THE OPUNAKE MURDERER.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 2116, 4 December 1880, Page 3

THE OPUNAKE MURDERER.

The correspondent of the "Post” telegraphed to that journal on Thursday as follows :—The following statement of _ facts connected with the murder of Miss Dobie was made by Tuhi. the murderer, privately yesterday to Mr Hursthouse, the interpreter : “I left Opnnake with no intention of committing any crime, but to look for a horse. On the other side of Te Ngamu I met Miss Dobie. I got off my horse and tied it to a flax bush at the roadside, and followed her back. When I overtook her she was frightened, and took 6j 4d from her pocket and gave it me. 1 took out my pccket knife, opened it, and stuck it in her throat. She fell down, but was not dead. I then dragged her to the first flax bush. She continued to straggle, and I out her throat again. I then dragged her to another flax bush, and afterwards to where eke was found and where she died. I took off my trousers there, threw them into the flax bush, and then went to get my horse, which had got loose. Whilst catching it Hone Pihama and his party passed along the road, and Z hid myself from them. I afterwards caught them up, and quickly overtook them near the telegraph office. I galloped in amongst them, passing them before they noticed me. The knife I used is the one produced in evidence, marked *T. H.’ I did not throw it away. It must have dropped from my pocket. The blood on my moleskin trousers is hers ; also that on my coat. The blood on the other trousers is pig’s blood. I don’t know why there is so little blood on the coat. I had 5s in the morning. When I came hack, after committing the crime, I spent 3s 4d in the hotel, gave 3s 6i to another man, and spent 3id, including a threepenny piece, at Coffey’s store. After she died, I washed my hands in a small stream. I told nobody what I had done. I want now at once to be killed without further trial. May not her relations kill me ? or may I kill myself ? She called out once before 1 stabbed her. She saw me get off my horse, but did not ran away ; she merely walked on as if unsuspicious. I had no desire but to kill her. It was a momentary impulse and act.”