THE PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 566, 14 September 1920, Page 2

THE PUKEKAWA MURDER.

WUNUEL JOHN tffORN ARfcjjftk At about 4 p.m. on tective-Sergeant Cummings, Sergeant Cowan (Pukekohe) and' Constable Thompson (Tuakau) arrested Samuel John Thorn at Tuakau on a charge of murdering Sydney Seymore Eyre at Pukekawa on the night of Tiiev day, August 24, last. "y The accused was brought by train to Auckland the same evening, the. news of his arrest being published in a special edition of the "Franklin and Pukekohe Times" published on Saturday evening, the news also being supplied by the "Times" "for screening at the Lyceum Pictures that night. Unfortunately, there being no late trains running, we were unable to JMB 5 copies of the edition to agencies. -Jr The accused, who, when stfßHn the railway carriage by a representative of the* "Times,", looked extremely sour and sullta* He reclined in his seat, with his head thrown back, and an imitation Panama hat tilted well backwards. He is 33 years of age, about oft. 3in. in height, and is thickset, has a turned-up, or "pug," nose, a full, rotund face, bulging'forehead, and deep-set eyes. He is married, but has for some time been living apart from his wife and famify of <js children. While the late Mr fijriß Wtt on active sei vice, for over tWO VMISi Thorn managed the farm at kawa for Mrs. Eyre. In July last, mrEyre having returned to his home, Thorn left the farm and went to work for Mr. J. Granville on the latter's dairy and grazing farm at Glen Murray, some eighteen miles from the Eyre homestead. He had been working there for about six weeks when the murder was committed, and during that period had f)aid three visits to Mr. and Mrs. Eyre. The accused, who said "Right-o" when arrested, was formally brought up at Auckland yesterday and charged with the crime. The case was remanded, and it is probable that the coronial inquest will be held at4takekohe. A double-barrelled shotgun and some ammunition were founi in Thorn's whare, and these have been submitted to an expert, whose report is in the hands of the police. It will be recollected that Jhe police tracked hoofmarks, of a most unusual size and shape, leading from the murdered man's property to the back country. The horse possessing these peculiar hoofs was flSund by the police. It did not belong to the accused.