THE TRICKER CASE.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 113, 7 April 1870, Page 7

THE TRICKER CASE.

The Wellington Correspondent of the " Oamaru Times " ■ furnishes the following epitome of this case, which has lately created so much excitement in the North : —

In August, 1863, a man named Eayner was murdered at Eangatikei, and suspicion falling on Tricker, he was examined at the coroner's inquest ; of the witnesses was a half-caste boy Hamilton, who was in Eayner's employ, and who stated on oath that he knew nothing whatever of the affair. There being some slight evidence against Tricker, he was committed for trial. At the trial, the principal witness was the half-caste boy, who then swore to Tricker's having murdered Eayner. He said his former evidence at the inquest was given in fear of Tricker, who had murdered Eayner and compelled him (the boy) to assist him in burying, the body. The charge against Tricker was for having murdered Eayner beween stated hours on a certain day (Friday, I believe). The defence was an alibi Tricker accounting for himself to everyone's satisfaction for the whole time except 70 minutes. Immediately before and after that 70 minutes, Tricker proved himself to have been staying at the house of one Campion, and on the strength of the 70 minutes unaccounted for, and the evidence of a perjured half-caste, the jury decided that in that time Tricker had ridden seven miles, murdered and buried his victim, and ridden back the seven miles again. He was condemned to be hanged, but on the representation of the case by the Eev A. Stock, of "Wellington, to the Governor, the sentence was commuted to imprisonment for life. Among others in Wellington, the Eev A. Stock believed implicitly in the innocence of Tricker, and his exertions were so far crowned with success, that two Commissions have been appointed by the House of Eeprescntatives (the second one being appointed because the first one was considered to have done its work imperfectly), and the result is that Pricker's alibi is pronounced to have been perfectly established. Of this there is, and can be, no doubt, the report of the Commission having been printed and laid before the House. In spite, however, of this decision, Tricker is still in prison, and the Government have announced that they do not see any reason to interfere with the decision of the Supreme Court.

The public meeting, hold recently, considered all these facts, and the following resolutions were unanimously passed :—: —

"That this meeting considers that the reports of the two Commissions which have enquired into the circumstances of Mr Eayner's murder, as well as the facts that have arisen since the trial, induce grave doubts as to the justice of the sentence under which Walter Tricker was imprisoned." "That this meeting is farther of opinion that the principle witness against Trieker at the trial, has been shown to be unworthy of belief, and that the alibi set up on behalf of the prisoner has been affirmed; and under these circumstances considers that Trickor's detention is an infringement on personal liberty, contrary to the spirit of the English Constitution."

"That the following gentlemen be appointed as the Wellington Tricker Defence Committee, for the purpose of taking such steps as they may deem fit to secure the liberation of Walter Tricker from his present imprisonment; — Hon J. Johnston, Eev A. Stock, Messrs E. Pharazyn, Gk Hunter, S. G-race, T. M'Kenzie, E. J. Duncan, F. Oifford, T. J. Mountain, J. Gilligan, and G-. Crawford."

"That the thanks of this meeting and the public of Wellington are due to the Eev Mr Stock for his unceasing and strenuous efforts to establish Tricker's innocence and obtain his release."

I cannot here go into all the small points which have been brought forward, and which help to prove Tricker's innocence. I have only alluded to the two great points, the perjured witness and the established " alibi ;" and surely I have said enough to show you the injustice of Tricker's continued incarceration, and to induce you to help us in our work of liberation and recompense.