THE MURDER AT LITTLE RIVER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1644, 8 October 1887, Page 2

THE MURDER AT LITTLE RIVER.

On Wednesday last <m inquest vras held at Little River on the body of Matts Johansen, who was found dead on the verandah of the Lake Forsyth Arm* Hotel on Monday night. The first witness examined was George Robinson, a Maori, who deposed to the arrival of the deceased (Matts Johansen) and the prisoners, Niles Jakobson and Anders Hyman, at the hotel on Monday night. A concert was going on, and as the deceased and Jakobson were “jawing” one another rather loudly he went and requested them to desist. Witness apoke to the big chap, and said ; “ Keep qni«t; don’t make a noise, ns we are having a concert in the other room.” Deceased answered in English, “This big chap is kicking up a row. He smashed a plass.” Witness repealed to Jakobson, “Don’t make a noise ; keep quiet.” He »aw a piece of glass on the table. Mr Bruce just then entered, and deceased io ! d Jakobson he would have to pay for the glass. The latter replied in their own fongne, which witness did not understand. Quiet being attained, the witness went back to the concert room., Hyman took no part in the “ barney.” About halfpast ten or eleven o’clock he went with Hichcns to the verandah, on which he saw the body of the deceased lying near the front door, D ceased was lying on hie back at full length. Hichens struck a match and witness put bis hands on deceased’s face to see if he was dead, and found that he was dead. Another match was struck, and witness looked at the body, noticing blood on the ahirl, which was sticking out above the trousers. Witness unbuttoned deceased’s coat and siw a cut in the waistcoat, from which blood was oozingr The cut was on the loft breast. Witness also saw blood on the door and on the step close to the body. He saw nothing of the two prisoners. The witness then detailed how he followed and secured the prisoners, and the finding of the knife at daylight the following morning about 12 or 13 yards from the hotel in a li' tie stream.

Mrs S. A. Bruce deposed that she was the wife of James Bruce, who had been hotel-keeping. Had taken over the Forsyth Arms from Mr McNae on Monday last. About half-past nine at night she saw deceased and the prieonera at tht hotel. They were not quite sober and went into the bar parlor by themselves, where they had one glass each of beer. That was all the beer they had. Soon after this she heard a noise as though someone was quarrelling in the roam in which they were. She went in to see what waa the matter. The deceased was sitting on a chair, and the big man (Jnkobson) was standing over him, and acting as though he was going to strike him on the f ice with his fiat. Jakobsou appeared to he in a great rage with the deceased. She told Jakobsou to bo quiet, and ho laughed. She was standing between them. She asked what was the matter, and dec ased said, “ Oh nothing. He’s got a bid temper,’’ meaning Jakobson. She placed herself between the men because she was afraid that Jakobsou would strike the deceased. They got quiet, and she left the room. Hyman took no part at nil. He was perfectly quiet. She returned to the room with Inins bread and cheese. Jakobson was •gain talking and acting as though he wna angry. He struck his fist on the table, and broke a glass with bis fist. She did not see if be cat his hand, and she saw no bli od. They were quiet a bit. She called her buiband ns soon as they repeated their quarrelling. Jakobson was standing up when her husband came, and with his right hand he was striking the table.; w"h the other he was evidently feeling tor his pocket, but was too excited to find it. Her husband took Jakobson by the shoulder, and told him he would have to go quietly or else some one would be got to make him go. Jakobson would not go, but would remain in the passage quarrelling. Deceased, with her husband, tried, to quiet him, but both failed, and Jakobson pinned her husband against the wall by placing his fist against his eye, and kept feeling about his pockets. Deceased also took Jakobson by the shoulder, nnd placing bis fist before his face threatened to make him be quiet if he did not behave himself. While Johansen was doing that her hnsbani opened the front door and put Jakobson out on the verandah. She kept deceased and Hyman in about five minutes, because ihe was afraid Jakobson would hurt them. Her husband after that requested them to go, as it was about the time be closed the house. It waa then ten minutes to ten. The two shook bands with her hnebnud and herself, and went out by the same door by which Jakobson went. She did cot go outside, and saw nothing of Jakobson, Hyman had never showed any disposition to quarrel. Orly once did deceased seem inclined to quarrel Jakobson, and that was when they were in the passage when Jakobson attempted to strike her husband, Jakobson was wearing a black cost on. at the time. She could no* say if the trousers bo wore were the same. When Jakobson was fumbling he raised his coat. She did not notice whether or not he had a belt when her husband put him out. She h«d to give Jakobaoa a push. He was scuffling with her husband, who locked the door. About ten minutes afterwards she heard a noise on the verandah as though some one

had fal ! «n back, or had been knocked down. She went and told her husband, but nothing was don«. About ten minutes afterwards when she was going upstairs to bed she heard someone strike a match, and she saw the reflection under the glass door. To the Coroner! She was seriously alarmed at the conduct of Jakobson towards deceased. She feared he would have a knife or something, Peter Nelson, a laborer, knew the deceased and the two prisoners. They occupied the same where at Coop’s as himself. None of them had any families out here. They all lived on pretty good terms. Deceased was a very quiet man. Jakobson and deceased had a 'ow about two months ago. They were both drunk. They had been friendly since then. On Monday last the three men, who had been drinking, left the whare about 10 p.m., and said they were going to the nublichous». Jakobson was in the habit of carrying a knife in a sheath on his belt. The knife produced was the one. Jakob*

son bad it for the six months durinftr which witness knew him. No one else at the whare had a similar knife. Deceased carried a pocketknife, and so did Hyman, The sheath of Jakobson’a was made to< carry a knife, u compass, and s lead 1 pencil. To Jakobson : Ho did not see Jakobson carrying the knife and sheath on Monday night. Dr Syraes gave evidence as to the post mortem examination. There was a wound , on the left side of the body IJin long by £in wide, extending downwards and backwards 4>n into the chest, and the heart was penetrated. The left eye was. braised. The knife produced would make such a wound* It was not impossible for the wound to have been selfinflicted, bat it was not probable thst it was. Other witnesses were examined, and after being cautioned, Jakobson answersd that be knew nothing of the occurrence ; that there had been no snch rows between Johansen and himself; that he had not the knife with him that night; and ho could not believe that he did it. Hyman stated that he did not remember having a knife with him himself, but he was sure be bad not Jakobion’s, He was quite innocent of Matl’a death. When they c ima out of the hotel, Johansen and Jakobson were walking side by aide. Johansen started to sing out “Ob, oh, Jakobson,” as if he was hurt. Matt turned back and went on the verandah, and either fell or lay down and made a noise in his chest like the noise beard, from a beast which is being stuck. He 4 (Hyman) stood and looked for a moment, and then walked away. Jakobson caught op to him on the road, and said he bad left Malt at the hotel talking to some English chaps. Jakobson loitered behind and he (Hyman) walked on. Inspector Pender, then withdrew the charge against Hyman, who is the ancle of the deceased. After retiring for a quarter of an hour the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Nils Jakobson,