A BRUTAL MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 312, 9 January 1908, Page 2

A BRUTAL MURDER.

ARREST IfABE. Per Press Association. Auckland, Wednesday. Inspector Cullen has received a telegram from HelenavillJ;, eta-ting that William Stuart was alleged to have murdered Edward West yesterday afternoon at Kaukapakapa. Stuart has been arrested. Later details state that it was the result of a gumdiggere' quarrel. William Stuart, a man of about 60, .it is alleged, killed Edward West, aged 45, by chopping him with an axe. The cut, on the left side of the skull, was about five inches long and four inches deep. Accused, in a statement to the constable, said he and West were in the whare. He (Stuart) had the axe in his hand chopping wood, and West saw some gum in the whare and said, "You 1 You did not scrape all your gum!" "In a moment," continued Stuart, "I chopped him on the head. I saw his eyes opening and shutting, anil know he wae dead." LATEST PARTICULARS. Per Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A slightly different! account of the actual quarrel is given in a telegram send to Inspector Cullep by Chief Detective Marsack, who states that the version supplied to him was that Stuart was engaged in chopping wood, and West was looking at some gum. Then West accused him of stealing the gum, and kicked him. Then Stuart became enraged at the accusation, and at once raised t]ie axe and utriick West on the head, killing him. Aceijsefl will bp brought before the Helensvil|s Bolice Court to-morrow and charged with murder.