who fired the third shot. I fire® the shot because the Kennedys told ma they would shoot me if I did not fl£€| a shot." (

The statement by Franz declared tlstl it was- Roland Kennedy who suggested! shooting the constable. The three men, carrying rifles, walked to the police; station. "There was nothing but 8, thin curain on the window. I could see Constable Duncan plainly. The twtf Kennedys took aim at him together through the window. The constable w&a motine his head up and down, and thejn waited till he sat up straight; and they both fired at the same time. . .

As soon as they fired they said, 'Fire, ort we'll .' I did not hear any more, I fired. When the Kennedys fired I saw the constable jump from his seat and fall towards his right and start moaning. I did not see the constable when I fixed my shot. . . On Wednesday evening T met Roland Kennedy. He said to me, 'Don't get drunk, and we'd better not be seen together. Mind you donl split. If you do I'll blow your brains out.' When I went with the Kennedys to shoot the constable I had no intend tion of firing at the constable, but I hail to fire a shot because I was frightened the two Kennedys would shoot me. , I have been working in this district for. the past four years, and always sot "on well till 1 joined the 1.W.W., which I was f. rccd into by the Kennedys." According to other evidence RolSnd Nicholas Kennedy also made a state* ment, in which lie admitted that lie took part with Fran?, in the shooting of the constable, but he declared that it* was Fran?, who proposed the murder. Tba statement continued: "I then went back and got my rifle, and we were going ta get my brother, Herb, and he would not come. We told him what we wqra going to do, and he said as lie was, a? married man it was not worth liis whilft Franz and I then camo down to tha police station. Franz was leading tiia way. . When we got to the wudow. the policeman was sitting working his typewriter. Frinz said, 'Count three!] When I say three we'll let go together.' We'll let two volley*, go,' Franz fired twice, I fired once, and my second shot missed fire. I heard the window Btaiaah when I lired. As soon as I fired I ran away. Only for Franz I would not have taken any part in the shooting of she eonstibie." . ,*•'-■1 In the statement made by Michael Herbetf. Kennedy, a miner, he said he cfid not know of the shooting till the next morning. "My brother then told Jn6 Constable Duncan had been shot," ha said. 1 said 'When?' and lie said 'Last night' He said he heard that be naA two bullets in him, or that lie was shot in two places I am a member of the I.W.VV.U. I address meetings for them. I get their literature and read it. I believe in what they advocate, I was a member of the New Zealand police force. I resigned from it abPuA five y.ars ago."