MURDER OF Mr. RAYNER.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 140, 18 September 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

MURDER OF Mr. RAYNER.

[From the Wellington Independent , Sept. 12]. W? hare been favored with the following extract from a private letter, containing fuller details of this sad affair than have yet been received: — Rangitikei, Sept. 9,1863. of the dreadful murder of poor Rayner; it was a most barbarous affair, and it is supposed to have been done by two boys—a half-caste and a Maori—who were in Mr. Rayner’s employ, but that of course has to be proved. The poor fello w must have been murdered a week before he was missed by any of his neighbors. He was last seen on Thursday night week, at Mr. Bull’s; but left there about 11 p.m. to go home. On the following Wednesday, some person began to enquire if any one had seen him within the last few days, but no one had seen him since the Thursday night he left Bull’s. Broughton said he would go up and see if he was at home ; he wont up but Rayner was not there. Rayner had complained of having a headache when he was at Bull’s, so the people thought ho had probably been taken seriously ill, and unable to reach his house. Several neighbors therefore went out in search of him that night, but could not find him anywhere. They saw his horses in the paddock, Jus saddle in the out-house, bu: not hung in its proper place, his dogs were at home, and his whip in the house. They wore therefore convinced that he could not have gone far, as he was not in the habit of walking any distance, and he always took his whip and dogs with him. They searched till dark, but all to no purpose. Next morning every one of his neighbors turned out, and they discovered him in a hole, about a chain from his house, close by a stream ; we had a very wet week, and consequently the rain had overflowed the stream and washed the earth so as to expose the toes of his boots and the corner of his coat. Some slabs had been cunningly thrown over him that the newly turned up earth should not be noticed, and when they lifted the slabs, the face was quite naked, the earth had all been washed off it. Ho was then conveyed to Bull’s inn, and an inquest was held on Friday. The body was examined by Hr. Curl, and three balls taken out; lam not certain whether one was taken out of the head, but he had had a blow which fractured the skull, it is thought to have been done with the corner of a spade ; one ball went through his heart and liver, which no doubt caused instantaneous death, another in the the thigh, and lodged in or about the hip. 1 don’t know where the third one was, it was either in the neck or head; the murderers were fully determined to leave him lifeless. They had then tied flax round his legs, evidently to drag him by. The district is in a great state of excitement, and I am afraid will be for some time. The inquest is still going on, it has lasted ever since Friday' morning, and there is every probability of its lasting as long again, for they can’t get any clear proof to convict the boys. They have also taken a white man up on suspicion, but I don’t think he has anything to do with it ; but time will show who it was who committed the dreadful deed. There were about 60 at his funeral; ho was not buried until yesterday as they had to call the military doctor from Wanganui, to examine the bruise on the head ; Dr. Curl first thought it was a ball that had entered , but on probing it he said it was not ■ —then ho had to open the head, but if I remember correctly it was said to a fracture from a spade or some hard substance. They also opened the body and took out the three balls, but I have heard so many statements, I have almost forgotten where they w r ere taken from *** * * ££ e belonged to the Volunteer Cavalry Company, and many of the men shed tears at his funeral—it must have been distressing to see him hacked up and murdered in such a barbarous manner, when on the previous week they were all drilling together, laughing and jesting. Ah! little did any of them think they would see him a corpse so soon, and little do you or I know who may be the next. It cannot bo safe for a man to live alone after this, as many up here are obliged to do, but Rayner, poor man, had sent his wife to town in case of a row, so that he would not be troubled with them ; he thought if ho secured his wife and children he would be all right himself, but it is the impression of many that if his wife had been there it would not have happened, as it is thought to have been doue with his own revolver; and if Mrs. Raynor had been at homo they probably would not have been able to have got the revolver, but as it was they had to break a pane of glass before they could get the window open; it was a French window, so they had not much trouble to get in, all they had to do was just pull tho little bolt, they could enter without any further trouble. Nothingjwas missed from tho house —the revolver was found thrown under his bed. To-day Pnd some others are to go and search the house and look about the place and see if there is anything missing.

The native boy and the half-caste have already contradicted each others statements—and the native boy bad a pair of boots on belonging to Mr. Bayner, but he says Mr. Kayncr gave them to him, a fortnight ago ; and the half-caste boy says, he had not any boots on when he left Mr. Rayner’s, and the boots he could swear to as being Mr. Eayner’s. There is no doubt but what the boys know all about it, if they have not done it themselves, they must know who has. My impression is, that no one knows anything about it but them, and I hope the case never will bo dismissed, until they find out who it was that did the deed. I must now tell how they got the prisoners—the natives gave the native boy up willingly enough, they took him to Bull’B and gave him over to the police. He belonged to the tribe down about Bull’s, but the half-caste belonged to a tribe about 5 miles from our place, so as soon as it became known to our people, that Rayner’s body had been found and tho half-caste away, my cousin and went up to the pa, on some excuse, whan- they, saw him there, they told the half-caste that Lister and his 'brother-in-law wanted to see biot as they were going (o Wellington ; but they could not by any means persuade him to come With them, SO they had to return without him.

Mr. and Mr. came up and stayed with us that night, and it was agreed that Mr. and Mr. should go to the Native Assessors, and talk .to them about it, and know their opinion on tho subject so, they started about half-past six, and when they got there, the natives were all in bed, and were astonished to hear tho news. The boy’s aunt said she would bring him, bo siie at once set off to the pa where the boy was, but when .she got there, tho boy was captured. George , Mr. , and 3 of our men volunteered to go and taka him; so George sat up to be in readiness, and got the pistols and ammunition ready', and at half-past 2 tho moon was up, so ho roused the men, and they went out and caught their horses, had a cup of tea, and off they set. It was then about half-past 3 or 4, so they got up to the pa just about daylight. Two of the men went to the whare, and asked some questions —excuses only ; but the natives dropped down to their moves ; so they had to tell what they wanted. But at this time the boy was not in the whare, he was out catching his horse, and Mr. - happened to see him at a distance, on his horse, and said there goes the boy ; so two more of our men appeared, and they set off after him and seized him, and went to the whare with him, and told the Maoris they were not going to hurt him, that they only wanted him to give his evidence, and say when he saw Mr. Rayner, &c. Some of them were willing, and others were not; however, they at last consented that he should go. They had a capital interpreter with them, or I don’t think the natives would have given him up so easy ; and as it was they had 3 or 4 hours talk before they could get him away. The boy’s grandmother began thrashing him Wright with a great stick, and said he should not go ; but after a little persuasion she also consented that he should go. I can assure you they set off with the intention of bringing him back with them. They said they would either bring him back, or be shot themselves. 1 must conclude as the mailman is waiting. I have not half finished though, but you will, through time, see all particulars in the papers.