THE MAORI CREEK MURDER.

Inangahua Times, Volume IX, Issue 1346, 9 January 1884, Page 2

THE MAORI CREEK MURDER.

* INQUBST ON THE BODY. We subjoin from tne Grey Argus the Balient features of the evidence given at ihe inquest upon the body : — Before any evidence was taketf, - Sergeant O'Grady, who conducted the case in the interests of justice and with a view to subsequent legal proceedings, stated tliat he had the choice of proceeding by one of two methods ; one was to bring the prisoner before the Coroner's jury ; the other, to exclude him. For reasons which he hereafter would euplain he preferred to limit his line of examination merely to the cause of death sufficient for the purposes of the inquest, reserving any inquiry into the details in a more comprehensive manner for some future occasion. It appeared from the more important evidence that Donohue was at vKechnie's Hotel that evening, and passed some time there in company with a number of other miners. During the course of the evening he purchased some meat, whfch he took away with him. Subsequently, j however, he returned »o the store with the meat, and said he would leave it there for the present, but would call for it again later on. At this time deceased was in the store standing alongside the counter ; and as he was getting ready to go home, he asked for his umbrella. Just at that particular moment the accused Donohue interjected some remark in relation to his dog having been let out of the store ; and he and r M'Kechnie's roan spoke about the matter for some little time. A f ter that Donohue left, going in the direction of New River Terrace. After the lapse of a few minutes Gifford also left the store. Shortly before going away he had two drinks one he paid for, having shouted, and the other was one that some other person shouted for him, but he was to all appearances perfectly sober. James Alexander Thompson, who was sworn as a Scotch Covenanter, with his hand up, said that about 9 o'clock in the morning as he was going along the track leading to the New River Terrace, he observed a lot of blow-flies, and on looking about he observed the body of a man about two yards off. He also saw a lot of blood, and a new billy-cock hat on ( the side of the track. He felt so frightened that he did not take much notice afterwajids, and he went to a neighbors place and told him what he had seen. They returned in company, and when they examined the body they found it was that of James Gifford. They then informed the police. Constuble Nash deposed to finding the body on its back, with several wounds on the neck and breast. He also found a knife (a butcher's knife) about two yards from the body, and the hat of deceased close to the head. A short distance away about three yards from the body, a billycock hat was fo;md, and under the legs of the corpse he found an umbrella, which was subsequently identified as Donohue's. The body was searched, and the sum of Ll7 14s. was found on it. There were also a silVer watch and gold chain around the neck The soil where the b>dy was found waß of a spongy peaty nature, in which the traces were very deceptive. John Morton said that he Wfcs at George Williamson's «hougsj about 100 yards from where the murder occurred, on Saturday night, at half-past eleven. He was in company with John Jackson. While they were standing they heard three very loud and distinct yells, as from a human being in distress or agony, so as to convey to them the impression that a drunken man was in the creek. They could not identify any wordsyclearly.' But they felt so certain that something unusual had occurred that they immediately procured a candle, and went in the direction of the sounds. But they found it a hard matter to force their way through the bush. What between brambles and scrub, they had some considerable difficulty in forcing their way through, and of course made a good deal of noise. V» hen they got on the track they looked up and .down, but failed to notice anything. But the yells had such an effect on Williams' daughter that she jainted, apparently being under the impression that something unusual had occurred. The next witness corroborated the evidence of the previous witness in the most accurate manner. It was also stated that a man was heard to go by Annett's and Poynton's house panting and out of breath. Dr Morice, in his evidence, went to show as a result of his poßt mortem examination, that there were 22 wounds lon the body. There were three wounds | on the throat, each of which was sufficient l to cause almost immediate death, each of them severing the throat, while ou,e of the wounds on the breast cut through one of the ribs, and penetrated the left lung 3£ inches. He was also of opinion that the wounds could not be self inflicted: they must have been given with great force.