THE ONEWHERO TRAGEDY.

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

THE ONEWHERO TRAGEDY.

Norman Keals Captured. Baby's Body Found. The hunt for the miscreant wanted in connection with last week's tragedy at Onewhero was brought to a successful conclusion on Saturday afternoon last, when the search party, numbering over 60 Btrong, unearthed their quarry, namely, the wanted man, Norman Keals, who is now charged with th? double crime of the murder of his sister-in-law, Mrs L. W. Keals, and her six-weeka-old child. The alleged murders had since committing the cime on t'?e previous Monday night baen hi.ing in (he extensive and densa bush situated on his brother's property, and akhough moving about at times be had successfully elud d the watc v .er9 until Saturday afternoon. THE NET DRAWN IN.

Gradually the net around him was drawn in and every yard uf the bu3h was oeing "wurksd" with difficulty until a shout about 2 cm. on Saturday from two Maori members ot the search party, named Kione Pebi Clark and Ng;pake Grey, announced the welcome fact that the much-sought-for fugitive had been located. THE CAPTURE. The Maoris saw him dart away and attempt to hide by lying', at full length alongside a log of a tree on a small clearing at the bottom of a bush gully. Raising a gun to his shoulder and covering bis man Kione called on him to throw up his bands and submit. Detectives Powell and Sweeney were near at hand and rushing up Norman Keals, who offered no resistance, was promotly taken into custody. Shouti quickly bore the good tidings to the other huuters and police officials and settlers came on the scene from all sides, loud cheers from the latter rendering the air when tie captured man was seen safe under arrest. A procession was formed and the prisoner, who appeared quite unconcerned, was taken to the house ot the tragedy. STRANGLED TtiE BABY. When formally charged with the murder of Mrs Keals he admitted his guilt, and when asked st.out the missing infant he replied th>t s it began to cry he took it nu ii • and strangled it by pressing nis fi <ers on its threat. BABY'S BODY RECOVERED. Questioned where the child's body was he described the spot—about a mile distant on the top ot a high ridge observable from the housewhere he had deposited the body in the hollow trunk of a tree and had covered it with a nikau branch. The police without delay proceeded to the spot and found the remains. HIDING IN A TREE.

The prisoner also pointed out what had been his hiding place, namely a high branch of a huge rata tree, where he bad established a nest for himself and which commanded a full view of the homestead and of everything that was going on around it. In bis lair was found a half' consumed cheese and he had also secured additional nourishment in the form of milk, having cunningly tethered a calf near-by hnd milked the mother cow when it came to feed its offspring. PRISONER IN PUKEKOHE. The offer by Mr H, Dver, Onewhero, of his motor car was gratefully accepted bv the police, and the prisoner was handcuffed and took his place in the car with Detectives Hollis and Powell sitting on either aid?, Sub-Inspector Mcllveney occupying the front seat with Mr Dyer. Thj baby's body was wrapped in a piliow case and gently deposited in a dress basket, being then placed in the car. Pukekohe was reached about 7 p.m. and the party halted in King street, whilst a transfer of the police, prisoner and the basket containing the mournful remains was being made into a larger car, owned by Mr Edgar Spier*. A large crowd quickly assembled around the cars and the alleged murderer was naturally the object of considerable interest among the many onlookers, although few were aware that on board the motor was also the gruesome token of his ghastly handiwork. Another start was at length made and Auckland being safely reached the tiny corpse was first left at the Auckland Hospital mortuary and then the prisoner was taken to the main police station. PUBLIC ASSISTANCE APPRECIATED. Prior to leaving Mr L. W. Reals' house Sub-In'pector Mcllveney addressed the assembled settlers and Maoris and expressed the thanks of the authorities fur the great assistance rendered to the police. The police also desire to acknowledge the gocd services rendered by Mr Cole-Baker, the Onewhero Postmaster, in so efficiently handling the numerous official telephone calls, the courtesy displayed by Mr B. Dyer in the loan of his motor car. ar:d they also thank Mr Percy Comrie, Pukekohe, for the willing manner in which it carried out motoring instructions to and from Mr Keals' residence. FOLLOWING UP A CLUE.

