Hunted for Murder

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 212, 15 February 1915, Page 4

Hunted for Murder

ARREST OF NORMAN. KEALS. THE BABY'S BODX BOUND; i( REPORTED CONFESSION. OF THE CRIME; _ . By Telegraph.—Per. Press, Association. Auckland, Last. Night. The young man, Norman: K ga »« t wanted on a eliarge of murder in connection with the death of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Edith Emma. Koala, and of the abduction of her- baby, was arrested yesterday afternoon. The body ol the missing child was. also, foundi

Over one hundred, settlers assisted the police in gradually drawing in the cordon which surrounded tho area of-bush in which lveals was believed to be hiding. Keals; was, driven from cover to cover in densely timbered country, and was ultimately caught hiding in a tree.

When: oaUUdi upon to surrender, he did so without showing any resistance, and was immediately surrounded and handcuffed. Tlic man was in a pitiable state, and his, face and clothing bore evidence of the terrible ordeal he has passed through during the past five days. The first inquiry of those making the arrest was naturally in regard to the baby, and Keals indicated where it would be found. The searchers accqpipanied him to a spot near the Opuatia Creek, where the body of the six-weeko-old baby boy was found. It is reported tnat tho child had been choked fo death. The man was secured in some dense hush, not far distant from the Iveala' homestead. It is reported that Keals has - made a full statement to the police.

ACCUSED'S CONFESSION. DETAILS OF THE CRIME. REVENGE THE MOTIVE. Auckland, This Morning. Norman Keals has signed a conies* sion, containing (inter alia) the following:—On Tuesday he fired a shot at his sister-in-law. Afterwards he did not like to leave tile baby, as it was singing out. He took it out, and within five minutes strangled it. He described the p'aee where lie left the body under a tree. He had gone to the house on Monday niglit, intending to kill his brother,"and all of them, but after ho had fired one shot he thought he iiad done enough. His motive for the crime was revenge, because when -e was in Australia he heard that an interest in the property near Onewhero had been taken away from him.