MOTU RIVER MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1921, Page 10

MOTU RIVER MURDER.

POLICE ARREST TWO NATIVES. ACCUSED BROTHERS; ONE A RETURNED SOLDIER. Opotiki, Nov. 16. Two Maoris named Rutene Top/ and Peeti Topi, were arrested this morning in connection with the murder of Pail Zambucca, at the mouth of the Motu River on Friday, November 4. and were lodged in the Opotiki lock-up to-night. The two accused are brothers and were arrested at about 10 o’clock, working in Messrs. Saxby’s shearing shed on their Horipoto station, which is situated on the river bank. The two men have been engaged in the shed practically continuously since the murder. When Detective McLeod and Constable Blakey and Neale arrived this morning, the men were shearing as usual. They were called off by their employers in a matter of fact way, and once outside they were placed under arrest. They displayed no signs to which any significance could be attributed. Soi. quietly was the Work of the arrest carried out that the other men in the shed, numbering about twenty all told, did not suspect what had happened, and, in faej. did not know for some hours after that the men had been arrested. The men were, removed to the behch, and, at about 5 o’clock this afternoon, were conveyed by launch to Opotiki, where they Will be confined pending the preliminary hearing of the charges against them.

Both the accused have borne a good reputation. They are 'natives of the Maraenui Pa, Rutene being about 30 years of age, and Peeti about 25. The latter is a married man, but Rutene is single. Both are comparatively wellbuilt men, and, in addition to doing a certain amount of work on their own land, have been employed as casual laborers by Messrs. Saxby Bros, for some years past. Rutene Topi is a returned soldier and saw a considerable amount of service.

The two accused participated in the search for Zambucca’s body and were not suspected by the other natives, nor was there anything in their actions to ; arouse comment. Natives in the locality ’are greatly upset over the whole matter. They are of a high native class, and are greatly esteemed and respected by the Europeans. They feel the stigma which has been cast upon the settlement very keenly, and they have been very keen that whoever may be guilty should be brought to justice. A remarkable feature about the whole case is the very matter of fact and methodical manner in which the police have carried out their investigations. 'There has been nothing at all bordering on the sensational. The police kept their own counsel, and no suspicions were aroused, the arrest coming as a great surprise, and being performed unceremoniously. At the time of the murder, shearing was in progress at Hotipoto station, the only station in the neighborhood, and work there went on without interruption. The natives are in the. habit of doing an amount of cropping and other work on their own properties, but since the occurrence, have been unable to settle down. They have been assisting the police to have the whole matter cleared up as speedily as possible. Shot-guns and ammunition which were found in the hut occupied by the accused, together with a quantity of their clothing, were taken possession of by the police. They were taken by Detective O’Brien to Auckland yesterday morning, and will be subjected to a close investigation in an endeavor to obtain further evidence. Detective Ma* Lcod, who came through with the prisoners, will probably return to the scene of the tragedy to make further investi* gations. HOW POLICE WERE HANDICAPPED. Inspector Hutton, who has been assisting in the investigation of the murder since last Thursday morning, returned to Gisborne from Opotiki last evening. He was very reticent regarding the events of the past week, and in answer to an enquiry by a Times reporter, stated that, at the present juncture he was unable to make public any of the details in connection with the crime, or in regard to the arrest of the suspected men. The police, said the Inspector, had been handicapped from the outset through the time which had elapsed since the crime was committed. The ground in the vicinity had been much disturbed by the natives, while the undergrowth had been burned by the search parties during the nights. All the evidence, with the exception of the bloodstains, had been obliterated, and the work for the police had been chiefly a matter for enquiry. As had been previously stated, the first work which confronted the police was to make enquiries regarding any strangers who may have been in the district on the date of the crime, and, by this means, the scope of investigation was confined to Maraenui Pa, it being ascertained that all the natives who were around the district on the day of the murder were located there. It then became necessary to investigate the movements of the Maoris living at the Pa, and, as a result of further investigations, all but three or four Datives were eliminated from suspicion. Further evidence was adduced and finally it was considered that this pointed to the Topi brothers. Before any arrest could be made, however, it was necessary that further details should be obtained, and police were engaged to this end for some considerable time until, ultimately, it was considered that they were possessed of sufficient information to warrant the suspects being placed under arrest. VICTIM OF THE MURDER.’ The murdered man, Paul Zambucca, who was a native of Syria, was 40 years of age. He came to Auckland eight or nine years ago, and had earned his living as an “itinerant draper.” He resided | with his wife and child and his mother, who is nearly 90 years of age, in France Street, Newton. Mrs. Zambim only joined her husband about 10 weeks ago, having been in Syria since his departure. The deceased carried on his business in the North Auckland district for some years, and the ill-fated trip on which he met his death was only his fourth in the Opotiki district. It was to have been his last as a hawker, as he had intended to settle in Auckland and go into business there. He was highly inspected and liked by all who came in contact wth him, and was noted for his business integrity. He was very popular with his compatriots, and had tne reputation of never having had a quarrel with anyone. He had never experienced any trouble on his trips before. The funeral took place last week at the Waikumete cemetery, Auckland. There was a large attendance of deceased's relatives and compatriots. The burial service was performed by Father G ’Malley.