TOKIRIMA TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1920, Page 4

TOKIRIMA TRAGEDY.

COURT CASE FINISHED. COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Taumarunui, Nov. 4. Lindsay Mackay, farm laborer, Ohura, gave evidence that accused came to his father's on October 14, asking for Loft's rifle, which was given him, with six cartridges. Accused was quite normal. Constable J. Fleming, Matiere, detailed a conversation with accused the morning alter his arrest. Accused asked to go outside, and when there said: "I want to draw your attention to a skin mark on my linger,'' it was 011 the right forelinger. Pointing to this accused said, ''That happened when Telfer shot," but he did not say how. He also said he did not want to shoot witness. He was fair, but he would shoot him, or anyone else, if he had his rifle and was cornered. Accused slept well and was quite normal.

Robert Craig gave evidence to his taki ing the riile from the Hindus. Thomas Ilenry Grant deposed that accused called at his place on October la without a rifle and was given food, and was given four cartridges. He offered to pay for breakfast. Andrew Fleming, farmer, Roto, described how accused knocked at his door at 11 o'clock at night on October 10. A man named John Hanley was with witness, and both were armed. Accused called out, "1 don't want to do you fellows any harm. I am cold, wet and hungry.'' "Hanley covered accused as he entered the door. Accused carried a boot in each hand, and was searched for ahoot J ing irons. Tie sat by the fire and was given food. Accused said: "I am as sorry as any of yon at the death of Telfer. He shot himself. He pulled the rifle into him and on to my trigger finger. Of course 1 am the cause of his death, but I meant to shoot, Jim Loft." Accused was in no way excited. ACCUSED ON GALLIPOLI. WOUNDED IN THE HEAD. Taumarunui, Last Night. Nagimi Singh g~ve evidence as to how acciwd came to the Hindu camp for food on October 10, when a Hindu secured his riile. Constable McNamara deposed to ar> resting Anderson and charging him with murder. Accused said: '".So far as the young fellow in concerned it was an accident." When searched, accused had £"> l in his possession. Sergeant Miller, who had charge of the search for accused, detailed same. On being escorted to TamnarunUi, accused pointed out where his oversoat was hidden in the scrub. At the jail, when the information was read, accused said,"thank you,'' and.called attention to a bruise 011 his right forefinger. Accused ;-aid: ''l want you to take note of this for my defence. It was done by the trigger guard when Telfer was trying to pull, the rifle from me." There waa no truth in accused's alleged statement that, prior to the tragedy, the police were after him. Accused said he had .served 'two weeks at fiallipoli, and received a piece of shell in the head, which caused him trouble.

Detective Cooncy gave evidence that while nniler escort accused said: "1 knew von when you were 011 the goldlields. I was mining at Karangahake." Accused asked him to do a favor by enquiring, from a Taiimarunui chemist what parcel of medicine ,1 iui Jjpft got for him under an assumed name. Accused naid. he hail no intention oi' killing Telfer, as they were the best of friends. Telfer tried to wrench the rifle away, and had he not done so lie would not have been sliol. In the struggle for the rifle it! went off; they could see the sore cm hit linger. .Accused had a scratch on hid trigger linger. Tie said: "Jim Loft ia the man intended to shoot. Had. ? .not him I would' have been satisfied to swing. It would have'been ft good tbinjj|' for hi : - wife and family. He tried to do me all the harm he could. He did not, 1 want me (0 draw my money, and when 1 was riding over the bridge at a gallop he rushed out with his arms up and I. fell 0)1 mv head." lie said that if ho had got, .lim Loft and the two ITarlands he would have been satisfied. The Harlands drilled him and others. Men were drilled at the front, and they were still doing it in New Zealand, Accused said he saw Loft jumping the fences: lie was a coward to run from wile and tamily lie could have shot - him at iirst, but the children wera around, and he did not want to harm them.

Alter hearing further evidence, the accused, who reserved his defence, wtts committed for trial at the Supreme Court at Hamilton.