OPOTIKI MURDER

Hokitika Guardian, 18 November 1921, Page 1

OPOTIKI MURDER

a. 1 1 i.i:.:a.il'!l - . F.II I'IIKSS association] OPOTIKI. Nov. 17. 11l eoiint'i't ion with the Opotiki tr.ioedv the r.:--1 ste . taken by the pobee n-'is 1o try ami tiud out "hat persons pa-setl through the district about the lime of the . rime. To this end Inspeetor llutlm, procured the assistance ot Constable Neale, of Uoloma. and Detective O’Hricn. of Auckland. and w b I'eteelive Mcl.eod and (onstable DlahOf Opotiki. "ho were already on the snot searched the whole of the cmi.nnvide Thov succeeded in locating ill tlJe Maranui ,I'a all of the natives on Ui«* <l;iU‘ of tin* commission of tlu 1 inur-

<ll y,s.m further investigations they funned the opinion that the rosponsihilitv of the murder rested between some three or four of the natives, and linallv this number was narrowed clown. There was not siiflieient evi.t.'iieo to satisfy the mind ot the inspector on the point of arrest, however, though "hat evidence there was pointed in one direction, and one direction only. . (In Sunday the police party seaa-hec the but or the suspects and found and seized shot guns and ammunition, togeiher with a .pianlitv of clothing. In onbu to oet ally evidence that these lit :,||crd. till' guns and clothes were (lesiiatehed ill the can 1 of Detective O’Brien to Auckland for examination. This morning word was received of fresh evidence brought to light hv the

exa.iuinat inn. and the suspected mtivos trvo lirotliers named Topi were arrested at Mr Snxh.v’s station where tliev wore shearing. The arrest was made hv Detective MVT.ood and Con-st-bles Blakely and Neale. The Tovis are voting men. whose l, ( „ne is at Mnrfinui Ba. One, at least, of them is n returned soldier. Inspector TTnltnn savs that Ihev hear tl.emsePes hoi ill v Hinder the charge which