PUKEKAWA MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1920, Page 4

PUKEKAWA MURDER

AN ARREST EFFECTED. (run I'HESS ASSOCIATION. —-COPYRIGHT, 1 AUCKLAND, Sept. 11. The arrest was effected on Saturday afternoon at Tuakau of a larm labourer named Samuel John Thorn, on a charge of murdering Sydney Seymour Eyre at Pukckawa on the night of August 24th. Thorn was conveyed to Auckland in custody on Saturday evening, and will lie brought up at the police court topiorrow morning. The arrested mail is 33 years of age. He is married, but has for some time been living apart from his wifo and family of six children. While Eyre was on active service lor over two years. Thorn managed the farm for Mrs Eyre. In July, Eyre, having returned, Thorn went to work at G lon in urray, 18 miles from Eyre’s homestead, lie had been working there for about six weeks when the murder was committed, and during that period paid three visits to Eyre s house. A double-barrelled shot guiT and some ammunition were found in Thorn’s wlrare and these have been submitted to an expert, whose report is in the hands of the police. It is understood that the authorities‘are satisfied, that only one shot was fired and that a special kind of cartridge was used. Some pclletts found in tlie murdered man’s room are in the- possession of the police. It is understood that the police investigations have established three points, vi '• (1) that the murder was not committed for robbery, (2) that the perpetrator must have been acquainted , with tlie house and its surroundings, (3) that the shot was fired from outside the house.