THE WOODVILLE MURDER.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XII, Issue 284, 30 November 1877, Page 4

THE WOODVILLE MURDER.

The Wellington Argus has the following with reference to this case, in which the corner's jury have returned a verdict of wilful murder against Harry Thompson, who was a mate of the deceased: — The only information published in reference to this sanguinary occurrence at Woodville, which has caused so much excitement for miles round that locality, has been obtained from the necessarily meagre intelligence forwnrded to the police by tlie district constable at Paluaerstoo. From enquiries made by our reporters at a reliable source, we are with this issue enabled to supply our readers with some interesting particulars regarding the actors in the tragic scene. Id the first place, it appears that George Oliandt is a German by birth, and came from Hamburg in the Filz Router two years ago; Harry Thompson was of German parentage, born in Australia, from which place he went home on a trip to (he land of his father, and returned, eventually finding: uia way to New Sealand. Tlie two men met at the Seventy-Mile Bush, where Oliandt was working on the line. Thompson took to the same occupation, and the two men became " mates." as it is called, and worked together. They saved money, and then entered into business on Iheir own account as boarding - house ikeapers on the main road of the vilJages, and opposite the only publichouse in the place, carrying on, in connection with_ the boarding - house, a •bakery, Thotapspo being a journeyman baker, and his mate attending to the other branch. We have the best -authority for saying that pa^t^era were

on moat amicable terms ; lived like brothers in fact, and had never been known to have any serious differences,, although there was this much dissimilar between them, that, whilst Oilandt was illiterate and not parcularly bright, Thompson was a man of some education and considerable intelligence. It is said, too, that the latter was given to visiting the alebouae rather more than his partner approved of although the matter had never been a cause of aatual quarrel between them. Thompson is a short thicktsefe man, with light hair, and an intelligent face;. Oilandt was of darker complexion, and about the middle height. Of course, the evidence at the trial will show whether there is any justification for the supicions against the accused bat so far as we can. learn, tfaer terms upon which the two men lived in the past wouH eeeun to warrant the opinion that neither woutd be likely to do the other intentional injury, Harry Thompson was arrested by Constable Gillespie. jSearch being made, some towels were > found in the room where Thompson slept which had spots of blood on them ; and a leaf out of a book which was found near the body of the decaeed, corresponded with another leaf apparently out of the same book which was also found in Thompson's room. Oilandt must have been severely handled. There is a large wound on the cheek and left temple, and the left eye is completely knooked out.