THE PICNIC TRAGEDY

Hokitika Guardian, 18 February 1924, Page 3

THE PICNIC TRAGEDY

DRIVEN TO J>KKl>. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z* CABLE ASSOCIATION. SYDNEY. Fob. Hi. Raison was arrested at eleven in the forenoon. Prior to the arrival ol the police he said that he was unaware that one ol his victims had died. Batson's capture created intense excitement. Crowds assembled at .1 ingellie to view the prisoner, but no attempt was made to molest him. Batson stated he had been driven to do the deed and that more would he heard of the circumstances. Ho added that he had been hunted oil the hills by the police the night before liis capture and slept on the bank of the river near where lie was arrested. This is the same spot where, earlier in tlie week, he swam the river ami lett the ritle and his clothes. Batson added: —“I only hope, they will give me a fair trial. It they do, I will let them know something. t was driven to do this.” When arrested Batson was hardly able to walk. Ho was bootless and shirtless, with liis hair long and shaggy, and bore the appearance of a harmless and simple creature. Batson was unarmed, hut produced a tin of cyanide and asked the boys to destroy it. They handed it to tlie police, who asked Batson if he was aware that lie had committed murder. He replied: “No, 1 only fired at two. I was driven to it.” He also stated lie had concealed two revolvers, one near Drummond’s and the other near Bartlier’s, but a searel failed to reveal them.