THE RENNIE MURDER.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1814, 29 July 1913, Page 6

THE RENNIE MURDER.

AT PAPAKAIO—I9O6. . LINK THAT POLICE SOUGHT. MR.. RENNIE'S WATCH. I ~ PLOUGHED UP IN A FIELD. (By Teloeraph'-Press 'Association.) Oamaru, July 28. Wli'at is an interesting sidelight on events connected with the Rennio murder at Papakaio in 1906 is the finding by Mr. Tomlinson of Rennie's sold watch while ploughing on his property. It was known at the time that Rennio had a gold watch, and this and a bicycle wero among the articles missed. Some timo after tlio murder searchers in the Waitaki River, near Tomlinson's farm, recovered a cycle, and although too far rusted to admit of certain identification, but littlo doubt was expressed that it was Rennie's. Now, after many years, fuller evidence that the criminal took Ferry Road after perpetrating tho foul doed comes to light in the discovery of the watch, bearing the inscription, "Presented to W. H. Rennie, etc. With the watch was a revolver and 35 cartridges.

THE LONG SEARCH, 1905. FIFTY MEN ENGAGED IN IT. (By Telegraph — Special Correspondent.) Christchurch, July 28. News of the finding of the fold watch belonging to Rennie, the victim of the Papakaio murder in 1906, was read by Chief-Detective Bishop, now of Christchurch, with great interest, as he was "in charge" of that ca*?e which created widespread interest at the time. Speaking to a "News" reporter, Detective Bishop gave a brief outline of tho case. William Hay Rennio, a schoolmaster, was found lying dead in bed .in the front bedroom of his house at Papakaio (in the Oamaru district) early on the morning of October 2, 1906. ihere were two bullet wounds very close together in the right temple. The indications pointed to the fact that the murderer had got into the house through tho kitchen window, had walked through the passago and, opening the door of the bedroom, had filed two shots from a revolver from a distance of a few feet, killing Rennie in his sleep. The murderer had then taken Rennie's watch and money and some other property, including a white handled razor, which was one of a set' of six. The affair caused a tremendous sensation and suspicion Jell on John. Findlay who had been living in a back room of Mr. Tomlinson's house about five miles from the scene, and who disappeared on the day of the murder. It was presently discovered that Rennie's bicycle hud been stolen and Findlay (riding a machine which closely resembled the missing one) was seen by two rabbiters on the road leading to the Waitaki River ferry. On the mornin" of Ootfiber 2 the missing razor was found in a paddock of Mr. Tomlinson's section where Findlay had been rabbiting. Findlay was arrested later on, and was tried for murder and acquitted. Chief-Detective Bishop, who -had been working extremely hard on the cape and had pieced the evidence together well, was rewarded (after a long _ search) by_ the finding of the bicycle in the Waitaki Rjver about <y quarter of a mile from Tomlinson's house. It was almost covered with sand when found, only tho handle projecting from 'the silt. There had been a heavy flood in tho river. At the time of tho murder Detective JBishop had made strenuous efforts to find tliß watch and the revolver, and had had from 30 to 50' men assisting in searching the paddocks in the vicinity of Tomlinson's house. These were closely examined, but much digging and opening up of rabbit burrow® failed to find the missing articles. Findlay, after his acquittal on the charge of murder, was tried for breaking and entering Rennie's house and, on February 23, 1907, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment with hard labour and declared an habitual criminal. He *is ot present in New Plymouth Gaol.