The Satherley Sensation.

Manawatu Herald, 28 September 1897, Page 2

The Satherley Sensation.

9 Inspector Pender left for Blen heim last night to personally direct the investigation into the Satherlev rnyetery, so as to endeavour to follow out the jury's verdict of wilful mur der, and bring the crime home to the guilty person. In this work the In spector has his bands strengthened by the Government's offer of a re ward of £500 for information which shall lead to the apprehension and conviction of the murderer. A plan of the locality of Satherley's wanderings on the night he was last seen by his friends— compiled from evidence adduced at the inquest, and taking in the river from its source to outfall — ha 9 been prepared with much care, and an examination of it must give ample scope to the police for theory -building. The plan bears prominent marks upon various spots deserving close attention according to evidence. The river take? a winding course, and nearly halfway between the place where some money and a stick of tobacco were found and the distant railway bridge is the spot where the body was found, caught in a snag. Now, was the body thrown into the water from the town paddock (supposing the case murder) and carried by the tide, which rises and falls considerably in Blenheim, along its unusually winding course ? Did the murderer or murderers carry the corpse that distance away and drop it in the water where it was found ? or (nupposing the case one of suicide) did Sather ley wander out of his way, in an opposite direotion from his home, and fall into the water whilst crossing the railway bridge ? Or, yet again— for mystery ever deepens when theorising— supposing it a case of disappearance, did Satherley, whilst leaving Blenheim, accidentally fall into the river from the bridge ? These are some of the knotty points which the police have to unravel during the enquiry now taking plaoe. Detective Cox, who has spent some time incognito in Blenheim over the case, was present at the inquest in his " unknown " personality. . The Nelson Mail of Tuesday last contains a paragraph which still further extends enquiry. Says our contemporary : — "ln connection with the mysterious disappearance of the man Batberley at Blenheim, and the reoent recovery of his body, many rumours are afloat. It is gathered from police enquiries that some 18 days before Satherley's disappearance two prisoners were discharged at Wellington and returned to Blenheim, whence they had been sentenced. One of these was a ' short thick man,' in this respect answering to the description of one of the two men laid to have been seen by a woman at Blenheim putting the body of a man into a boat, Sergeant M'Ardle called the attention of the Blenheim police to this matter some time ago, and certain enquiries were made, and now that Satherley has bpen fouud no doubt the enquiries indicated will be prosecuted with reaewed vigour. It was further stated that Satherley was an important witness against the ' short thick man ' when v he got six years' bard 'abour for larceny in Blenheim." When Satherley wa3 reported to hive "disappeared" a public subscription was opened in Blenheim on behalf of his family, but whon rumours got about that hfe had been Beep in various places, the fountains

of relief ceased to flow. We notice by the local paper* that the. list has again been opened and further Subscriptions are coming in. There is also talk of a popular concert being given to aid the fund.— iW.