The Taratahi Outrage.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 33, 11 December 1879, Page 3

The Taratahi Outrage.

In reference to the Taratahi outrage a report has lately been circulated that the injured man Busch was himself the perpetrator of the mutilation from which he is now suffering. The rumor appeared to us so absurd that we declined to take any notice of it. The report as far as we have traced it appears to have originated with the police, and as these gentlemen have made a decided failure in their attempts to catch the authors of the outrage, it is easy to find a motive for their wishing people to believe in it. Busch himself strenuously dentes the rumor, and has written to the Wairarapa Standard a strong l ettcr on the subject, which he concludes with the following words:— “ Another opinion is, I hear, gradually getting hold amongst the people—that I have injured myself purposely in order to arouse pity. In answer to this most absurd report, I can only say it most likely have originated from that person or parly Mho have reason tocastofT alt suspicion from themselves.” For our own part we trust that the circulation of such a rumor will not he accepted by the police as a sufficient excuse for relaxing thefr efforts for the discovery of the brutal perpetrators of this crime- They should on the contrary atse every means in their power to remove the stigma which must attach to their reputation until the offendersarc brought, to justice. — h'orihtnt E-. r/tanfft.