Aa previously stated, the first news of the presence of thi police and medical assistance being wanted came through to Pukekohe by telephone although the information given did not indicate that any crime had been committed. Sergeant Cowan despatched Constable Thornell by train to Tuakau en route tor Opuatia and meeting Constable Martin at Tuakau the two policemen hired a buggy from Mr Finch a stable, for the purpose of going out to Opuatia. Whilst the horse was being harnessed the stableman happened to inform Constable Thornell that a man (who it was subsequently found was Norman Reals and who had given an assumed name at the stable?) had hired a horse on the previous Thursday, saying he Jwas going out to Opuatia, and aa he had not returned the horse he asked the Constable to keep a look-out for the man (of whom a description was given) and animal. In the meantime Dr Johnston, who was acting as locum tenons for Or Bronte, had started from Pukekohe by motor for Mr Keals" house, but on the way to Onewbero the car bad broken down. Tbe buggy containing tbe police came along and the doctor wai picked up, and

the party of three duly arrived at their destination about 2 30 p.m., a hurried observation soon making it apparent that a cruel tragedy bad been enacted. Constable Thornell then recalled the casual conversation he had had at ths stable at Tuakau, and making enquries he ascertained that a cadet employed on Mr Keals' farm bad within tbe previous day or two come across a stray h,orse in the near vicinity, although there bad been no sign of tho presence near-by of its lawful or temporary owner. This circumstance at once led to suspicion being directed to the hirer of the horse at Tuakau. Constable Thornell immediately telephone! to Pukekohe to Sergeant Cowan and acquainted him uf his tragic discovery, and the Sergeant forthwith corrmunicated by telephone with Auckland and s'arttd off for Opuatia. As already ancounced, Mrs Keals was unconscious and she was taken by motor to the Auckland Hospital where ah; di:d the next murtiin?. SERGEANT COWAN BUSY. On arriving at Opuatia Sergeant Cowan was soon actively engag'.d in following up all possible clues and complete arrangements were made so that ell the roads and exits from the district- were watched to prevent the escape of the author of the crime. Making enquiries Sergent Cowan learned that some sort of family friction had prevailed, in which Norman Keals (brother to Mr L. W. Keals) was concerned, and the description given of Norman Keals was found to cunespond with the description as given to Constable Thornell of the person who had taken the horse away from Mr Finch's stable in Tuakau. Sergeant Cowan's suspicions in this way were subsequently confirmed by a photograph of Norman Keals being recognised by tbe stableman as identical with the features of the hirer of the horse. The following (Wednesday) morning Sub-Inspector Mcllveney, in company with a large force of detectives and other police officers, arrived to take charge of investigations, but Sergeant Cowan continued to take a prominent part in the' direction of operations although injuries to his leg, sustained in making an arrest of a drunken man at Mercer on Anniversary Day, prevented bim from proceeding over the difficult bunting ground. GOOD WORK BY POLICE. Tbe police officials maintained eminent thoroughness ot work, and throughout the search for their quarry very few hours of Bleep werj enjoyed. Mr Keals' residence was used as a camp and the large band ot searchers was provisioned for frorr. Messrs Crawford Bros.' store at Onewhero. MOTIVE OF THE CRIME. There seems little doubt that jealousy of his brother was responsible for Norman Keals' actions. The accused had formerly resided on the property and claiming an interest therein he was under the erroneous impression that he was to be deprived of his share of the estate. But for Mr Leslie Reals' absence at the time ot his visit it is probable that both husband and wife would have shared the same fate. PROCEEDINGS IN AUCKLAND. Tbe inquest on the baby's bodywas opened in Auckland yesterday, and wai formally adjourned until Tuesday next, when the inquiry concerning the death of Mrs Keals will also be resumed, Norman Keals was brought up yesterday in Auckland before Mr Frazer, S.M., and charged with the double murder; On the' application of the policy he was remanded until next Tuesday.