MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE AND SUPPOSED FOUL PLAY.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 81, 20 July 1878, Page 2

MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE AND SUPPOSED FOUL PLAY.

•> , <> _ . -. -.- In" a previous issue we alluded to the Woodville Tragedy, and stated that we had some facts m our possession which might form another link m the chain of circumstances connected with that dark story, and perhaps lead to the discovery that Greorge Ollandt was not the only victim of the assassin, 'while it might likewise furnish a clue to the motive for the murder. In the middle of June 1877, an Irishman, named Peter Kane, left Sanson for the East Coast, intending to work at whatever he could get until Christmas, whep he would return, but also stating that m the meantime if he met with a piece of land to suit him, ah a low figure, he would become a purchaser. He had . been a most careful, sober, industrious man, always storing up his : earnings m order to have, as he used to say, "a bit of land of his own ;" and to such an extent did he carry .his precaution, or fear of losing his hoard, that he always carried it on his person, even w.hen at work or on a journey. As employment was not always regular about Sandon, he occasionally went m search of it elsewhere, but although he never parted with possession of his treasure, no matter how far or how long he might be away, he never once neglected to write at regular intervals to his wife, or fail to send her money for the support of the family. As we have stated, he last left home m June, on which occasion he had something over £90 m his possession, and from that time until the time of his disappearance— almost six moriths^he had frequently corresponded with the family and remitted means for its support, and from some of his letters it was gleaned that his savings had been considerably, supplemented by his earnings during his absence, and amounted to close upon £150. The last letter received was m November, m which he expressed his determination of being home by Christmas, intending to set out soon after on his journey. As Christmas .came and passed without his arrival, and ho letters were received to account for the absence, his wife naturally became anxious -as to his safety, and wrote to the station from whence the letter had been dated, without receiving a reply. She next sent an advertisement—accompanied with the money for payment—.; to a newspaper m Ahuriri, but as she never received a copy of the journal, is unable to say whether it was inserted or not. Week followed week, and month succeeded month without bringing tidings to end the horrible suspense. 'Hoping against hope, and almost a prey to despair, to add to her misery want and privation stepped m, and told too plainly the loss of the bzvad-winner. One by one she parted with the various articles of stock to stave off the most pressing calls, determined not- to break up up the little home, poor as it was, m case he should return ; and with an aching heart stoutly battling against the dread reality which, as i time rolled on. forced itself upon her, that that dear and long-expected one would never more return. When the. unfortunate woman had been reduced to almost the verge of starvation, Mr Tomlinson, of Sanson, came to hear of the case, and like a good Samaritan, took it m hand. He visited the unfortunate woman, and found her and three children sleeping upon the bare boards, without a rag to cover them or a morsel to eat. With the aid of Mr Sanson, and some others , of the good people of Sandon, he not only procured the actual necessaries m which the family stood, m need of, but beside finding employment which Mrs Kane could undertake without being separated from her children, arrangements were made for allowing her to live rent free. Advertisements were inserted m the Hawke's Ray papers, minute' description's of the missing man sent to the various police stations, and every possible stop taken to clear up the mystery, but without effect. Although the police were not successful m finding Knue, they were not, however, idle. They traced him to all the places where he had been working, and then to Poverty Bay, wlierc he had

goue |to soj a piece or. land vvinoli lie thought would suit him. It would appear, 'however, that ho did not make the purchase, for he "was traced on his return \journey (o Sandon, somewhere about tlie middle oE November, when he had reached the Forty-mile Bush r from whence ho lias been losfc sight of, and his movements are a blank. Thewhole antecedents and character of theman go to upset the supposition that he is alive, as he was a most devoted father . and husband, 1 and though- frequently,,^ away before, never neglected writing/ at short intervals. It is more than likely that, did he pass through Woodville, and make a stay there for the night, he would have put up at OUandt's . Accommodation House m preference to the hotel, on account of its cheapness,. • and as his disappearance from that district will just about tally with the Woi>dville Tragedy, it;is thought by some the* two are connected. One \ thing which struck most people on. reading theevidenee elicited at the inquest on the murdered man was the absence of all motive, but the friends of Kane would account for that by supposing; that he was put away for the sake of *the inoripy m his possession, and that' his murderers quarrelled over the spoil, and one of them became a victim to the other's cupidity. Ollandt, of course, , being well known, and owning property - m the town, could' hot be secretly. dis-= posed of, but Kane "being merelya bird of passage could easily be taken intothe bush on pretence of being shown: some land, there disposed of, and put out of sight for ever. In order to aid the recollection of any of the residents of Wobdville who may have- met the missing man, we may state that he was . about thirty-five years of age ; of a . dark complexion, with a? deep scar on lus left brow ; black beard and hair, . of slender build, while his height was about five feet seven inches.. Being so • near home as when last heard of, with a straight metalled road, all' the way, it is impossible to account for his disappearance, and for that reason the - supposition of his being lost m the bush/ is out of the question. We certainly - think the case is one which callsfdr the,:- • strictest investigation, so that the fateof the poor fellow may be: cleared up,, and the state of horrible suspense in< which his unfortunate wife has been, kept m for months brought to an end ; ■ and we wpuld ask" not only the people • of Wopdvitle, but o? thj other districts^ he may have visited,-to take all possible • steps Lo throw" light upon what at present appears to-be a dark : and pain-> ful mystery. "