THE MAKARAKA TRAGEDY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4656, 1 February 1924, Page 2

THE MAKARAKA TRAGEDY

A MAN ARRESTED. ALLEGED FULL CONFESSION. GISBORNE. January 31. The police last night left for Matawan 47 miles from Gisborne, and Inspector Hutton and Detective McLeod arrested a man named Robert Herbert Scott, aged 33 years, on a farm between Matawai and Motu. Scott was charged with the murder of Gwendoline Murray at Makaraka. Scott is the man for whom the police have been searching since Tuesday, who called early on Sunday morning at a Makaraka. resident’s house, gruffly demanded food, and whose movements have since been erratic. He stated on Sunday that he had come from Hicks' Bay Freezing works and wa,s making for Waipaoa Freezing Works, but he appears to have hung about the vicinity of the cemetery till the night of the crime and subsequently took to the hills. The police arrested yesterday a Maori answering to a similar description. on a charge of vagrancy, but satisfied themselves, that he was not the man wanted. Scott told the police that for the more serious charge he had decided to surrender, because he know he was being hunted, and could not possibly get away. He felt exhausted. Scott is a man of thin build, but wiry, sft 7in in height. He gave t.is age as 33 years. Inspector Hutton and Detective McLeod reached town with their prisoner at 1.30 a.m., having obtained a full confession. . “HUNTED FROM TILLAR 1 O POST.” COINCIDENCE DURING HUNT. Inspector Hutton states that when Scott was apprehended at Matawai he was in a bad way, being completely exhausted from constant travelling and little food, and apparently under great mental strain. He said that he was beside himself, being tired out, and had been hunted from pillar to post, and threw in the towel. He intimated that he wished to give himseif up to the police, and made an admission both in respect of the outrage and the murder. A statement to effect was taken in writing, and is in the possession of the inspector. Accused is under stood to be a Canterbury man. His parents are both dead. He had been at Hicks’ Bay working, but things were slack there. He endeavoured to get work on the Port Elloit, but was unsuccessful, and then came down the coast looking for work and reached Gisborne on Sunday and had little or no money.

A singular coincidence -in connection with the police investigation was that there were two men reving the country, both of them of unkempt appearance, erratic movements, and both wearing white shoes, who crossed and recrossed each other’s_tracksTne police arrested one of thesis’ on a charge of vagrancy, but soon satisfied themselves that he was not the man wanted. THE NEAREST POLICE STATION. INQUIRED FOR BY SCOTT. It is reported from Matawai th.it Scott appeared in that township between 4 and 5 p.m. on Wednesday and asked his way, to the nearest police station. As 5.45 a.m. he arrived at a .settlers station miles on the Motu side of Matawai, and asked what he should do to get in touch with the police station. He refused to leave, and said he wished to give himseif up The settler communicated with Matawai and information was sent thence to the police. ACCUSED BEFORE THE COURT. GISBORNE, January 31. Robert Herbert Scott was charged at the Magistrate’s Court this morning with that he did murder Gwendoline Kathleen Murray. Inspector Hutton applied for a remand till February 8, in order that further inquiries could be made. Accused was accordingly remanded.