THE RUNANGA MURDERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 February 1918, Page 5

THE RUNANGA MURDERS.

TRIAL OF McMATIOX. By Telegraph.—'Press Association. Christcluirch, Last Night. The trial of William Eggers McMalum, otherwise known as Frederick William Kggers, charged with having murdered John Coultliard on November it, 1917, near (ireymouth, and with having, on the same date, and at the s-Miie time and place, attempted to murder William Hall and Isaac .Tames, and with having .stolen the sum of £3(iso 10s Sd, was commenced at the Supreme Court to-day, before Mr. Justice Chapman. Mr. S. (J. Raymond, K.C., prosecuted on behalf of the Crown, accused being defended by Mr. W. J". Hunter. Jiggers pleaded not guilty. The court was crowded when the proceedings opened. 'There are about forty-five witnesses to be examined, and it is anticipated that the case wilt lust several dayß.

The Crown Prosecutor, in opening the proceedings, said the case would be taken in two stages, the first being the estabr lishment of the murder, and the second that of fixing the guilt 011 accused. Mr. Raymond described the history of the case up to the present proceedings, mentioning the details that have already been published. At the outset lie stated that Coultliard was driving with Isaac Angelo James, the mine manager, next to him, and paymaster Hall was in the back seat with the money which he had drawn from the bank for the purpose of paying the miners at the Runanga mine. Mr. Raymond Recounted the incidents of the actual hold-up. When Coult'iard stepped out, James saw a masked man at the side of the road, which was lined with bush. The mask was like a lady's veil. The man immediately fired rapidly from two revolvers which he held, one in each hand. Coulthard fell, and died shortly after. Hall was hit in the forearm, and also in the upper arm, the bullet in this ease penetrating the body and lodging in the spine. Hall died oil December 27, and on the day of his death a bullet was extracted from his body. Shots were also fired at two •eye-wit-nesses who came on the scene, but they escaped into the bush. Evidence would be given to the effect that a man was seen decamping with a bag in which, it was subsequently discovered, was the money that was to be taken to (lie miners. Mr. Raymond said an automatic pistol would play an important part in the evidence. A revolver (produced), a 38 calibre one, belonged to Hall. The revolver' did not affect the case. Tt was an old-fashioned weapon. The builets found in the bodies and in James' wound were all of 32 calibre, and were either of Peters' or Winchester manufacture. From Coulthard's body there was extractor one 32 calibre bullet, and from Hall'n body a 3" calibre bullet „was taken during his illness, and at the post mortem another 32 calibre bullet was extracted from the spine. A 32 calibre ballet was aIHO removed from James' leg. Oue 32 calibre bullet war; found in the fmme 6f the car, and two 32's were recovered from the body of the machina. Altogether seven bullets of 32 calibre, either Peters, or Winchester manufacture were recovered. Five cartridge cases were also found, one being close to Coulthard's body. At the request of Mr. Hunter, all the witnesses, witji the exception of tlie medical ones and Detective Ward, were ordered out of court. The first charge wr.s that of murdering John Coulthard. Mr. Raymond detailed the subsequent events on the Coast, and then changed the scene to Ciiristchurch. The facts which had come out as to Kggers' association with a local barmaid were referred to, and the circumstances connected with the arrest of accused on Thursday, Novere'.jr 15, were enumerated. Kggers was seen by two detectives in Ihe diniri'v room of the Empire Hotel with the barmaid. On coming out he was accosted, and twice made requests that the brief bag and two parcels which he carried should be left in the hotel. The requests were refused. Kggers clung to the brief bag, and subsequently was noticed fumbling with something inside. The detectives, noticing a revolver, made sure of things, and handcuffed accused. In the brief bag was found a fully-loaded Colt automatic revolver of 32 calibre. There were five 32 calibre bullets of Peters manufacture, and three 32's of Winchester make in the magazine. After Kggers had been searched, the detective proceeded to the house in Gloucester street, where Kggers and the woman mentioned '.ccupied a room. There the trunk was examined, and the missing money was discovered in a suit case. There were 200 new £5 notes, which, it would be proved, had been handed to Paymaster I-lall at the bank on the morning of the tragedy. There was also a book of 10s notes, and three marked half-crowns. When arrested, accused had some of the notes on his person. Mr. Raymond submitted a table, giving particulars of the money as it was handed to Mr. Hall, and as it was afterwards found in accused's possession. There were also three £lO notes, but these were not part of the money handed to Hall, and it was assumed that they had been obtained by changing six of the £5 notes. Pistol covers were also found, and cartridges to fit a pistol of 32 calibre. It would be shown that Kggers about four years ago had made the acquaintance of a barmaid, who had come to Christchurch in February, 1917, and on April 10 had again met liggers, and taken up residence with him in Gloucester street. The movements of accused were traced from October 2, when' he stayed in Greymouth, until October 10. Through the essential period on October 12 Kggers was seen at Duuollie mine. He had inquired from a Mr l'endell where the State Mine was, as he had dropped important papers,, liggers remarked: "Has the State Mine car come along yet?" showing that he had knowledge of the car. On November 3 Alcock, owner of the cottage near the scene of the tragedy, had found, a man in a darkened room. The man was occupying the cottage. This man would be shown to be Kggers. Reference was made to the purchase of articles and food, and to Kggers having been seen in the vicinit) of the robbery by several persons on different occasions. Kggers was on Cobden bridge on several days immediately preceding the murder, and on the day before (November 8) Saunders had met him proceeding over the bridge in the direction of Runanga. Accused had a bicycle -and a carrier. Saunders had remarked, "Yon seem to have a good thing this wayKggers replied: "Yes; there are lots of good things on the road between here and Runanga." The movements of accused subsequent to the tragedy were detailed, and the inconsistencies in his statement were mentioned. Kggers and spoken with one witness, and in a discussion on firearms had said ho had an automatic pistol, that he was a good shot with either hand, and that he could fire thirty-six shots in a minute. The bulk of the evidence taken to-day related to plans ar.d photographs of the scene of the tragedy ».'»d the composition of the money in the hands of the Stale Mine officials at the time,

T. O'Callaglmn, teller, Bank of New Zealand, Creymonth, stated that the only money he could identify an having been handed to Mr. Hall was the l\vo books of live-pound notes. 11. !•'. Douglas, exchange clerk at tlie same bank, who exchanged for Hall £2O worth of florins for £2O worth of halfcrowns, said the top coin of each pile bad an ink mark on it similar to the coins produced. Isaac Agleo .(allies, manager of the State Mines at Runanga, described what occurred on the morning of the tragedy, ihe man who stuck up the car was dressed in overalls and dungarees, and wore a mask. lie could not identify the man. After the shooting of Uoul'thard and Hall he found four shells and two bullets in the back seat of the car. He had been cross-examined by accused in the lower court, and accused had told him that he (witness) could not see the ear from the position he was in on the railway line. As a matter of fact lie could see it.

To Air. Hunter: He was not considerably excited at the time of the occurrence. He kept cool. When the car readied the obstruction on the road he opened the door and stood on the mudguard till the car stopped. The words, "Hands up!" directed his attention to the masked man. About five seconds later the first shot was fired, and two or three seconds after lie heard two shots and saw the driver and Hail fall over' moaning. He crouched down by the side of the car, and then ran along the road for 2o;> yards, till he reached the railway embankment. He did not run into the bush at the roadside, because the ground was swampy, and he. might have been bogged. From the embankment he saw aiul heard the masked man fire three shots into the car. He knew the men who approached the car shortly after the shooting, but did not recognise them. At this stage the court adjourned till 10 a.m. to-morrow.