KALGOORLIE MURDERS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 11

KALGOORLIE MURDERS

TREFFENE’S LAST VERSION REASONS GIVEN BY SON. COULTER AND HIS M ILL. Further statements regarding the circumstances of the Kalgoorlie murders and the defence of Phillip Treffene and William Coulter —who were executed on October 25— are contained in a message despatched from Perth the day after the execution. The rues-age states: “Jack Treffene, son of Mr. Philip Treffene, told an interesting story to-day regarding the defence at t).« trial and the reason for his father s statement on the day before his execution, charging Coulter with the murder of Detective Inspector Walsh and Detect it e-Sergeant Pitman, lie said that on the day in question his father told him that the defence was prepared by Coulter and himself in the remand yard at the Fremantle gaol, and that Mr. A. G. Haynes, who defended the prisoners, did not know the true story, and that they refused to tell him any more than they had arranged. PREPARATION OF THE WILLS. Referring to his father's hist statement. in which hi- said that the story told at the trial was untrue, Jack Treffene said that Coulter had given bis word at the time of the murder that whatever happened, so long as Treffene • accepted the blame for the actual killing of Walsh and Pitman, he (Coulter) would provide for Treffene’e children Mr. Haynes went to the Fremantle gaol shortly before the execution for the purpose of accepting in-, structions from Coulter and Treffene in regard to the preparation of their wills, and Treffene overheard his conversation with Coulter in the adjoining celt. Treffene, according to the story, heard Coulter give instructions that his money was to be left to his own wife and children. He heard Mr. Haynes say, “But 1 understand you promised Treffene that soma provision would be made for his children, too!” Coulter's reply, according to Treffene, was for Mr. Haynes to do as he was instructed. Mr. Haynes then entered Treffene'a cell, and Treffene said, ‘‘Well, Mr. Haynes, 1 hate beeu solid to Bill right through, but he has twisted on me at the finish.’ 1 Mr. Haynes asked him what he meant, and Treffene said h» had overheard the conversation with Coulter. Jack Treffene said that he told his father he wm a fool to shield Coulter any longer, and that then his father derided to make known officially the part played by Coulter and himself in the murder. COULTER AND HIS WILL. Mr. Haynes stated in an interview that he eould not divulge the contents of Coulter’s, will, but no provision had been made for Treffene’s children. What Treffene said he had overheard was quite correct. Referring to Even C’larke, who was committed' for trial ae an neceaeory after the fact after he had given evidence against Coulter and Treffene, Jack Treffene said he had no animosity against Clarke, and that on the day before the execution his father said that after all Clarke could not be blamed, and that Clarke had nothing to do with the murder, although Treffene did uot know what Clarke might have, done in the disposal of the bodies. It has since been announced that the charge against Clarke is not being proceeded with.