BRUTAL MURDER.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1924, Page 2

BRUTAL MURDER.

YOI’XU Gil!I. KILLED. [in’ TELEGRAPH —PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBUitXE, Jan. !><.). A lirutal primo was reported to tho police here ibis morning. A girl, named Murray, 11 years of age had paivntly been outraged and murdered. The girl was sent, last night to collect a. mail at Makaraka. She called at a grocery store, and left for home, about eight o’clock, this being the last occasion on which she was seen alive. The girl did not arrive home. Tho sexton of the Makaraka Cemetery discovered the child’s body under some trees in the vicinity of the cemetery, she having to all appearances been brntallv done to death.

The police were communicated with and, proceeding to the scone of tho crime, . they found the body ns described. ~N

SCKNE OF CRIME. GISBORNE, Jan. 2‘L^The scene of the murder is three chains off the main road, three miles from Gisborne. The nearest house is about two chains away. The occupants of this house heard a girl's scream during the evening. The night was very dark. The body was found under a Wellington ia tree. There was a basket of groceries near-hy. Tho girl’s clothing was much torn about. The obdy was discovered by a hoy, looking for eggs. The girl’s family thought the girl was staying with friends, as was sometimes customary. Inspector Hutton states the police will have a difficult task, as no clue so far is available as to the girl’s movements after eight o’clock. The victim’s name was Gwendoline Kathleen Murray.

STORY OF THE TRAGEDY 'GISBORNE, Jan.

Further particulars of the Makaraka murder show that the crime was apparently committed soon after eight o’clock in the evening. The girl, Gwen Murray, who was only eleven years of age on her last- birthday, left for her mother’s home, about a mile and a-half away, at half past- five, to go to the Post Office and store. She received groceries and letters from the store and left shortly before eight o’clock, with ten shillings change. Before leaving, the girl, according to her mother’s statement, was told to go to Mrs Green’s where the girl’s mother hoards. If Airs Green wasn’t home, the girl was to go to the bakehouse, see he" brother, and tell him to take* her home. The girl failed to do this. Mrs iOreen didn’t got home till (5.30, and she saw no sign of the girl Aiur-

Tho store-keeper, Mrs Dixon, states that she asked the girl if her mother knew that- she was out so late, but tho girl said that her mother was aware of the fact, and she was alright. Airs Dixon says the girl appeared to her just- ns usual. The next link is the story of Mrs Fleming, tho wife of the Sexton of ALik-arnlca Cemetery. While she and her husband were sitting inside the house, between seven and eight- o’clock she thinks that was ah >r.t the time they heard one loud scream, which seemed to come from the direction ot the road. Air Fleming went to the door to listen, hut he could heaMiothing. It was quite dark at the time Hearing nothing further, they though the scream came from girls who were out joy-riding, and they went inside

a "am. , .. This morning about 10.30 a lad named James Smellie, gathering eggs, sum the girl's body under a tree s,xu_ Yards from the mam road, and -<- yards from the Sexton’s hack gate. The Sexton went to the spot and found the girl's body. 'the clothing was disarranged and torn, and nunk». of violence were plainly visi do 0 her throat and body. . ,A*The police were informed. McLeod and Plain Clothes Constable Thompson went- nut. Searching the body they found ten shillings had been stolen. , The police have a difficult task, as the vicinity is all grass. No footprints are available. Up till a late hour to-night, no arrest was made. The victim was an attractive looicjrjrl. and was popular with her fellow scholars at Tehapara School. *2hc was fairlv well built for her age, and might easily he mistaken for being a year or so oldei.