TERRIBLE MURDER NEAR GRAHAMSTOWN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 39, 15 February 1881, Page 2

TERRIBLE MURDER NEAR GRAHAMSTOWN.

GttAllAMstoivx, Tuesday. The body ot a man murdered at Te Oroha was found by (he side of a road leading to Paeora. Tho hesd was severul almost froni the body by a. fearful push and gaping wou 1 d. It was a terrible spectacles the skull was almost ba'tered In and there were several drsep cuts on the face mid neck apparently inflicted by some jugged insirumuit. The. murdered man was named Ilinieona (Simon) and was a member of the Ngatukoe tribe. Some doubts exist as lo how the fractures on tho skull urb caused, some alleging they werekjfUoled by a conical stone found close to the deceased covered with gore, and others that the wot\nda were caused by a tomahawk. Thorn the fact of the fern in the locality being trampled it would seem that a struggle took place, and the murdered man, who was probably unarmed, fought hard for his life, Hiniecna's coat ami hat were found in the middle of the road, also an amber mouthpiece with a silver ferrule attached and a wbitb handkerchief spotted with blood. The pockets of the trousers of the deceased were turned inside out as if the motive of the murder was robber} 7 . At the tout of a man named Procclly, a native of Finland, were found some newly washed clothes st ill wet with stains on them believed to be blood. Procoffy had been quarrelling with the murdered man on the previous night, hence suspicion falls upon him. On being charged with the murder the accused replied " I don't know anything about ir, I did not do it." lie appeared much excited on being asked questions, but ar.swered without hesitation. The accused is a man of small pioportions and from appearance not likely to commit crimo. He had been working in the Sunbeam claim. The natives are greatly incensed* On Saturday afternoon »in inquest was held at Tc Aroha before T. Kenrick, esq., R.M., and the evidence showed that deceased and prisoner were not on friendly terms and had quarrelled on the day of the murder. The wet clothes found in the prisoner's whare on which stains of blood were supposed to exist were produced. The medical tostimoay showed that the wound was made by a sharp instrument which had been dragged backwards and forwards across the throat of the deceased ; some bruises were also found on the prisoner's body. The medical mon could not say if the ritiiins on the clothes were blood, until the spots were subjected to microscopical observation. After half an hour's deliberation the jury returned a verdict "That the deceased, Hii:ieona Haora had been found foully murdered by some person or persons unknown." There is a feeling here thaL the inquiry was brought to a termination too abruptly. The prisoner was bioughtup bef( re Mr Kenrick at Te Aroha on Saturday night charged with wilful murder, and was rc-mauded to Gnihamstown for eight days. The police state they have evidence of the tracing of the mouth piece of a pipe found near the body of the native murdered to the possession of I he piisoner Procoffy. Mrs Hampson, revivalist, bad 327 persons who went forward hist night testifying their conversion.