DEATH OF A SUPPOSED BURGLAR AT HIKUTAIA.

Te Aroha News, Volume XII, Issue 1784, 2 November 1895, Page 2

DEATH OF A SUPPOSED BURGLAR AT HIKUTAIA.

On Tuesday last a native at Hikutaia was killed under somewhat romantic circumstances. Robert Darrah, a settler living near Hikutaia, on three occasions during the last month had lost money from his house. He suspected that someone was in the habit of entering by the loft door, the. access of which was by means of a ladder of about thirteen rungs. He therefore arranged a gun in the loft in such a manner that it was impossible for anyone to open the door from the outside without oeing shot. The evening of the day the man was shot Darrah came into town and gave himself up, giving minute information of the occurence.

At the inquest held at Corbett’s on Wednesday, before Mr Ohas. Haselden, coroner, the following veidict was returned. * That the deceased came by his death in consequence of a bullet wound caused by the discharge of a gun, loaded and placed by Robert Darrah in his loft for the purpose of fixing or finding out who had stolen his money.’ Immediately after the inquest, Sergeant Gillies, on the strength of the verdict, arrested Robert Darrah on a charge of murder. The accused appeared at the police court on Thursday, charged with murder, and was remanded to Monday, baif being refused.