(BY TELEGRAM, OWN COIIRKSFONDENT.)

GRAHAMSTOWN, this day. The hearing of tho charge of murder against the mail Procoili commenced at the Police Court thii morning before the several

justices. Mr Superintendent Thomson, who has | visited the scene of the murder and mvesti-. gated the circumstaDoes for several day.s past, conducts the case for the Crown, and Mr Brassey, solicitor, who was asked by tho prisoner to retain Ilia professional services on the occasiou appears for the defence. Every effort has been made to procure an interpreter for the prisoner, but witliout success, and the strangest circumstance Ib that although the prisoner could converse readily enough in broken English when he was cook at Clot worthy's hotel, Te Aroha, when working Hove Werahiko's shale in the mine there, when a seaman ou board ship with no other foreigners amongst an English crew, and when assisted with Maoris, ho has, within the last few days, lost all power of speech, except in his nativo tongue. In consequence of a report freely circulated yesterday, that he was handcuffed and heavily ironed in the police cell an " Advertiser " reporter visited the prisoner yesterday, aud of course found there was no truth iv the rumours. In. soncr was perfectly freo and looked barm less enough ns he lolled against the sides ol his apartment, but there Was an undoubted leer of sullenness about him, and a strong desire to evade any questions. He was asked tho placo of his birth, and although it was well known that he had told half-a dozen peoplo he hailed from Odessa, he would uot admit to his interpreters that he 'understood tho question put. The same indifference was expressed when asked if he would liko an interpreter to assist him during the inquiry on the foi -1 lowing day. PrUoner was dressed in a motley suit, aud iv his shirt sleeves, prefer ring to take care of the now coat gircn him through the generosity of a Thames draper. 