THE BRUTAL MURDER IN TARANAKI.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1319, 29 November 1880, Page 2

THE BRUTAL MURDER IN TARANAKI.

® (by telegraph.) Wellington, November 27. Referring to the murder the Taranaki Herald says the spot is about a hundred yards from an uninhabited pah at Te Ngamu, on a road leading to the bay of the same name, into which a stream called the Otahi runs. Te Ngamu is about 47 miles from New Plymouth, and about a mile from Opunake, the Government township. It is a place where the Opunake Flax Company had their works. The land towards the sea is much broken, and thickly covered with flax, small wood, and undergrowth, which reaches to the edge of the stream. The spot is a very lonely one, and where such an atrocious crime could be committed with impunity. Miss Mary Dobie, we learn, was about 26 years of age. She had pleasing features, and was a most intelligent young lady. She excelled as an artist, and several of her sketches have appeared from time tfl time in the Graphic newspaper.

The T- o .ranakiHera.ld'sspecial,telegraj)l?s ith/it a pair, of pants, much torn, and smeared blood were found yesterday, , concealed in a flax bush close by the spot of the murder, also part of an old bridle, iewly broken. So intense is the excitement at Opunako that crowds of people : are seen all day long going to and from the scene of the murder.

News has just been received that the counterpart of the broken bridle has been found this morning.

The Herald says a report reached town this afternoon that a native had been arrested -on suspicion. An order was received from the authorities to send out several KM. indictment forms, and also Mr. Johnston, a Justice of the Peace, from-which we infer that it is probable that one or more of-the persons under arrest will be committed under the Coroner's warrant. We hear that Wiremu Kingi, of Timira, was taken to see the body of the unfortunate young lady, and was asked his opinion as to whether it was the act of a Maori. The old chief shook his head, and replied in the negative, saying that Maoris did not kill in that way. Dr. Gibbs (late of Napier) is the coroner.

A telegram has . been received from Opunake to the effect that a native has been arrested for the Opunake murder, and that it is likely strong evidence will be brought against him. THE INQUEST. Opunake, November 28. The inquest on the body of the murdered Miss Dobie was commenced at sis o'clock on Saturday, and proceeded until midnight, when it' was adjourned until Monday morning. Inspector James and Sergeant-Major Bullen are conducting the case, assisted by Sergeant Cahill and others. The evidence is not favorable to Tuhia, the native arrested, on suspicion. On the day of the murder he was seen riding in the direction Miss Dobie went. A pair of moleskin trousers, saturated with blood, were found within three yards of the body, which were sworn to be similar to what prisoner wears. The trousers he wore when arrested had blood on them, and a human hair, corresponding in color and texture' to that of deceased. Prisoner is supposed to have had two pairs of trousers on—a moleskin outside, which he is supposed to.have thrown away, corresponding with the pair found. When Hone Pihama and his people were passing -the scene of the murder, his daughter exclaimed, " There is a horse, saddle and bridle." Not noticing anything at the time, but subsequently hearing of the murder, Hone Pihama, in company with Mr. Hursthouse and Colonel Roberts, at once proceeded to the spot, and, strange to say, in pointing out where the horse was tied, it turned out to be nearly the exact spot where the body was found. The horse is proved to be black, and similar to the one ridden by prisoner on that day on transit to Opunake. A knife bearing signs of blood was found near the same place with T. H. on the handle, which looks like his.

Another telegram, received by a gentleman in Wellington, says that there is not a tittle of evidence against Stannard, but that the evidence is very strong against the native.

Colonel Reader received the following telegram this morning from Inspector James, who is conducting the case ; " The inquest was adjourned at 12 last night until fi to-morrow morning. Twenty-three witnesses were examined. There is strong circumstantial evidence against the Maori Tuhia." Later. The following is a brief condensation of the evidence taken yesterday at the inquest, 36 witnesses were examined. A large number, including the doctor, have yet to be examined. The inquest began at noon. Major Goring, inspector in charge afc Opunake, deposed i Miss Dobie was a spinster, aged 19. I last saw her on the 25th. Her body was found by a search party at 9.30. The body was lying about a mile and a quarter from Opunake, and was cold. Deceased wore little jewellery, and did not carry much cash, and what she wore was found on the body. Her clothes were much disarranged. (At this stage the prisoners, Stannard and Tuliia (alias Te Kariei, a Maori), were brought in and charged with tlie murder.

Wilson EJursthouse was sworn in as interpreter, The evidence taken was translated and read to both prisoners. Mr. Eyes, foreman of the jury deposed : I saw Miss Dobie buy a pencil and have it sharpened at the store on the 25th, and proceed along theTaranabi road. Saw the Maori prisoner about half an hour later, riding a black horse in the same direction. Observed prisoner had apparently two pairs of trousers—an old ragged mqleskin pair outside. "VYqndered where he was going, riding so fast. I saw him later at

my whare about four and a half miles south, of Opunake. The prisoner appeared frightened.

