Outrage and Murder at Opunaki.

Patea Mail, 27 November 1880, Page 2

Outrage and Murder at Opunaki.

A shocking tragedy is reported from Opunaki. A young lady has been found murdered, apparently by some white man, as the result of a criminal outrage. The first information received in Patea yesterday was a telegram from Major Goring, in command ot the Armed Constabulary camp, informing Mr Wray, Resident Magistrate, that Miss Dobie had been found on Thursday, one and a half miles from Opunaki, with her throat cut from car to ear. A man, name not stated, had been taken into custody on suspicion.

Mr W ray started for Opunaki yesterday morning, within an hour of receiving the telegram, to hold a coroner’s inquest on the body. Col. Roberts, in command of the A.C.’s, and Dr Carey, were at Opunaki yesterday to assist in the inquiry.

Miss Dobie was quite a young lady, sister to Major Goring’s wife. The Major had married recently, at Auckland, a daughter of General Dobie, formerly in the East India service; and the sister had accompanied Mrs Goring to Opunaki, and had been staying with her some time. Miss Dobie had probably been walking to one of the small villages about two miles outside Opunaki, and having no fear of harm from natives, with whom she was more likely to be a favorite, she would not be accompanied by any protector. What followed can only be surmised. She was found lying with her throat cut. What motive can be suggested tor butchering a fair young creature by drawing a knife across her throat ? Maori murderers, when they do begin murdering white settlers, have a way of killing which no white man would resort to. They chop with a tomahawk. Cutting a throat is not their form of attack. This outrage is unmistakably European in its character. Natives around Opunaki would not kill one gentle girl known to most of them, without killing others they met. A white girl might be killed among others, but not separately. The crime of murder was committed probably to conceal or accomplish a criminal outrage. To stop screaming, to overcome resistance, or to destroy evidence of future identity, the knife may have been used to end a struggle, without first intending to destroy life.

It is surmised that Miss Dobie may have been returning from the camp near the township, that she was under convoy of an orderley from the camp, and that he is the person now in custody. This is not probable. A constable entrusted with the duty of protecting a young lady, related to his superior officer, could not attempt violence without knowing that suspicion must fasten on him directly. If she were in his charge, he must answer for her. No, the outrage must have occurred in a different manner—by waylaying her when alone. Outrages of this painful nature are not very rare even in districts where a policeman is almost certain to be within sound of a scream. They occur on the outskirts of English cities with some frequency, but fatal violence is rarely employed. It is more likely to be used by some fellow accustomed to regard life as being cheap on the wild frontier of a colony. Having been brutalised, he would think little of cutting a throat to accomplish his ends. There is no suggestion of robbery in this affair; and any malice towards Major Goring would hardly take the form of killing his wife’s sister. The tradegy is shocking and deplorable. Sympathy will be felt towards Major and Mrs Goring as if every resident on the Coast had a common kinship. If evidence at the coroner’s inquest points at all to the man now in custody, he will be remanded on the Coroner’s warrant for magisterial inquiry into a charge of murder. Colonel Roberts is a magistrate, and being on the spot, he may enquire into the charge after the inquest.

Our Hawera correspondent telegraphs that the police are on the track of another man suspected of being concerned in the affair.