THE CANTERBURY MURDER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume II, Issue 57, 9 March 1867, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY MURDER.

AEEEST OF FIFTEEN CHINAMEN.

The Oamaru Times of the 2nd instant, says that on the previous day fifteen Chinese, whose names are as follows: — Ah Wah, Ah Hoo, Ah YieQ, Ah Chin, Ah Yik, Ah Yoo, Ah See, Ah Shoug, Ah Yuh, Ah Shee, Ah Fung, Ah Giug, Ah Wiug, Ah Eing, aud George Tenyue, were brought up by Mr. Inspector Sincock, charged on suspicion of murdering an Englishmen named "Jim," in the Canterbury Province.

luspector Sincock said that from information he had received from the Canterbury police, the prisoners had been tracked aud captured, on suspicion of having murdered a man named Jim, at a place 25 miles from Bealey, aud 65 miles from Christchurch. Jim had been in their company on the way from the West Coast, aud he hud been found murdered near a hut at which the prisoners had stopped, and where certain Chinese articles had been found. The prosecutor said he would ask for a remand for seven days ; meanwhile he would hand to the bench the telegrams on which the police had acted. He called

John Ciissels, Serjeant of police, stationed at Cromwell, who, being swore, deposed that he, accompanied by Mr. Reginald Julius, arrested seven of the prisoners, Ah Chin, Ah Yik, Ah Yoo, Ah See, Ah Shong, Ah Yah, and Ah Shep, at Carter's Flat, between Messrs. Julius' and Sir H. Young's stations, on the 23rd instant; the other three. Ah Wah, Ah Hoo, and Ah Yien, he had arrested at Messrs. Julius' station. The charge on which he had arrested them was that of murdering a man, named Jim, in the Canterbury province.

Detective John Golder, stationed at Dunedin, deposed to having arrested five of the prisouers at M'Kinuon's Station, on. Mr. M'Lean's Run. 15 miles from Cromwell, on the 23rd February. Finding that one of them, George Tenyue, spoke English freely, witness explained to him the charge preferred, being suspected of the Murder of "Jim " in the Province of Canterbury, on the 6th instant. He cautioned Tenyue in the usual manner, and he replied that he understood the caution, but enquired for Jim. Asked him again if he understood the caution, and repeated the charge. Tenyue then stated that Jim, in company with two other men, over took the party of Chinese about 16 miles from Hokitika, ou the road to Otago. Teuyue having known Jim at Hokitika, Jim joined the party of 15 Chinese ; but the other two men, having got employment at a hotel near by, did not accompany them further. Tenyue said lie believed that one of the men who accompained Jim was a carpenter. They travelled in company with him some days, when Jim, being foot sore and knocked up, left them at a public house, about six miles from where the line of telegraph posts branches off from the Cbristchurch Road. Tenyue, the day after he made this statement, said that only one man came with Jim.

It was considered unnecessary to take further evidence at pressent, the relation of the prisoners to the murdered maa being sufficiently shown to warrant a remand untill the Canterbury police could be communicated with.

The prisoners were remanded for seven days.