THE MYSTERY SOLVED.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XI, Issue 1600, 5 January 1886, Page 4

THE MYSTERY SOLVED.

THE ELDER HOWARD ARRESTED AT WELLINGTON.

(united press association..) Wellington, Monday The mysterious hand affair, which has caused some little sensation at Christchurch, has been solved by the arrest at Petone, a suburb of Wellington, of Howard, who was supposed to have been drowned near Sumnex. It appears that the large reward offered had put the police here on the gui vive, and this afternoon Constable Hartnett, who is stationed at the Hutt, made inquiries respecting a man named Watts who had been working at Petone. Following up the inquiries, Hartnett became assured that he had bagged his bird, and about four o'clock he arrested John Watson as , being the" man Howard, from Christ-,, church. The indentity was not denied. Watson, or rather Ho ward, had been work ing for one day at the Woollen Factory at Petone,' and had to knock off m consequence of an injured arm. He had been living m private lodgings. Tomorrow he will appear before the magistrate. From Hartnett's account it appears that on lSjew.Yearls Day Watson (Howard) was* : at *the Young Men*. Christian Association picnic, and Hartnett from that time was on the trail. ■ Gradually he connected the Jinks, and filially he found a storekeeper at Petone who remembered a customer somewhat resembling a foreigner and -minus the thumb on the right hand. This exactly tallied with the description of Howard, and waiting his chance the constable arrested the accusiea, who had his hands m his. pockets. On being asked to take them but he willingly complied, and Harfnett arrested ; hhri. Howard was wearing a wig and his moustache was dyed. . ' ■ . . Later.

At the KM. Court to-day, Howard, the principal m the mysterious severed hand affair at Christchurch, was charged with intent to defraud the Government Life Association, and remanded to Christchurch