THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAYS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1915. THE ONEWHERO TRAGEDY

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 13, 16 February 1915, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAYS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1915.

THE ONEWHERO TRAGEDY

"We nothing extenuate, nor net down augt in malice."

The hua and cry for tha perpelrator of the recent double murder in the Ooewhero district, which has brought about such terrible affliction to the household of ooe of the mist prominent cf the local settlers, came to an end on Saturday last, when the capture of the muchsought for perpetrator of the crime was successfully effected. So great was the local feeling of horror and natural antipathy against tha man who had to tragically disturbed the serene peace of the district and wrought cruel vengeance not only on an unprotected woman but on a helpless and innocent infant that it was considered by the police officials as being wi.hin the range of possibility that with the discovery of the culprit mob law would prevail and that summary justice might be be enacted. However, fears on that score proved groundless, thanks to the advice given to members of the search party by the police. Tho double murder, with all its attendant and strauge features, is likely to bo recorded as one of tho most sensational in the annuls of crime of the Dominion, and the police deserve the greatest credit for the smart manner iu which investigations were conducted and the identity of the culprit discovered, Sergeant Cowan (the new police officer in charge of Pukekohe) and Constable Thornell, also of Pukekohe, being prominently concerned iu the unwrapping of the mystery of the identity of the person responsible for the crime. All the time that the search for the wanted man was iu progress he was near at hand concealed in a dense bush, and having regard to future similar cases, where tracking work has to be undertaken, the Police Department might well institute up-to-date methods of search by means of employment of bloodhounds as is done in many other countries. In the case under notice it is certain that with bloodhounds brought ou the scene n capture would not have been long delayed, whilst >u other instances the escape, of a criminal would bo likely to be j a voi ted.