The Murder of Harry Sather-Ley.

Manawatu Herald, 25 September 1897, Page 2

The Murder of Harry SatherLey.

ley. — — »■ ■ . The strange circumstances of the death of Henry Satherley — who disappeared from Blenheim about two months ago, and whose body was found in the Opawa River last Saturday imrning — were made public at the inquest held at Blenheim at the beginning of this week. To the Marl borough papers we are indebted for the particulars. Constable Price, in examining the., body, found that the rightchand trousers pocket and the right hand coat pocket were turned inside out. There was no mark on the clothes, and some loose change, as well as a walch and chain, was found in the pockets. There was a mark on the bend over the right eye. Mm Satherley, wife of the decayed, last saw her husband on the afternoon of the 9th July, and expected him to return between 5 and 6 p.m. for tea. Her husband had uo money that day bo far as she was aware. An expressman named William G imble said that he had seen Sather-lt-y alive shortly after 9 o'clook on iho 10vh— the following day. He saw Satherley distinctly 40 yards away. Daoeased appeared to be •tomiug from his home. Mrs Alfred Rayner, wife of the licensee of the Marlborough Hotel, said that Satherley left with a man named Morgan at 6.45 p.m. on the 9<h July. He had been drinking before he left. He came back at 9 p.m. with Bert Gillett and 11 Scotty " Simpson. Gillett was "alking to Simpson outside the door when Satherley came up. Satherley called for drink 3 ifor all, and as they were having them Christopher Reidy and Victor Ohisson came in ; = O'Sullivan was also there. Ohlsson* who was very much excited, went up to Satherley, who was standing in the bar, and put his hand on deceased's arm and eaid, ll Now, you , I've found you ; I've been looking everywhere.for you." Satherley said, " What do you want me. for ?" and Ohisson said, •' To take you honi-V Deceased said, "I'm quite capable of taking myself home. I don't want you or anyone else to see ma horn >." Oh!d3on then said, •• Well, let us have drinks, and then . we'll go homY or something to that eff ct. Salherley " shouted " for various persons, and changed two £1 notes. He went to a table to count his money, and while doing so dropped a £10 note on the floor, which Simp3on pioked up and returned to him. Ohisson offered to see Satherley home, but deceased said, "I don't want any of them to see me home." Satherley and Ohisson then went out together, and the latter returned in five or seven minutes. When he returned Reidy asked, " Where is Harry ?" Ohlsson replied, " He's at home." Reidy Baid, " He couldn't get home in this short time." Victor said, " He'a on his way home," and added that Satherley would not let him see him home. Satherley was in . the habit of coming in at night and having a game of crib before going home. Ohisson did not frequent the hotel. A. hor^e-trainer named Thomas H, Gillett; said that when Ohisson returned he said he had seen Satherley as far as (Houston's corner, and that Satherley had said he would go home by himself. A cab-driver named Richard (" Scotty ") Simpson said that Satherley went away with Ohl9son at about 9. 80 or 9.45, but was not away more than five minutes. A jockey named Christopher Reidy gave evidence showingthat Ohisson had sought Satherley at three hotels that night;. John Carkeek said that he took part with Ohisson and iwo others in a game of billiards after the latter's return from seeing Satherley home. Ohisson was ultimately carried off to bed, as he wa3 not able to look aftpr himself. Victor Ohisson, billiard-marker, said that he had been told that Satherley was drunk and " slinging " money about. Witness had looked for Satherlay before and had taken bim home. Satherley had previously told witness he expected money from Mr Griffiths, and witness said to him, " You've got the money from Griffiths, don't chuck it away, come away home." Satherley said ha wanted a drink and then be would coino. After he had the drink witness took him by the arm and drew him out, and helped him down the step?. When they came outside deceased seemed to walk all right, and when they got round Clouston's corner deceased told him to go back, a=* he wanted him to go no further. Witness said good night to Satherley and stopped 'to see if he was going homo, and when he saw him going over Lock-up Creek bridge he re-

turned to the Marlborough. Never law him again alive, He did Hot recollect telling anyone that day Batherley bad money. When he left deceased he saw no one about. Win. Bush, compositor, deposed that he left the hotel about 10 minutes after Satherley had gone, and five minutes "after Ohlsson's return. Satherley, when he left, was under the influence of liquor, but could have got home all right. Witness expected to overtake him on the way home. He saw a man going down the road leading to the Neptune's wharf. Witness did not take particular notice of him, and did not know him. He had dark clothes on. It was not Satherley. He reached home as the clock struck 10. It would take six minutes for him to walk home. The man on the wharf road was half way towards the wharf, and was steady in his walk. The medical evidence (that deceased met his death by a heavy blow on the right side of the head, inflicted with a blunt instrument, and that there were no signs of drowning about the body) and the verdict of murder by some person or persons unknown have already been published. A curious fact in connection with the murder is that there is in existence a warrant for the arrest of Satherley. The warrant was issued, and despatched to the various towns in the colony, some weeks ago. It was based on a police information that Satherley had stolen a sum of money from Mr M. Beatty.