THE RUNANGA MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 December 1917, Page 4

THE RUNANGA MURDER.

ACCUSED'S INTERVIEW WITH MBfl| McMAHOX. THE CONVERSATION DETAILED Bv Telegraph.—jPress Association. Wellington, La*t N%ht, Tn the murder ease, just before thl luncheon adjournment, Detective Abbotl said the accused had asked is OJtfn pouri for an interview with Mrs; MaMahoa be. fore being brought to the ooiitc'•;•;■ Tho Magi«tt*t|e laid the police eouk arrange an interview at ChrtftofcttWh, This interview took place at eight o'clock in the evening, when'there we« present Mm. McMahon, Chief Detective Mellvency, witness and accused, ,M»< McMahon was warned fcy the chief deteo. tive that it would he better for her not to discuss the case With Atieujed, as whatever he said would bc( token down as ' evidence. Accused «u similarly warned.

Mrs. McMahon had a conversation! with accused. Speaking to'accused, «h* said: "Oh, Will," and then |hew waa a. pause for a bit, when she a&id: "Kd you shoot the boyT" Aoc\jaed said: "I can't say, Mack'sey/as "there's someone else there." Mrs. McMahon said: "Can't you clear yourself?" Acftused a»id: "No; it's no use. I haven't a short of * chance. They fiaV got enough-evidence to hang me six times over," 'Mn. McMahon said: "Don't Ulfc abptjt hanging to me. Will. You I feel Why did you brine that' bw to out room! - ' Acoused replied: "I oVnot know, M aeksey. I made two mistakes.''

He went on to ask her to pronto t(* fill in n form that he was.going *° **M* and send her by post. TTeVaskad itt several times to comply with, the Koqett that would he contained in toe Utter, Mrs. McMohon again said-i "Vfaj did you bring money to tfy» room f "He said: "Look at the position I am.placed In, [ oar. do nothing; I'm waiflhtd," Then, addressing the dstectirea pre*. ent, accused said: "You can take it from me that she. did not know money wat In the hag." following this up with: "She did not know I was on the coaat.'* Slip said: "Yes, I did not know you were x on the coaat till T jfpt a post card. I thought you were down south." That was practically the whole inter. view. i

ACCUSED COMMITTED FOR m&L Qwymbuth, Last mjsjbt Tlie charge, against Eggerafor th* murder of Coulthard' was concluded today. The principal witness this afternoon was Miss McMahoo, barmaid of the ' Empire Hotel, Chrutehureh. Her trlf dence was much on the lines of Detective Abbot's. Li respect to tha interview with accused, when accused letarnsd from the coast he told Miss MoMahon he had been dealing in aheep and cattle and had lost all his money, but n<( afterwards said he was only joking, and that he had ma3e £«00 or £101), William Teasdale, an expert gunsmift gave evidence regarding, the bullets in Coulthard and Hall being similar f those found in accused's possession. The ease lasted till 5 o'clock, wl accused was committed for trial at I next sitting of the Supreme Court Christchurch. ' ,