THE WESTPORT MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2406, 22 January 1909, Page 4

THE WESTPORT MURDER.

THE CHARGE AGAINST CONNELLY.

[Press Association.]

WESTPORT, Jan. 21. Tho charge against Wm. Connelly (at present undergoing sentence for perjury) of murdering Ernest John Bourke at Westport on Bth May last, was heard at the Magistrate's Court to-day before Mr Rawson, S-M. The information is laid by Police Inspector Black. (Mr Wilson, Crown prosecutor, appears for the prosecution. Accused is not represented by counsel.

The evidence in support- of the charge was for the most part a repetition of that given at- the other trials in so far as it related to Connelly s ardvements. Mrs Maria Pearce ascribed m detail an assault she alleged she saw Connelly commit- on Bourke. Muting that Connelly, when Bourke was do win battered tho latter with a beer bottle and then dragged him into a shed.

Mrs Phillips gave testimony corroborative in part of Mrs Pearce * evidence alleging that she saw tho two men. Connelly and Bourke. together and also saw (Mrs Pearce watching events. . . Hugh Duncan, who discovered tiie ■body of Bourke, added fresh evidence that as he was going from xno shed for the police ho. saw a woman, whom ho did not know, on the too - path. . , ■ Sergt. Cullen, in evidence, said. m answer to a question by the accuser, that he never heard accused stag in Westport: "I told Detective - ILveny I was the only one to .do au\ thing to Bourke that night. Margaret Carlvon, the. gaolers wife, said that Connelly, uionr ' the conversations she had with tn > said that ho was sorry for the t men, adding "'I am willing to do o to 7, to 10, up to 15 years and then come out a young man. Chief Detective Mcllveuy to the conversation lie aad H , nelly in Westport relative to Bouii * death, when he ordered Connell speak the truth and ho made a stare ment accusing Rallmen and tl * , Anders Anderson of the crime •. at the conclusion of tho Nelson tua of the two men witness asked nollv “Are you sure there is no mu take about, this?” and he repi^ 1 ,-, "No, Sir, there's been no Immediately afterwards ' _ company, with Mr Myers, down 11° secutor, saw Conne-ly, ' . lo n v Myers addressed saying: Connelly, it is not- too late, if there has bee anything wrong m your ovKknec. ■ • . so now,” and Connelly P ; "There is nothing wrong, should strike nic dead the tin eo •us are in it.” Alter the Hokitika perjury trial Connelly confessed to witness that he alone killed B v As tho doctor Is absent in Welling ton, the Court adjourned ti.l Mondo at 10 a.m. to got his evidence.