I.—lβ

100

in the ianyard. He gave me the description of it. I looked into that drawer on the evening of the sth of June, and I then saw wad-cutter, powder-flask, and wads. I am giving you both what I saw on the sth of June and the 19th of May. It was then between 6 and 7 o'clock on the sth of June. I swear that the articles I mentioned were in the drawer on the evening of the sth of June. Be-examined by Mr. Jellicoe.] I heard a rumour at Kaiwarra on Sunday night. I first heard it on Sunday afternoon, that a knife and shot-pouch had been found near the scene of Hawkings's murder. I first heard Hodges's name connected with that rumour on Monday evening. I cannot remember who first told me—l was talking to so many. I heard Gibson's name connected with it too, and then I went to Gibson. By the Court.] The four quail I saw were being cooked with a joint of meat when I was at Mrs. Chemis's on Sunday, the 2nd of June. They were being cooked. I saw her put them in the oven. Frank Stevens, sworn, saith: I am a reporter. I was present at the trial of Chemis when Detective Benjamin was examined. I heard him say he searched the drawer. J reported for the Press. He said, as far as I can remember, he found some pieces of paper in the drawers and on top of a book-shelf in the parlour. He said all the articles he took from the drawer he put in a handkerchief spread on the bed in the bedroom. I look at Exhibit B, a printed note of Benjamin's evidence. With the exception of what I am about to state, the Judge's notes agrees with my recollection of what Benjamin said. At the end of the cross examination it appears, " I got no message from either Gleeson or Healy at the Morgue." My recollection of what he said was, that he was at the Morgue in the morning, and that he got a message from one of the constables that the murder had been committed with a sharp instrument, and said nothing about a gunshot wound. Garter Hodges, sworn, saith : I am a tanner, residing at Kaiwarra, in the employ of Hurst and Co. 'I had a shot-pouch at one time. I last saw it two years last Easter. I gave it to James Gibson. I lent it to him. It was a plain leather pouch, pistol-shape. Ido not know if it was marked. It was all plain leather, about the same as any pouch I have ever seen. There was a sort of triangular thing on the end. of it to hang it with. The top part was of iron. I had never seen an iron top to a pouch before. The "D" at the bottom was not so round as the one produced. The top was all iron. Ido not remember if the top was embossed. lam not sure, because I have not seen it for two years. I got it from Tommy Sorrell. He was working at the freezing-sheds some time. He was in Wellington last time I heard of him. I should think it would hold 2£lb. of shot. Sorrell gave it to me. He said " You are a bit of a sporting man." I never used it. I lent it to Gibson. It was a stouter leather than that produced; more like a sole to feel. It was more in the shape of a pistol. I cannot draw. My hand is more for working than drawing. That is like the shape of it. [Sketch produced, marked H.] By Mr. Bell.] When I shifted books I saw it but I never used it. James Gibson, sworn, said :lam a tanner at Kaiwarra. I know Hodges. He lent me a shotbag about three years ago, to the best of my belief. I used it sometimes. I last saw it between twelve and eighteen months ago. I cannot recollect if it was at Chemis's, or if I lent it to a young fellow. Young Bound had the loan of it once or twice. His name is Ebenezer. I believe it was a bent shot-pouch. I cannot draw. I can draw the shape of it. It was bent after the fashion of a revolver. The leather was brown. There was a picture upon it, of game, stamped on the side of it, of a gun and a man, about the size of a five-shilling piece stamped on the leather. To the best of my recollection it was only on one side. It may have been on both sides. I am not certain if there was not a hare or rabbit in the picture. It was stamped into the leather. Was brown. Just an ordinary brown colour. I could not say what the spring was like. I could not describe it if it were iron or brass, or steel. I have been out shooting a lot of times with that pouch. I could not say how much it would hold ; perhaps 21b. lam not sure. It might hold less. The spring was something after the shape of the spring on pouch produced. [This is the pouch produced at trial of Chemis.] I could not say if it was longer or shorter. It might have been a little bigger pouch than the one produced. It looked a little bigger than this one. I believe there was a strap-holder on the bottom of it. I always carried it in my pocket. I believe the leather was harder than this one. The picture was about the middle of the pouch, about the size of a five-shilling piece. By Mr. Bell.] I have been an intimate friend of Ghemis and his wife and Dowd, no more than I have been with Dowd, in a manner of speaking. I made a statement to be sent to the Governor on Chemis's behalf. I saw Dowd on Monday night—the night it was wet. I did not see him last night—not to speak to, but I did to nod to. I saw Mrs. Chemis on Tuesday morning. When she spoke to me about this pouch she came up the road where I was working in the yard. By Mr. Jellicoe (Pour pouches handed to witness).] I cannot say I know either of them. The picture was stamped on the pouch something like the one produced. To the best of my knowledge the leather was like this one produced. [Another shot-pouch produced in a blue box, and shown to witness.] Is that the shot-pouch ?—I cannot swear to it; there is no mark on it such as I have described. By the Court.] I cannot say for certain that this is the one. I had the pouch in my possession about three years. Carter Hodges recalled (Two pouches produced to witness).] The pouch I speak of was not like these. The leather was stout, just like that one. There was nothing on it like the picture on the one produced. I never examined it carefully, no more than just handling it. I cannot say how often I handled it. I had it there so long. I never used it from the. day it was given to me.