H.—33

48

towards us. My attention was drawn to him by the two boys, Pickering and Sedgwick, who said, "Look here at this fellow." He stood still. He appeared to be under the influence of liquor, and was in a great rage and foaming from the mouth. He said, " That old bugger (meaning Hawkings) has chased me for half a mile." He said to me, "Will you lend me your hat and coat?" I declined to do so. He then took off his hat and showed the inside of it, and said, "My hat and coat is as good as yours," and again asked me to lend them, adding, " Then I will have revenge for you all." I declined to lend them. He then asked Pickering to hold his dog, which Pickering did. He then left us, taking his gun with him, and went up to Hawkings, who was at this time about 200 yards away. I heard them quarrelling for about five or six minutes, and then the strange man returned to us, and went in the direction of Kaiwara, taking his dog and gun with him. I am certain he was a foreigner from the way he spoke. He was about sft. 9in. high, stoutish build, about thirty-six years of age, and had a heavy sandy moustache ; dressed in dark coat, tweed trousers, and hard black-felt hat. The gun was a double-breech-loader, top-action. Could not say if he had a game-bag. The man was an utter stranger to me. I have not seen him since. I told several people .about this in Kaiwara the same night it happened, and I made a similar statement to Detective Benjamin after Chemis was arrested. Geoege Hogg. Taken before me, this 26th day of July, 1889—A. Hume.

Statement of Fbedebick Sedgwick. Am sixteen years of age. Employed in the Government Printing Office. On Easter Monday, about four or five o'clock, I was out shooting with Hogg and Pickering. Hogg had a gun, and we had several dogs. I heard Hogg fire, and I ran down, and he had a rabbit in his hand, which he had shot. Just after this Pickering said, " Here's Hawkings coming." Hawkings had a dog with him. We ran down, away from Hawkings. We saw a strange man about 300 yards away. He fired off two shots. I don't know what at; in the air I think. He came up to us and asked for the loan of Hogg's hat and coat two or three times, saying he did not want Hawkings to know him. Hogg refused to lend them. He then gave his dog and game-bag to Pickering to hold, and went up to where Hawkings was, and they were quarrelling there for about five minutes. He then came down for his dog and game-bag and went away in the direction of Kaiwara. He looked as if he had been drinking, and looked a bit angry. I never saw the man before or since. Feedeeick Sedgwick. Taken before me, this 26th day of July, 1889 —A. Hume.

COEEESPONDENCE WITH ME. JELLICOE.

No. 1. Sir,— Wellington, 16th July, 1889. lie Louis Chemis. Referring to my interview with you to-day, I have now the honour to send you a copy of the prisoner Chemis's statement to me at the gaol this morning. I am instructed to act on his behalf, and I now apply that you immediately direct an inquiry to be held into the matter referred to in the statement. lam prepared, with witnesses, to substantially corroborate every detail of that statement. On the 2nd instant, and before his trial, the prisoner made practically the same statement to Mr. Glascodine (my managing clerk), Mr. John Dowd, and Mr. John Dowd, the younger; and Mr. J. H. Pagni (the young Italian mentioned by Chemis in his statement) will be able to prove that lie, at Chemis's request, retained my services for the defence. I applied this morning to see the prisoner professionally, and this Mr. Garvey refused, and my interview took place in the presence of two warders, who verified the prisoner's statement. I find upon inquiry that the prisoner has a mass of evidence which ought to be investigated; and, as lam anxious to place the whole of that evidence before you, I must ask that you will be good enough to give directions enabling me to interview Chemis in private. Before the trial I was informed by the Crown Prosecutor that' Mr. Garvey, the gaoler, had given him a statement of his reasons for saying the prisoner was guilty. I ask that the propriety of this may also be inquired into ; and, as the matter is of the utmost urgency, I beg you will give it your immediate attention. I have, &c, The Hon. the Minister of Justice. E. G. Jellicoe.

Statement of Louis Chemis to Mr. Jellicoe, made the 16th day of July, 1889, in the presence of Warder Millington. Me. Geoege Fishes came to me at the gaol and said, " Well, you want a lawyer," and I said, "Yes." He said, " Whom do you want ?" I said, " I mentioned Mr. Jellicoe to a young Italian who came last night." He said, "No doubt Jellicoe is a good man, but it's the Judges w,e must look to." I understood by him that the Judges did not like you. He said, " I'll see that we get a good man for you." Mr. Garvey was present. Mr. Garvey said, " Mr. Bunny is a good man, and took a good many men out of gaol." Fisher went out, and said, "I'll see." He mentioned Buckley's name to Mr. Garvey, and Mr. Garvey said " No." He went away. I saw Bunny about two hours afterwards here. Ho said, " Mr. Fisher has engaged me," and then I explained my case to him. Mr. Bunny telephoned to me one night. Warder Millingtou came to me, and said he was coming to see me to-morrow, but I did not see him for four or five days afterwards. I was anxious