THE EYRETON MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 131, 28 June 1901, Page 3

THE EYRETON MURDER.

♦- ARRKST OF THK MAN McLBAN. AN ADMISSION OF GUILT. PKR PBBSB ASSOCIATION. Chbistchubch, April 27. Ewly this morning Constable Ede, of Ash' urtoD, discovered that the missing man, A'ezander McL-an, who was wan f ed in connection with the Eyreten murder, was in the vicinity, atd he immediately set oat in searc\ A" Tinwald, two miles sou'h of Ashburton, he fcund seemed and arrested him. It app»ars that McL an walked into Logan's Hotel, at. T nwald, this morning about half-fast seven o'clock, and putting down a sovereign, called for some whisky, which was given h'm. He then tasked to be allowed fo.gp into a room with a fire, and he was invited to the ki'cbeo, he w»s sitting when Ipgan, the licensee, came down stairs snd saw McLean. From a private description he hed received he suspected that he was the man wanted, and ordered his servants to keep McL'an under close surveillance. Logan then rang up Constable E-le, who rrocdeded to Tinwald, and MeLein rn being taxed ad raitted the chargp, saying that he mu«t have been mad. Ho was tben conveyed to 'h j leck-up In Ashburton. The horfe on which accused Tinwald, together with a saddle and dip, was found in a paddock adjoining Logan's hot"), and abru 1 ; £7 was found on Accused. He was b•< ught before the Ashburton Court and re-mir.d-d to Christcburch. To get to Ashburton JtcLem mmt have travelled a rouud-abcit way. Leaving Eyretonhelad evidently gone sraight to Oxford, having dimd there last Sa'urday, and leaving there .t'e same day with a horsa and trap, he had enquired tie way to the We 4 but had instead come s ufch to Sheffi-!d, where he stayed on Situ'day night. Thence there se'ms a mystery as to how he reached Tinwald. He had enquire! for the Greendale and Ringit tt& Bridge Road, but was seen to turn to the left cf Waddington instead of going over the Hownvta Bridgo as directed. From thera ho must hive gone down somewhere near Methven, and thus to Tinwa'd. McLean w»a born in Victoria, Australia, in 1878, and has friends residing at in that colony. He has a heavy type of countenance, with low eyebrewp, broad nose, and promioent ears, and i< cf an active athletic build. It is believed that his mind is deranged, as he hes been dtprescd for some time and has threatened to shoo' himself. His airuless uande; injr about the country also points to this conclusion. He has bfeo long known to the prlice and his name is recorded in the Police Gaz'tt-e for hcuse breaking in 1897. On May 28th of last year he was also sentenced at Christcburch to 12 months' imp.isonment with hard labour in Lyttelton gaol for breaking and entering and theft.