Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article6895274

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THE ELMORE MURDER.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

ELMORE, THURSDAY.

The adjourned inquest concerning the death of John Duggan, who is supposed to have been murdered in a hut by the Cam- paspe River early last month, is still being carried on by Mr. Robert Strickland, P.M., and a jury of twelve. A large mass of evi- dence has been taken during the last four days, but nothing of importance transpired till yesterday, when the police arrested Wm. Harrison, a woodcarter, on suspicion of being the murderer. Harrison had given evidence at the inquest that he was drinking   with the murdered man in Elmore on 5th June, and that he saw him again for

the last time the next afternoon. When

recalled as a witness Harrison said that he

did not know where Duggan lived, and did   not hear of the discovery of the dead body till 11th July. Harrison also stated, when first before the coroner, that he could not write, and signed his depositions with a mark. When recalled he signed his name in a fair hand. Another witness, named Carl Schmidt, alias Bismarck, an Austrian by birth, produced a pair of trousers, which he said—and Harrison admitted—were bought by Schmidt from Harrison for 6s. Harrison said that he bought these trousers from a draper's shop in Sandhurst. However, Mr. Samuel Lazarus recognised the trousers as a pair that he gave to John Duggan (the murdered man) when Duggan worked on his estate at Axe Creek. They were made by Swain and Mitchell, Swanston-street, Mel- bourne. These inconsistencies in Harrison's statements led to his arrest last night and to the liberation of the one-handed regiment of men, the only one-handed man retained in custody being George Lewis, alias Hookey. Harrison admits having been in Sandhurst from 7th to 11th June, and it was on the latter date that John Duggan's deposit re- ceipt was found in the street in Sandhurst.

The inquest was resumed at 10 o'clock this   morning, when Sub-inspector Walshe con- ducted the case, and witnesses were examined as follows :—

Frank Nichol, a labourer, residing at

Elmore, stated that he knew Harrison, and remembered Mr. Scott sending him on 7th June to one of Mr. Bell's paddocks, about a mile and a half on the east side of the river, for wood. When Nichol reached the camp he saw Harrison's son and Schmidt. William Harrison (accused) was not there. Witness got the load of wood, and Schmidt asked to be allowed to put his swag on the dray, as he was tired of Harrison's employ. Schmidt also said that he and Harrison had a dispute the night before, and Harrison did not sleep at the camp that night. Schmidt left Nichol   at the Bridge Hotel at 10 a.m., and at 5 p.m. he was at Scott's Hotel, when Schmidt said that he wanted to go to Sandhurst, but could not pay his railway fare. He then sold witness a pair of blankets for 4s. He saw Harrison the following evening in the bar, and Harrison, in paying for drinks, pulled out a roll of notes. Witness re- marked, "Things are looking up," and Har- rison left the bar soon afterwards.

Charles Edward Burgoyne, barman at    

Scott's Hotel, produced a pocket-book given to him by Wm. Harrison (the accused) to take charge of. This was on Friday, the 8th June. The same day the accused gave Mr. Scott £3 to take charge of for him. The name "John Duggan' was written in the book in pencil.

Alice Jacka, dressmaker ; R. K. Thomas, storekeeper ; and Mary Thomas, dressmaker, identified certain clothing as that worn by John Duggan, alias " Corky Jack," in Elmore

on 6th June.

John Harrison, son of the accused, after being informed by the coroner that he would not be unduly pressed, deposed,—I know the pocket-book produced, which belonged to my father. He has had it ever since we came to   Elmore, and brought it from Bendigo. I wrote the name John Harrison in that book. My father generally carried that book. I did not write the-words, "John Duggan, Have- lock-street, Sandhurst," in it. I know a young fellow called Jack Duggan, who lives near the Catholic Church in Sandhurst. I borrowed a mortising-axe from Mr. Telford whilst at work in Bell's paddock. Next morning Mr. Telford's man asked me for the axe, when I found that it was missing. Mr. Telford's man said that a little boy had seen the axe lying on the road   next morning. I never saw that axe since.

The accused declined to ask this witness any question, and said that his evidence was

quite correct.

To a Juror.—I worked for Mr. Dalton in   Bendigo and at Ravenswood before coming to Elmore. My father and I have carted wood on the Inglewood line as well as to Elmore and Goornong stations.

