THE OPOTIKI MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1921, Page 4

THE OPOTIKI MURDER

MAOUI INTKKI’I!KTIiU'S STOIiV. I-TRTHKH DiTAU.S Of Mi'll !>KK. OI’OTIKI, Nov. 11 I'Til'tliei' details rceardinn tin- murder of the Assyrian hawker, wlioso lull name was Paul Zamhuka, were supplied to a "(luardiun” leproson tukive to-day by M r Shalloon. -Mi Slml- ' toon stated that ho neeotnpauied ('onstable Iliakoly to lbe scene ol' the . tragedy on Wednesday last, they wen met at the Motu riverbed with th. ! news that .Maoris who bad been search inn for the body of Zamhuka had lo ' cited it behind piles ol diiltwood t ' about thirty feel from the track acros 1 the rivet. The wood that had beci I leaped on the body was at once to I moved, and i even led the murderei

man. fine downwards. Turning the body over, it was found that he had I,cell shot full ill the face. Ids pockets had all been rifled; they were inside out. The only possessions Icll we re a wristlet watch and a tobaccopouch in ihe breast pocket ol the coat. In conversation with a native interpreter, All Shalloon lea i lied that th" former had been conversing with ZnuiImka not more than a chain distant from the spot w here the ei uuc " committed. The Motu livei is a series of nlioul six streams, with gravel beds hetwcei them. (In one ol these grave! beds . pool ol blood was loilltd. A curious fen til i c is that the • 1 ' 1I '' pi,.ter did not hear any shot tired. II" obvious explanation appears to he the the murdered man was detained I" sonic lime he Io i c the attack wn made. The I nut v was htollght to tlpolik vesterdny. A post-mortem examine tlou revealed seveilli'cli No. o shots ol the liraill. An iii* j i it's t will he opened thi afternoon. It will probably lie ail join lied niter idealilicalion. Mr Shal i'ooii has already idcntilnd the body a that of Paul Zanihuka. It is midci stood deceased leaves a wife and tw children, who reside in Auckland.

AFt K I.A ND, Nov. 13 The murdered man, Paul Ziiiiihiilm. who was a native of Syiia, wa-. I! 'cars of age. lie ciiluc lo Auckland eight or nine years ago. and had cnilied Ins living ns an "iliiU'iniit diaper.’’ lie resided with his wife and child and his mother, who is nearly fill years ol age. In Auckland. Mis Zniqjiukn only joined her husband lieic about ten weeks ago. I (firing been in Syria since his depnrlin . Do eased i allied on his business

in North Auckland district for some years, and tlie ill-fated trip on which lie met his death was only hi:, lolirth ill

the Opotiki district. Ii wa- to have been his lasi a- a hawker, as lie had intended in -rillo in Auckland and go into business lieic. II" was highly

ic.pelt'd lii all who came m contact with him, amt was noted for his business integrity. He was very popular with his compatriots, and had the reputation of never having had a quarrel with anyone. His body was brought from Opotiki to Auckland, and the funeral took place to-day.