SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER, WI TAMARARO.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 198, 9 October 1869, Page 5

SUICIDE OF THE MURDERER, WI TAMARARO.

Yesteeday afternon, one of the prisoners, named Tamararo, who was tried on Monday last, and sentenced to death for murder, committed suicide in the Wellington gaol. Shortly after 12 o’clock his dinner was taken to him by one of the turnkeys, the food having been previously cut up in small pieces, so as not to necessitate the use of a knife, this being done as a precautionary measure. At 1 o’clock the turnkey visited the cell, for the purpose of removing the plate and spoon. On attempting to open the small trap in the cell door, he was unable to do so in consequence of a strap being placed round the iron fastening. The turnkey at once took out his knife and cut the strap, at the same time sending a prisoner, who was with him, for another officer to bring the keys of the cell door. On opening the cell, the deceased was found lying across the doorway. He was immediately brought out of the cell, but life was found

to be extinct. We visited the gaol yesterday, and saw the cell in which the prisoner had been confined. The cell is lolly and well ventilated, and nothing but the exercise of the utmost ingenuity could have suggested such a means of committing suicide. The wood of the trap-door had shrunk, leaving a chink just sufficient to pass the strap through. The prisoner, with the aid of a piece of woi sted taken out of his rug, managed to get the strap round the iron fastening of the trap, and with the aid of the buckle made a running noose. The prisoner must have placed his neck in the noose, which was only about three feet from the floor, and by a most determined effort succeeded in strangling himself. The deceased was about the middle height, and must have been a very strong man, from the immense development of bone and muscle. On his breast were tatooed, in large Roman capitals, the words “Te Awa Mauku.” Ashe lay, he appeared a most diabolical and formidable ruffian. Although he has succeeded by this determined act in preventing the last dread sentence of the law being carried into effect, society is well rid of him. No blame whatever can be attached to the gaol authorities, as no one could possibly have anticipated such a deed. The deceased was one of the worst of the criminals in custody, having been found guilty of murder, and there being no less than three indictments against him. He is known to have committed several other murders. An inquest was held on the body last evening, the particulars of which will he found in. another column. The body was buried last night in the precincts of the gaol.— lndependent.