A REEFTON TRAGEDY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2520, 19 April 1881, Page 2

A REEFTON TRAGEDY.

JEALOUSY AND MURDER

[By Telegraph.]

Greymouth, April 18

News has been received hero from Eeefton of a man named Bell, a sort of cockatoo living near Boatman’s Creek, having been found in his cow shed with his brains blown out. His murderer is supposed to be one David McGabey alias Yankee Dave. Jealousy is alleged to be the cause. Several policemen have been despatched to the scene. The suspected murderer is missing.

Later information states that the name of the murdered man is John Bell, of Larry’s Greek, Westport road. Mr Ccreseto called on him on Saturday morning, and found him bailing up some cows. Mrs McGabey was there, but she left soon after for Eeefton. When Mr Cereseto called in the afternoon he could make no one hear him, and on going to the cow shed he found a cow tied up, and Bell lying on the ground with the hack of his head battered in, the place bearing evidence of a fearful struggle, as deceased in his death grip clutched a piece of a male’s clothing and human hair. In the morning when Mr Cereseto was there Bell asked him if he had seen McGabey, and he said he had not. It is supposed that the murderer crept on Bell unpreceived after Mrs McGabey’s departure, and struck him on the head. A dozen policemen are scouring the ranges in every direction. THIS DAY. McGabey has been captured in the ranges.