AN OLD CRIME

Hokitika Guardian, 24 October 1930, Page 3

AN OLD CRIME

LORA GORGE MURDER. DEATH-BED CONFESSION. INVERCARGILL, October 22 A death-bed confession made recently has cleared up the mystery that for nearly forty years has surrounded the Lora Gorge murder, one of the most sensational crimes' in the history i f Southland. For obvious reasons, the name of the man who confessed to the deed just before his death has not been disclosed, but it is sufficient to state that his confession has at last cleared a number of persons on whom suspicion has rested. IN THE HOKONUI HILLS. The scene of the murder was in the midst of the Hokonui Hills, in the centre of the province. 1 hickly bushclad and populated by a hard living and working people, the district < f Hokonui has come to be synononious with the illicit distillation of whisky. Many tales are told of the dangers of investigating this locality too closely, and among the thrilling accounts of adventures in the early days of the district’s population is that of the Lora Gorge murder. Many theories and motives liave been ascribed to the crime,- but it lias long been surmised that the older residents of the district knew more about the murder than they admitted dijring the period of investigations or since. The mystery has now been cleared up, but as the name of the murderer remains undisclosed, conjecture will still continue. It is evident, however, that the theories of the, wiseacres have led entirely in the wrong direction, as the ‘confession has removed the finger oi suspicion from several people who have borne its stigma through the years. The murder stirred the whole countryside at tlie time, and a good deaT of criticism was passed concerning the failure of the police to apprehend dm author of one of the most cold-bloodod crimes of the time. Although an arrest was made, the Crown did not proceed with the prosecution, and the case was allowed to fade into obscurity, a procedure which did not by any means meet with public approval. STORY OF THE TRAGEDY. Richard Bell, a farmer, residing at Lora Gorge, was deliberately shot late at night on July 25th, 1892. He was returning to his home on horseback from : a fanner’s meeting, and was stooping to unfasten a gate on his property when the shot was fired by a man who had been waiting behind a tussock bush nearly. Terribly wounded about Tlie head, Bell managed to crawl home, and was conscious until his death in the early'‘hours of the following morning. AVhen he was dying, he stated he had been slot by John Mcßae, a neighbouring farmer, and on the murdered man’s deposition Alcßae was later arrested and charged with the crime. Having fired the fatal shot,, the murderer stuck the barrel of the shotgun from which tl7e shot was fired into the ground and left it oil the spot as evidence. DISPUTE BETWEEN NEIGHBOURS. At the inquest, a neighbour told of a dispute that had arisen between Bell and Alcßae, as a result of some of Bell’s stpek breaking through into AlcRae’s property and destroying the latter’s oat stack. Arbitrators had been appointed to settle the argument, but had failed to award Alcßae the satisfaction he demanded.

It reads like a passage from fiction that the murderer gave evidence at the inquest, and in subtle fashion attributed the crime to Alcßae. An open verdict was returned, and later the case against Alcßae was heard in tlie Lower Court. Alcßae stoutly denied guilt, but admitted he know the person he believed was responsible for the murder, declaring that lie would not disclose it, except as a last resort.’ The evidence against Alcßae was slender and purely circumstantial, but he was committed for trial. AVhen the Supreme Court session commenced it' was intimated tliat the Crown; was not at that stage prepared to enter a bill, and as the position remained the same three) months later tlie charge was withdrawn. CLEARED OF SUSPICION. The mystery remained unsolved and unsatisfactory until the recent deathbed confession, and although the murderer was not brought to hook for his crime, it is some satisfaction to know that at last Alcßae and his family have been - cleared of suspicion. A reward of £250 was offered for the apprehension of the murderer, hut there were no claimants within the period of two months for which it was available, and the offer lapsed.