THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVERED HAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1455, 16 January 1886, Page 3

THE MYSTERY OF THE SEVERED HAND.

MastbbtON, Jan. 14.

During the last day or two, rumour has been rife in Masterton in connection with the severed hand mystery. Howard was for some time in Masterton, and great interest is naturally taken here in the affair, especially as it has gradually leaked out that he was what might be termed a corpse hunter. He was employed in different ways in Masterton but ho drew general attention to himself by making a number of rather fruitless attempts to get on terms with Mi T. Jago, a wellknown undertaker. On the day of Mrs Rayner’s burial, Howard hung about Mr Jago like hii shadow, and though be did not create suspicion be was certainly disliked. During one of his visits to the shop, be obtained an empty varnish tin, and it is generally thought that the only use ho intended to put it to was to preserve whatever portion of a human body he could obtain possession of. This tin was given to him by Mr Jago. Howard directed suspicion against himself in Masterton by a number of acts. Among these it is stated that he occasionally went bathing in company, but that he never watted his head, presumably to preserve his wig. More to the point is the f»ot that he was emyloyed on b building contract for Mr Lowes, and that Messrs John and Walter Cameron wrote several letters for him while he was thus engaged. One of those was to his wife, and covered £2 of money. 80 suspicious was he that he would not even allow the letter to go through the Post-office, but sent it down through somione ke had been introduced to. Both the gentlemen named have been subpoenaed to give evidence at the trial at Christchurch. The question as to how the hand was obtained is in itself a sensation. Howard was undoubtedly looking for something of the kind, and yesterday afternoon Detective O’Connor, who came up specially from Christchurch, dropped across a man who states that Howard offered him £lO if he would assist him in opening the grave of a man who died in the Hospital, and was accorded a Salvation funeral, his plea being that be felt sure the deceased was an old friend whom he was anxious to recognise. Howard may or may not have been successful in obtaining the assistance of an accomplice, but it is generally believed that he accomplished his object in Masterton and that the hand found on the beach at Sumner is a portion of the body of Mrs Eayner, who was buried here on the 25th November. Judging by photos of the hand, the majority of the deceased lady’s relations are of opinion that the hand is hers. When suspicion was directed to the idea of Mrs Bayner’s body having been mutilated, it was very naturally resolved to open the grave, but as the full consent of the trustee in her estate could not be obtained, matters have been delayed pending the receipt of an order from the Colonial Secretary. This has now been obtained, lb is a somewhat curious circumstance that the sexton, who did not quite complete his work of filling in the grave of Mrs Eayner on the 25th November, which was a general holiday, found it had been completed for him when he relumed to the cemetery on the morning of the following day, He, however, paid little attention to the fact, thinking that some of the deceased’s relatives hnd done the work. There is little else to connect Howard with Masterton until Mrs laynet’s body has been exhumed and examined. The photo of the hand is said to show several marks by which it can be recognised as that of Mrs Eayner. There is a soar on one finger which is of itself sufficient to establish the identity, but it is also reported that medical men have recognised erysipelas in the hand, and it is a well-known fact that Mrs Bayner was suffering from that disease in her hand at the time of her death. It (is probable the police will solve the mystery so far as Masterton is concerned in the course of the day. The cemetery was watched all night by a large number of people, who expected the exhumation to take place, but were disappointed. Jan. 15.

The boc.v 0! Mrs Eayner was exhumed under the supervision of Sergeant Price last night, when it was found that the body was intact. It is now thought that the hand might be that of Israel Basset Dale, who woe drowned in the Ruamahunga river, and was buriedfin Masterton on 14th Deoember, being the day on which Howard is said to have left Masterton. It is understood that authority to exhume the body has been applied for, WeIiMNGTOH, Jan. 14.

The Wellington police have heard that the severed band is from the body of a man who was buried in the Wellington cemetery about the 13th December, and they have applied for a warrant to allow them to exhume the body. It is conjectured that Howard’s injury to his arm was the result of blood poisoning when cutting the arm from a corpse.