THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2404, 30 November 1880, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

CONFESSION OF THE SUPPOSED MURDERER. The inquest on the body of Miss Dobic was resumed at Opunake yesterday. An adjournment bad to take place at "first in consequence of a coat having been found in the prisoner Tubi’s wbare with blood stains on the sleeves and vest, and it was necessary to obtain further evidence. The witnesses examined were chiefly members of the Armed Constabulary. Wilson Hursthouse proved finding the body about 42 yards from the edge of the metal on the main road, and said he saw blood on the flax about three yards from the road. Sergeant McKcown met Stannard on the evening of the murder, and noticed that bis horse’s nose had been bleeding. Sergeant Day found blood on the crutch and right knee of the trousers worn by Tuhi when arrested. Also a human hair which corresponded with the hair on deceased’s head. Harvey, an ostler, identified the bridle produced as one that he lent to Tuhi, and said the coat produced was similar to one that Tuhi wore on the 2:lth. Edmund Colley, a storekeeper, said lie supplied Miss Dobie with a lead pencil, and gave her a threepenny piece out of sixpence in change. He believed that Tuhi afterwards gave him a threepenny piece for a box of matches. The coin produced had been in his possession. It had marks like blood, and scratches apparently made in trying to remove the stains. Constable McCarthy had dealings with Tuhi about a bay horse, and the prisoner was then using a bridle which was old and rotten, and tied with flax like the one produced. Constable Knowles proved finding a coat (produced) on the previous day in Tubi’s wharc with blood stains on the cuff, sleeve, and tail. Middleton, hotelkeeper, identified the coat as one worn by Tuhi, but did not think he had it on the morning of the 25th. Constable Taylor saw Tuhi wearing the coat on the day in question. Bayley, a storekeeper, identified the coat and trousers produced as articles he had sold to Tuhi. John Stevenson proved that Stannard hud been employed to look for a stray horse belonging to him, and that on the evening of the 25th he saw Stannard with blood on his coat which he accounted for by stating that his horse had fallen when lie was trying to catch a led horse which had got away from a constable. Superintendent James compared the hair found on Tula’s clothing with that on the forehead of the deceased, and found them to correspond. The prisoner Tuhi, at this stage of the proceedings, asked if he might come near the police, and shorten the talkers. Dr Carey deposed : —I came to the redoubt on Friday, the 2(Jinst. I searched the body of Miss Dobie with

the assistance of Mrs Ebbit. I examined (be articles in the pocket, but found no blood. There is a stain of blood on on the pocket which might have been conveyed from some portion of the dress. (The collar, red with blood, was here produced.) I observed a punctured cut in the collar, I found a corresponding wound in the neck of the deceased. Judging from the punctures, I should say it was made by an instrument about half an inch in width. There was a large wound immediately below the lower jaw, four inches in extent. The whole of the throat was cut down to the vertebral column. Two attempts appear to have been made to cut the throat. A second wound had been made about two inches below the bulge of the lower jaw. There was another transverse wound about an inch and a half in extent, and also two other small wounds—onea-inch and one £-inch —along the breast and the lobe of the right ear. There was a slight superficial wound on the left of the neck. These were all the wounds on the neck. There was also a wound on the second linger of the right hand about about, an inch long. Death was the result of the wounds. I examined every part of the body and am positive no attempt at violence had been made. The underclothing was intact. Most of the wounds were on the right side. The knife marked T.H., produced, in my opinion had blood stains on it. The, knife would inflict the injuries described. 1 received change from Mr Coffey this morning—a sixpence and threepenny piece. I noticed the latter had been scratched, as if to scrape something off, which I took for blood. I cannot say in what position the deceased may have been when the wounds were inflicted. She would have been able to walk after receiving the smaller wounds on the neck, but not after the larger. The first wound was a continuation of stabs and cuts. Judging by the wound in her collar, the wounds could not be made by a large knife. I am confident the wounds were not self inflicted. The knife produced is sharp enough to cause such wounds. The ring fitted tightly on the finger of deceased. The stain on the pocket might have been caused by a bloody hand stuck into it. I examined the stains on the right leg of the moleskin trousers found on the scone of the murder. Contact with an old sore would produce such stains. 1 have inspected the right ankle' of the prisoner Tuhi, and found such a sore which would correspond with the position of the stains on the trousers. I probed my linger into the wound opposite the hole in the collar to a depth of three inches. The body would become nearly cold within three or four hours.. Sergeant-Major Bullcn stated this was all the evidence the police had to bring forward. The jury said they were unanimously of opinion that there was no evidence whatever against Stannard, and they wished that he should be at once released. Sergeant-Major Bullcn produced an affidavit from Mr Coupe, of the Empire Hotel, liawera, accounting for some of the blood found on the clothes of Stannard, and said—l congratulate you. You leave this room entirely free, and without a stain on your character. The Maori confessed “ I did it,” when Mr Hursthouse asked him if he had any statement to make. He was fairly warned, before he confessed, by Nokn. He said “ It was done by mo.” Mr Hursthouse said—Do you know what you have really said? Do you know your position? Tuhi said—l know I killed the woman. It was a great sin or crime, I know. The Coroner then said : I do not think under the circumstances, that I can ask you gentlemen of the jury to do anything. This is not like a Court of law or Supreme Court, and I think I can hardly ask you for anything further. The excitement was intense. The interpreter faltered, and was deeply moved, as was the Coroner. The murderer appeared more calm than most in Court. THIS DAY. OI’UXAKE, Nov. JO. Last night after the committal of the prisoner, ho said—“ Ido not wish for any more trial. I want to meet my death here now.” The handcuffs were then put on him, the prisoner preserving the same calmness, and looking at all round him straight in the face. Auckland Nov. JO. Stannard, who was wrongly accused of the murder of Miss Dobie, was formerly employed at the Wanaka sawmills. He was good natnred and obliging, and very much liked.