CONFESSING TO A MURDER IN OTAGO.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2253, 15 October 1889, Page 2

CONFESSING TO A MURDER IN OTAGO.

A SUPPOSED UNDISCOVERED OIUMB, At Olorkenwell Polios Oourt on Saturday, August 17. Robert Parvis Stewart, who appeared l_ tbe uciform of a priv.t. of the Soots Guirds, was plaoed m the dook oharged on his own confession with the murder of a man named Donald Ma t, at Otago, New Zaaland. Tbe prisoner was stated by a sergeant of his regiment to have been m the Guards aboot six years, flia aondnot la tbo army was not altogether sttlsfaotury. In 1886 he hid deserted, but rej mod In 1887, olalming the Q lean's p_rdoD, granted m onntnemurtttJon of the Jabllee, Oa tbe previous Thursday ha was abaeat from the barracks without leave. Inspector Yonog, Y. division, deposed that it about b&lf-past seven tbat morning the pflwonnr presented himself at the police station, Caledonian road, aod said that he wished to give himsalf up for killing a man In New Zoaland tn the month of May, 12 yetrs *go. Tbe ptlsonor, who thon gave his namo as Robert Auderson, appeared sober, and witness, having oaatlonei bim that his slatemout would bo usud against him, took down In writing what the prlaouer 3&id. Tho statement was read, and set forth that " about" 12 yeara ago he (prlsone ) was working with Mulr f.lllng timber In the Otepopo bush, Otago, ond • that they qiarelled. He (prisoner) threw a pleou of timber, about 4ft long, at tho man, and felled him lo ihe ground. Mulr, he said, was li jurpd |n the head and never regained his aetW s after, but died ln abont Gvo mlDutes, At first he (prisoner) thought of Informing tho authorities, bat having dragged the brdy Into the bash he left It, and returned tho next dny to dig a hole further In the bush, and la the hole he buried tbe man. They had shared a toot together, and after dli-poslng of tho body ho (prlrontr) " struck" the tont and travelled to Ojctaha (? Oamaru). A week lfttor he left for Tasmania, and whon ho returned to Scotland onllstod. Tbo prisoner, who signed tho statement "Robert Andiraon," sdded that It was| true, and he oould not rest with tbe oecrot on his mind, Tho sorgonnt said that be believed the nrlaonor bad become an opium eater, Mt Brpugh said tbe confession would be inquired Into, and tho prisoner was remanded.