THE POOK MURDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1872, 30 March 1889, Page 1

THE POOK MURDERS.

Gisborne, March 27. The evidence of nutive-a given to-day k the murder casa shows that two days before the murder Haera te Pera was paid for grasß seed cutting, one cheque for himself and one cheque to take tc another native. That night the prisoner gambled with others at Akuaka and losl all the money of hie friend. On Wednea' day he left Akuaka in the direction ol Mntaohu, and could not avoid passing Mataohn in order \o get to Kotorua, hie home, On Thursday morning he was in a whare at Reporua, and the first thing ho did was to go to a friend and pay the money given in trust. The people of the settlement noticed a decided change in his manner, being gloomy. They"were excited over the murder. He never spoke. When four persons were apprehended on suspicion and passed the aettlflment, prisoner remained in, but would not sen them. A native identified the sheath l/nife and sheath aa Haera's by the .Roman numerals, 538, which means in the Maori alphabet, ELP. The same numerals are tattooed on Haera te Pera's j body. The doctors and Mr Skey, Government analyst, deposed that the blood on ' the clothing and boots, and on the prisoner's knifa w<>a the blood of mammals. The mother-in-law of the prisoner stated I that there was clothing and dress material i in the box in the whore the day after the murder that she had never seen before. A native who was apprehended on suspicion and lodged in the cell with prisoner crave a conversation between the brothers, the one tiling ihe other of his statement to the police. Haer i said to witness, and others, " You will all get clear, but I am bound to go to the Supreme Court, because there are mirks about me." Dr Innes deposed that the mark on the akull of the child Bertie Pook was caused by a blunt instrument or by battering. The case for the prosecution then closed, and the court adjourned till morning. March 28. This morning when the court opened Mr Gully summed up the svidence for the prosecution. He addressed the ]ury e'oquently for an hour. Mr K«nny called no evidence for the defence. He addressed the jury for the prisoner, pointing out the places where there was a lack of evidence or discrepancies. He impressed upon the jury that unless they had the clearest evidence they should not bring in a verdict whereby tbe prisoner might be hanged. His Honer Mr Justice Richmond likened the evidence to a bundle of sticks. The ! bundle might be broken stick by stick, but the whole was strong. The case did not depend upon a single fact but upon the whole. The correspondence of the boot and tho footprint might alone be sufficient to warrant a conviction. Mr Kenny had given up the contention that the prisoner ha J tilon the inland route, admitting that he (©ok the beach path. His Honor carefully reviewed the evidence respecting the blood marks, clothing, prisooer's demeanour and conversation in gaol, and aHked Did the evidence leave their minds without any reasonable doubt that the prisoner wae guilty f At 1.30 tho jury retired, and at 4.45 brought in a verdict of ' Guilty.' Prisoner bad nothing to say why sentence of death should not be passed on kin. His Honor said that the evidence on the whole had satisfied lha jury and himself that prisoner was guilty of the murder. The conviction had been largely brought about by his own countrymen and relation*. His Honor then put on the blick cap, and pissed tho usual sentence of death. Prisoner never gave any expression of emotion throughout the sentooce, and at the close walked calmly away to goal. He will be taken to Napier for execution. Jamea Tumor, aged 23 years, has lost an eye through an accident at Topuni (Auckland) Sawmills. A public reception wbs given to Sergeant Parslow, thn rifle champion, on his return to Aucklurd ot Thursday. The volunteers met him at the railway station, and accompanied him to the drillshed, ths streets being lined with spectators. Opposite the public library the mayor delivered an address, welcoming Seargeant Parslow. The Lyttekon Harbor Board have resolved to reducs the wharfage charges as follows :—SO per cent, on coal, grain, and agricultural produce, including frozen meat ; also, to exempt all ballast, rubbish and firewood, and to reduce the charges on general merchandise by 25 per cent. The total reductions represent, according to last year's figures, about £6300. A man named Frederch Petzler was arrested at Uhnstchurch on Thursday charged with violently demanding various sums of inoooy from Philip Erneßt, who ha alleges committed adultery with Petzler's wife. Accused had purchased a revolver, and used it in a threatening manner. 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