THE SOUTHLAND MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2395, 13 August 1892, Page 2

THE SOUTHLAND MURDER.

The inquest on the Lora Gorge murder was resumed on Thursday morning at Winton.

Mrs Bell, recalled, was less certain that her husband said that John Mcßae shot him. It might have been " Donald." From the conversation with her husband in the house she came to the conclusion that Mcßae did not shoot him. (The locality is full of Mcßaes and McLeod») Bell's daughter, Jeannie, deposed that prisoner had told her he would put a ball the head of Bell's cow if she passed. She also admitted that she had cried to her mother while running to the place where her father was found that her father was shot by John Mcßae. This was before she had seen her father or heard him make any statement. Sergeant McDonnell gave evidence that Mcßae sent for him in gaol, and made a statement to the effect that on the 18th May, 1891, he saw the gun found whore Bell was murdered, in the hands of' Pat Walsh, who was out shooting ducks. He (Mcßae) took hold of it, and had a look at |t, and said it was not Taylor's (Walsh's employer) gun, and he said no it was his own. He (Mcßae) would swear that the ramrod (a manuka stick) that ho saw in the oonstable's hands after the murder, was the same as Walsh had in the gun last year. He had remarked to Walsh that the ramrod was little good and Walsh replied that he used Taylor's ramrod to load with. Mcßae continuing said :—" I passed on, and have not forgotten the look of his face, and never shall. If ever Dagon was on earth he was about there that night. I told housekeeper tq ho.Jt the. doors well that night for fear l}e mighVcQine about, 1 ' (This was corroborated by Mcßao's housekeeper, who said she kept the practice up for some time).

'Walsh was next called, and ioj\m\ that he was out of his master's* house on the night of the. murder.. He met prisoner next day, and asked if he had heard of the murder. He replied, "My man, that is bad news; it can't be helped." The gun produced he had neve? seen before and never had a gun to his name. Used Taylor's. Did not remember meeting Mcßae on the 2&th May, 1891, but this year, about March or April, met him when out shooting with Taylor's gun. Had bdeii eight yearn in Taylor's. houso, and ho should know if he (witness) had a gun of his own. Had a slight quarrel with Bell five year's ago, but had been on good terms with him since. "-Bell never showed an angry face to me," Donald Mcßae, son of acoused, said his father went to bed at 9 o'clock on the night of the murdei', and that he had never before seon the gun found at the scene of the murder. Other evidence throw no light on the murder.

The jury returned a verdict that Bell was murdered by some person or persons unknown. Moßae is kept in custody, and remanded to the 18th instant.

The ownership of the gun is still a mystery, and no one can bo found who will say they had seen it before.