A NORTHERN TRAGEDY

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2084, 9 January 1908, Page 3

A NORTHERN TRAGEDY

TWO GUM-DIGGERiS QUARREL. ONE KILLED WITH AN AXE. Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 8. Inspector Cullen has received a telegram from Helensville, stating that Wrmiun Situ art murdered Edward West yesterday afternoon at Kaupakapaka. Stuart hits been arrested. Details of the tragedy show that it was the result of a gum-diggers’ quarrel. AYilliam Stuart, a man aged about 60,* killed Edward West, aged about 45, by chopping him with an axe. The cut on tho left sulo of the skull was about five inches lonil by four inches deep. Accused, in a statement to a coustahlo, said lie and West wore in the wliaro. He (Stuart) had an axe in his hand, chopping wood. West saw sonio gum in the whare, and said, “You -, you did not. scrape, all your gum.” •■'ln a moment,” said 'accused, “I chopped him on tho head. I saw his eves opening and shutting, and I know ho was dead.”

ANOTHER VERSION OF THE AFFAIR. -AUCKLAND, Jail. 8. A slightly different account of tho actual quarrel is given in a telegram sent to Inspector Cullen by Detective Marsack, who states that the version supplied to him was that Stuart was engaged in chopping wood and West was looking at some gum. Then West accused him _of stealing the gum and kicked him. Then Stuart became enraged at the accusation, and at once raised the axe and struck West on the head, killing bun. Accused will be brought he tore tho Helensville Police Court to-morrow anil charged with murder.