WESTPORT PERJURY CASE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2255, 29 July 1908, Page 2

WESTPORT PERJURY CASE.

CONTINUATION OF TRIAL. [Press Association.] WEST POUT, July 28. The hearing of the Connelly ca6e was resumed yesterday. Dr. Simpson was cross-examined at length in regard to the wounds, and stated that the whole three .wounds could have been inflicted by a blunt instrument, two of them by a knife. Winifred Harcourt, barmaid, adhered to her former "statement that she saw Halincn and Andersen in the hotel before tlie fish shop row, and Halincn then had blood oil his hands and coat sleeve. . , Elizabeth Ayres and Mary BowrlnS) proprietress and barmaid respectively of Ayres’ hotel, denied that Connelly had a bottle at the hotel when leaving with Bourke. Alex.- Lennie saw stains on Halinen s coat before the fish shop row, out would not swear they were blood, stains, and -could not say that the men did not return to the hotel after the row. , Seward saw. Halinen and Andersen at the City hotel on Friday night, this was denied by Frances Mclntyre, who also saw Andersen between 6.30 and t. On the Saturday morning following the death of Bourke he jt° -the hotel and spoke of .a fight llalineu and himself took part 111,I 11 , previous' night. She had told Detective Mcllveney that lie said one of*those in the fight, was in tjie hospital, but now said she was excited at the time the detective saw her, and could not swear that Andersen said anything about tho hospital. Witness further stated that Andersen and Halinen came into the hotel on the following Wednesday, after being in gaol three days, .and said people were trying to connect them with Bourke’s death, but they had a clear conscience. The case was adjourned until today. At the hearing of the charge of perjury against Connelly .to-day, the evidence was .mainly a repetition of that previously given. Constable Butler said he examined \ the back of the shed (it having been alleged that Connelly ran. off in that direction), but found no trace of footprints. Geinbutsky said that about- 5 p in., \i ul , y? a - u lu the evening, he saw Mrs. 1 earce (the woman who alleged she saw Connelly take Bourke over to the shed and strike him), and- that on both occasions she appeared to ho under the influence of liquor. McLnuehlin gave evidence that lie ivad, from curiosity, tried to identify people in the shed from the position it was alleged Mrs. Pearce had seen Bourke and Connelly, hut was unsuccessful . G. B. Sinclair, Coroner, said the gaoler who, m lus evidence, had denied saying after the verdict at Nelson that it was a righteous judgment, was wrong nr liis statement. The gaoler said his statement was made alter the inquest when the iurv returned the verdict. All three ‘wero implicated at that time. He, like everyone else believed Halinen and Andersen guilty, but was convinced from their demeanor hi gaol and from other information they were innocent men, and. that Conncllv/should have been arrested. George Bennie saw three men at tho theatre door at 8 o’clock, Ibut would not swear they were Halinen Andersen, niiul Haakenson. nor that the three men lie saw go about 8.15 were these men. The hearing "will be resumed tomorrow.