MURDER NEAR STRATFORD.

Patea Mail, 30 August 1882, Page 3

MURDER NEAR STRATFORD.

A LUNATIC FOREIGNER. (PER united press association.) New Plymouth.—The dead body found on the Opunake road about a mile from Stratford, turns out to be a man named Knowles. He was last seen in the company of Antonio Schncll, a Tyrolese, who has been only a few months from a Lunatic Asylum, and who, it is supposed, has murdered Knowles, as the body has the wound of a knife in its side. Scbnell, wbo bas been beard to threaten Knowles’ life, as well as other persons, is not to be found, bnt the police are making active search for him, as he is a dangerous man to be at large. Later.—The man who was supposed to have committed the murder has given himself up. How the Deed was DoneThe Stratford correspondent of the Taranaki Herald says :—Two Tyrolese, named Knolls and. Antonio Gschnell, went up the Opunake road yesterday morning to see about some bush falling, and were seen returning about half a mile from Stratford, Gschnell was seen passing through the town alone on his way home to Midhurst. About halfpast one Mr Twigg, foreman for the Ngaire Road Board, in going up the Opunake road, discovered Knoll’s body, stabbed in the back and abdomen, and covered with blood. He was in a reclining position against the bank at the side of the road, about five minutes’ walk nearer Stratford than where the men were seen together. There were signs of a severe struggle having taken place, the victim having evidently fought hard for life. Gschnell was arrested at night at Midbnrst by Sergeant Cahill and Constable Tapp. When Tapp approached Gschnell- he exclaimed, “ Ah, I suppose you have come to take me away for killing that man.” Gschnell this morning led the police to the spot where he had hid the knife, under a log close to where the deed was committed. Gschnell is supposed to be mad, and was in a lunatic asylum some time ago. THE MURDERER COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. New Plymouth.—The inquest on the body of Knolls was held at Stratford yesterday, when the jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against Antonio Gschnell, who was committed for trial at the Supreme court. The prisoner was brought into town last night and is now in gaol.