The Depositions

Deposition of Richard Thomas Eaton

The examination of Richard Thomas Eaton
Butcher of Roebourne
taken on oath this 18th
day of March in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and 85 at Roebourne
in the Colony aforesaid, before the undersigned, one
of Her Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for the said Colony in the presence and
hearing of Frederick Bevan, Charles Warburton, William Holmes Gilroy and San Qui who
are charged this day before me for that they the said F. Bevan. C. Warburton
W.H. Gilroy and San Qui at Roebourne on

This deponent Richard T. Eaton on his oath
saith as follows:-  I know the prisoners. San Qui used to assist me in my business. I was out of town on Monday the 12th January. I went early that morning and left San Qui in charge of the butcher’s shop. I returned on Wednesday about midday. The sergeant called me and I went with him to the shop. I noticed there was a pick there that did not belong to me and was not there when I went away. The police took possession of the pick. I noticed the axes were unusually sharp and clean. Those two are mine and were taken possession of by the police. I noticed some stains on the pick on the side which I took to be blood. I had one other tomahawk with a broken handle. The shop has locks and keys and can be made secure. I do not usually keep it locked. I do not know how San Qui came by the key of the shop. I told San Qui on the Sunday morning that I was going out of town.

R. T. Eaton
Before me
E.H. Lawrence J.P.