Thomas Reilly, laborer, deposed : I left my work, about six miles north of Opunake, to come to town to buy provisions, and arrived there about 2.30. Met .Constable M'Grath and prisoner Stannard on the road, about one and a half miles from wljere the body was found. Did not meet a lady on the road, At 4.42, I returned to my place of abode. On my return, I met Stannard leading a horse and riding a bay horse. The led horse was restive.

Constable M'Grath swore that he left Opunake with Stannard, and passed a young lady with two black dogs about 40 yards from the telegraph office. Travelled with Stannard abtfut eight miles, Saw no blood on Stannard at that time. Arrived at Bishop's, Wilora, about 3-30. Constable Wilson deposed : There was a hat underneath the body when found. A pair of trousers were found in a flax bush, about three yards from the body. They were cut and much stained with blood.

The trousers produced were niuqh cut and stained. Constable Townsland deposed : I was present when Hickey found the hat, and when the bridle was found. The bridle was produced in Court. M'Grath had stated that there was no bridle on Stannard's led horse. Constable Handen deposed ; I met Stan? nard oil the gqt-h near Te Hauru, leading one horse and riding another. There was no bridle on the l*d horse. About 5 p.m.I was searching for Miss Dobie, and cooeyed several times. I noticed the dogs. They came from where the body was afterwards found. Constable Taylor deposed: I know Tuhia. I noticed him on the 25th, with two pairs of trousers on. The inside pair were like dark tweed. One pair came down so low that I could not see a eut on his ankle. The prisoner then had a light coat on, not like the present one. Tiihia here said, " Not this ? Is it not the ccat J then wore ? Mr. Byes, re-called, said : I do not recognise the trousers produced as Tuhia's. His were not so much torn then. Constable Shearman said : Tuhia was wearing a pair of very ragged. tweed trousers about 6 a.m. at Opunake on the 25ih. He had only one pair on then. It would not be necessary for him to come along the main road to reach Opunake from Te Ngamu. Prisonfer was then riding a black horse. Caroline Puki deposed : On the 25th I was coming from Parihaka in the afternoon and saw a black horse tied up near Te Ngamu. Saw no one near the horse. The hotel-keeper at Opunake would know the time I arrived. Ido not know the time. The horse produced is- very ouioh like the horse I saw near the sqoro of the murder. At the second bridge from here I did not see him come to the road. \

Honi Pihama deposed : I first heard Tuhia speak behind us on Thursday afternoon when I was driving into Opunake. He asked me on arrival to buy him a pair of trousers. I did not buy him a pair. Cant say whether, when Tuhia first spoke he was on foot or on horseback.

Mr. Middleton, a hotelkeeper at Opunake, believed Tuhia had two pairs of trousers on. I think after dinner he said he wanted to go to Te Ngamn for a horse. Did not see him again until about 4.30. When Honi Pihama arrived, prisoner asked for a flask of brandy, which he took into the stable and broke. He kept on asking me to buy him a pair of moleskins. He also asked me to lend him a bridle, as his was broken. Prisoner appeared quite sober. Prisoner did not ask for trousers before returning with Honi Pihama. Martin Coffey, storekeeper, deposed that he believed the trousers produced (number two) were the pair Tuhia was wearing. Miss Dobie came in and bought a pencil from my shop. Tuhia appeared under the influence of drink. The other evidence given by this witness corroborated what was previously adduced. A. Harvey, servant of the hotel, saw Tuhia about 11 o'clock on Thursday. He was then on foot; saw him frequently up till one p.m., but not later until the evening, when he came to the stable for a bridle. Lent him an old bridle, but none of the broken pieces produced correspond with the one I lent him. He had trousers on similar to (No. 1) the cut ones produced. First noticed his dress at 11 in the morning. Constable Knowles deposed: We brought Tuhia from Puneho on Friday. Did not search the prisoner. We halted three times. The last time prisoner could have got rid of anything. F. Hickey deposed:: lam 11' years old. I found a knife with one blade on or near the place where Constable Knowles said he stopped with the Maori prisoner yesterday, about 17 yards from the exact place. I saw blood on the knife when X picked it up. My father said it was a bloody knife. It has T. H. cut on the handle.

Constable Knowles corroborated. The father of the boy, C. Hickey, gave similar evidence.

Dr. Carey deposed : Received the knife produced, and it has what I take to be blood stains on the blade. I produce it in the state I received it.

The rest of the evidence will be taken fco-morrow morning. The news to-day is to the effect that the prisoner is a tall fine-looking man about 20, and is now downhearted and has been crying. I hear that a out in the collar of the dress worn by Miss Dobie exactly corresponds with the blade of the strong brown-handled knife found and produced to-day. A stained blanket has been picked up in the old whare at Te Ngamu. The doctor's evidence will be taken to-morrow. Blood has been found on the knee and seat of the pair of tweed trousers found on Tuhia when arrested. To-day a careful search of the ground is being made, and a coat has been found which is supposed to belong to Tuhia. There are no particulars about this yet. Stannard accounts for the blood on his coat by his horse having hit him after bursting its nose. The horse's nose was certainly bleeding. Constable Day gave evidence that a large stain had been discovered on the moleskin trousers found, which corresponded with and was such as would be caused by a sore which is still running on Tuhia's ankle.