A TRAPPER’S FATE

Hokitika Guardian, 16 April 1920, Page 3

A TRAPPER’S FATE

TRAGEDY OF AUSTRALIAN BUSH, j A message was received, at Sydney , police headquarters recently from the ' Bathurst police to the effect that the body of William D. Jones, aged 60, a | rabbit-trapper, was discovered under a log about three-quarters of a mile from his camp at Barry, nearßlayney. Jones had been missing for a fortnight. De-tective-Sergeant Robson, of the -C.I. branch, left Sydney for Bathurst, and yesterday detained a man on suspicion. : It is believed Jones was murdered about March Bth or 9th. On examination of the body a 'hole was observed in the back of the skull and a corresponding hole in the forehead. An empty shell from a Winchester rifle was found near by, and there wove traces of tho body bp ing dragged 50 yards tp a log. | Tho right hand trousers pocket, where it has been ascertained Jones kept his money, had been torn out. It now seems that over a week ago the old man was setting a trap at a burrow about a mile away from bis hut, and in an area known as Morrison’s j paddock, where ho was fired on fropi | behind, the bullet entering the skull and passing through to the front of the head. The murderer then apparently hid the deceased's hat in the burrpw •and dragged the body about 50 yards . through a patch of bracken fern, and hid it under a log. Here it was found by a large search party recently after a j d‘ of r had located the hat in the burrow. An examination of the hut showed that the place had been ransacked of everything of the least value. The deceased's horse and sulky, however, were still there. Tho only motive attached to the murder is robbery. Jones was understood to have a fair sum of money in his possession, and a few weeks ago it is reported lie was seen with £25 m Barry.