Accused here stated that the name John Duggan was written in the book by John Duggan, woodcarter, Sandhurst, who wanted some wood sent to him from Elmore. This   John Duggan was no relation to "Corky

Jack."

Michael Quaine said he remembered it ap- pearing in the newspapers that an Irishman, known as "Corky Jack," had been mur- dered. He had then a conversation with the accused, and the accused said that " Corky Jack " was John Duggan, and that they had been drinking together in Elmore. He evidently had heard about the murder.

To Accused.—I told you that Mr. Hayes had been reading to me about the murder from the paper. I might have spoken to you  

about the murder before I heard the name of "Corky Jack." At first I thought that " Corky Jack " was supposed to be the mur- derer, and you then said that it was " Corky Jack" who was killed.

Samuel Lazarus, of Sandhurst, produced a receipt for a suit of clothes made to his order by Swain and Mitchell, tailors, of Swanston- street, Melbourne. The trousers produced were a portion of that suit, and the witness gave them to "Corky Jack." He never got any other clothes from that firm.

Patrick Baggy, labourer, deposed,—I saw Harrison drinking at Dick's Hotel, Elmore, between the 28th and 31st May. Amongst the men present was " Corky Jack," who

shouted. I did not see any bank notes in his hand, nor did I hear him boast to Mrs. Dick about money. " Corky Jack " was the worse for drink. We had all been drinking for several days. I don't re- member the date myself, but Mrs. Rule told me the date. I never saw Corky Jack after- wards. I did not know where he was camped, nor what he was doing in Elmore. I saw Harrison a day or two afterwards in Elmore, and asked him how he got on with

Corky Jack. He said, " You won't get much out of Corky Jack when he is sober." The

last I remember was Harrison saying to

Corky Jack, " Come home with me." This was when we were at Dick's. I do not recollect telling Sergeant Sainsbury and Senior-constable Salts that Harrison took Corky Jack to his camp. I might have said

that when I was drunk. I cannot now say

whether Harrison did or did not say that he took Corky Jack to his camp.

To the Accused.—Corky Jack came into the   bar whilst Harrison and myself were there.

William Brooks, slaughterman, deposed, I worked at Poole's slaughteryard, near the hut where the man was murdered. Some three weeks before the body was found I saw a man   leave the paddock from the direction of the hut about daybreak ; that man had lost his left hand. The main George Lewis, alias Hookey, now before the Court is that man. I did not recognise the man when the police first brought him before me for identification because his sleeve was drawn down over his wrist, and it appeared as if the arm had been cut off at the elbow ; he also walked lame, and when I saw him leaving the paddock he was stooping down, and did not walk whilst in my sight.

Cross-examined by Lewis.—It was between   6 and 7 in the morning when I saw you at the   fence. I don't know whether you got over or under the fence.

George Lewis, the one-handed man in cus- tody of the police, was called on next. He deposed,—I am a shearer, and reside where- ever I can get work. The first night (13th May) I was in Elmore this year I slept in a stable at the back of Clark's Hotel.

This witness gave his evidence in an un- satisfactory manner, and he was then re- moved from the box, the coroner informing him that he had a good chance of being hanged.

Joseph Shoults, groom at Clark's Hotel, Elmore, deposed,—George Lewis slept in the stable at Clark's Hotel one Satur- day night six or seven weeks ago. There was another man with him called Long Jack Smith. They asked me where there was a place to camp. I pointed out the hut in Mr. Robertson's paddock, and they went in that direction, afterwards   returning and saying that the place was all right. Long Jack got a job and took his swag with him, whilst Lewis went towards the hut with his swag.  

Cross examined by Lewis.—I can't swear     that you camped in the hut, but you went in

the direction of it.  

Lewis here made a statement to the effect that he did not camp in the hut because it was deserted, but went and camped under the bridge.

Patrick Hogan, an employè in the Water Supply department, Sandhurst, deposed that he found a deposit receipt for £670 in High- street, Sandhurst, on the morning of June 11. The document was quite dry, and it could   not have been there more than an hour, for it had been raining during the previous night.

William Henry Hackland, clerk in the Water Supply department, deposed that he received the deposit receipt from the last witness, and took it to the Bank of Vic-

toria.

Arthur Smith, teller in the bank, stated that he received the deposit receipt, and that the money it represented was lodged by John Duggan.  

The coroner then at 10 p.m. adjourned the   inquiry till Tuesday next.

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