LATER PARTICULARS. UNKNOWN

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 99, 25 April 1885, Page 6

LATER PARTICULARS. UNKNOWN

Detective Hughes and Constable Kelly have just returned to the township with the body of tho deceased man in a spring cart They have supplied tho following particulars of the pur uiit and subsequent tragedy : Tho iirst trace of McKelvio was discovered at the Arch Hill Hotel, where he called on Thursday night, and got a bottlo of gin. Ho was seen leaving the Chinarnans' garden whore he had probably slept for the night about 4 o'clock on Friday morning. The dotectives reached Henderson on Friday morning, and Constable Kelly walked the Whau Road back, while Detective Hughes travelled back on the Waikomiti Road, but without success They next heard of do cea&ed about 7 p.m the same evening, when the oilicers got information from a woman named Scarlett, who said the had ?een a man answering to McKolvie's description in the lime kilns early that morning. He wa& watching Constable Kelly starting on horseback. After the otHcer had gone out of sight, tho man ran through tho scrub in the direction of tho Block Hou=e. On Saturday morning the oilicers made inquiries, and found that McKelvie had not taken the Titirangi road. Thoy made across tho country in the direction of Morrisons house. Mr Morrison shoved them across a creek, and they were riding towards tho Block House, when Kelly, who was about iifty yards ahead, drew Hughes attention to a man wearing black clothe, who was walking about half a milo distant at tho foot of the hill. He appeared lo be wholly unconcerned Kelly galloped down to see who ho was, while Hughes watched him from tho top of tho hill. When Kelly was dismounting at tho creek, Hughes saw tho man go behind a clump of titree. Immediately afterwards ho saw a puff of smoko and heard tho report of a pistol. They crossed the creek to gethor, and knowing the man was armed approached the placo carefully. Hughes found McKelvie lying on his back behind tho clump of titrco. 110 had ono revolver clutched in both hands, which were lying on his breast. Hughes rushed forward and took the revolver from him, but then found tho man was ctuito dead. Ho was shot in the mouth, the ball having evidently penetrated the brain. Tho rovolvov is a bulldog one, and was loaded in four chambers. McKelvio must, thoroforo, have re-loaded it since firing on Steward.

A verdict of f'do dc so was returned at the inquest on Monday afternoon on the body of Robert McKelvie, vho shot himself in Titirangi Bush. Evidonco was given by Robort°James McKelvie, son of deceased, Mary Franklyn, Anne Bon/.ino, Detective Hughe?, and Constablo Kelly. Young McKelvie recognised the revolver with which the deed was committed as one which his fathor purchased about twelve months ago, but he did not know where. Deceased did not carry it about with him that ho was aware of. Deceased was a labourer, and employed as a cartor. His ago was stated by himself to be 45. He had been in the colony three years, and came out by the Hermiono. His mother and deceased did not live together, as they could not agreo. For a week beforo his doath deceased had been drinking hoavily. Witness did not see the pistol on Thursday last. He had heard deceased threaten to shoot his (wit ness's) mother. Ho said he would fko four cartridges off and leavo two for himself. The other evidence was similar to what has already been published in our columns. When the verdict that doceascd committed suicide was brought in, Dr. Philson, the coroner, said it was the first verdict of felo de se that had been returnod here for years, and he quite agreed with it.

Says tho Woodvillo " Examiner ";— Captain Russell has evidently a high opinion of the prospects of Woodville, judging by the fact that he asked £400 an acre for his land for railway purposes, besides requiring the Governnent to componsate him for streets blocked up. Signor Otto Hug, the medical clairvoyant, is presently at Fielding, and has been assured by patients whom he formerly treated that they have had no return of their maladies.