GISBORNE TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 January 1924, Page 3

GISBORNE TRAGEDY.

MURDERER ARRESTED.

FULL CONFESSION .MADE. [by TELEGRAPH —rEK PRESS ASSOCIATION.] GISBORNE, Jan. 31. The arrested man, Robert Herbert Scott, is the nina for whom the police have been searching since Sunday, lie called early oil Sunday morning at Makaraka hoarding house and gruffly demanded food. His movements since have been erratic. He stated on Sunday lie came from Hick’s Bay freezing works ami was making for Uaipaoa works, but be ajtpears to have hung about the vicinity nf the cemetery until the night of the crime and subsequently took to the lulls.

The police arrested yesterday a Mauri of a similar description on a charge of vagrancy but satisfied themselves he was not the man they wanted.

S'nit told the police he had decided ti surrender, because be knew he could not P,e il.ly get awav. and fell exhausted.

The murderer is siimly built but wiry, lie gave his. age ns MM years.

Inspector Hutton and Detective Mel.coil reached town with their quarry at, 1.30 a.in., having obtained a full confession from the prisoner.

BEFORE THE COURT. OTSRORXE, Jan. Ml Heolt was charged at the Magistrate's Court this morning with the murder of Gwendoline Kathleen Murray Inspector lfutton applied for a remand till February Htli in order that further enquiries could be made. Accused was accordingly remanded.

INSPECTOR’S ST AT EM ENT. GISBORNE. January Ml

Inspector Hutton states Hint, when Scott was apprehended at Matawai lie was in it bad way. and completely exhausted owing to constant travelling, ami little food, and apparently was under a great mental strain. Scott said lie was beside himself and tired out He laid been limited, from pillar to post and be threw in the towel. He intimated that lie wished to give himself up to the police, and made admissions with respect to both the outrage ai.d murder. A statement to this effect was taken in wiiting. and is now

in tile Inspector's possession. Accused is understood to be a Canterbury man. His parents are both (tend. Scott came (Tliwp the Coast, searching for work, and reached Gisliorne on Sunday. He had little, or no money. A coincidence oi the police investigation was that there were two men roving the country, both of unkept appearance and erratic movements, both wearing white shoes, who crossed and recrossed each others tracks. Ibe police arrested one of these on a charge of vagrancy, but soon satisfied themselves he was not the man they wanted.