THE RIVERBED MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1916, Page 5

THE RIVERBED MURDER.

EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Waipawa, December'2o. The adjourned inquest on the body cf George Dodd, a victim of the riverbed tragedy on the 10th inst., \va3 held to-day. Joseph Wainwright, mate of the murdered man, stated that lie was awakened to find Patrick Kiely kneeling beside Dodd slashing his throat with a razor. He endeavored to pull him oil', and Kiely attacked him, inflicting wounds on his leg and neck. Later he returned to Dodd and found him dead. He went to Kiely and said: ''My mate is dead, and you have killed him." Kiely replied that he was better dead than alive. Witness denied that there had been much drinking on Saturday night, and so far as he knew Kiely had none.

Constable O'Halloran deposed to find;ng u blood-stained knife concealed .n Kiely's camp. He charged Kiely with committing the murder, and lie said: "Dear me! £ did not think it was as bad as that." He took Kiely to where the body was lying in the scrub, and, looking at deceased, he said: "His throat is like a sheep's 1 suppose they will Tinng me by the two heels." Later Kiely said: "I do not remember doing Maybe I did, and maybe I did not 1 don't remember interfering with deceased. Perhaps his mate did it." I There was blood on Kiely's coat, trousers and hat. The Coroner returned a verdict that —"From evidence adduced deceased, George Dodd, met his death at the iiands of iPatrick Kiely." At the sitting of the Court subsequently Kiely 'was charged with murder and was remanded till to-morrow.