PACKER’S MURDER.

Evening Star, Issue 4069, 11 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

PACKER’S MURDER.

{From the Southern Cross, 2 Gth Fcbi nary.) winiata’s confession.—a half-caste implicated. Yesterday intelligence of a most extraordinary character, was received by telegraph from the Waikato by Mr Kemp, Civil Commissioner, respecting the present whereabouts of Winiata, the murderer, and the circumstances under which the murder was committed.

The facts we have learned are as follows : Yesterday Te Wheoro telegraphed to the authorities of the Native Department that rumors had reached him', through natives visiting Alexandra from the King country, that Winiata had arrived there, and was now under the protection of his relatives. Te Wheoro, however, stated that the rumofs were not substantiated by authentic information, and that he was engaged with Major Mair in endeavoring to obtain further evidence. At a later hour yesterday very lengthy telegrams were received from both Major Mair and Te Wheoro, containing telUgence of a most extraordinary character! According to these telegrams Winiata was on Wednesday last at a native settlement called Te Waotu, in the Maungatautari ranges, and thence he made his way to a settlement near Hangitaki, probably, Pukeruopau. Winiata was met on the way by a party of natives, amongst whom was the present informant ; and, in the course of a conversation, Winiata told a circumstantial story of the murder. He said that on the day before the murder he was in company with a halfcaste—a tall, powerful man, who had formerly, worked with him for Europeans—and whoso relatives are among the Ngapuhis in the North. Edwin Packer was present,, and an altercation having occurred regard, to money-matters, Packer swore at the half-caste. This so incensed him that he afterwards proposed to Winiata that they, should murder Packer in the night, while he was asleep. Winiata says he refused to consent to commit the crime j but very early in the morning the half-caste got up and said he was going tomurder Packer, to revenge the insult given him, and to steal the money he was sup.posed to have. The half-caste then seized an American axe and set out for the house in which Packer was' known to sleep, and he (Winiata) accompanied him. As they approached the room Packer, who was awake, “halloed” at them, and they were afraid that ftheir intention would be discovered aud frustrated, However, they , entered the room., aud the half-caste, seeing Packer about to get out of bed, swung'the axe, and struck him a blow' on the head, This, however, did not kill 1 him* and then Winiata caught up a bill-; hook and struck a second blow, which resulted fatally. The two then seized Packer’s money and divided it between them, after which they carried the body out, in-. tending to bury it in a grave which one of them (Winiata’a accomplice) had previously dug. , In this, however, they were interrupted, and, as it was daylight, they feared that they would be detected. Accordingly they dragged the body to a place where some fiosta were lying, and - hastily ; covered.. it, caving the legs exposed. Then they separated, Winiata going to Orakei, in, order to get off the main line of road, and to obtain food for his journey—the half-caste intending to go North, in order to join his relatives.