DREADFUL MURDERS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1827, 11 December 1888, Page 3

DREADFUL MURDERS.

'h Giwobnk, Deo, 7. The Australia*, which arrived - in the bay last night, brdught information that at Wmdu-o » most, atrocious murder had been 15.5 as Vis supposed on Wednesday U.E withrbis wife and child, having ITa rhi. wife were dead, but the child, though Mrtioulars to hand do not state who was the shortly after the tragedy, and forwarded 17,D0rt to Mrfiiotb, B M., by the Australia. Mr WalUs stetestbatMr and MrsPook were SSu were behind the counter The bus2nd had hi. head split tad evidently been inflioted with an axe. She body of Mr.. Took was lying aorois that of herhusband f her head was also split open, „dh.r throat out in such a manner that ih»h**A was nearly severed from the body. Mr PotfTXro* was also cut showing that " murderer wis determined to accomplish his diabolical Jpwpoie. Their -on, aged Sven was found in an iniemible condition, hS«ceifid'.fe«W woundin the head, •Tidsntly having been struck with the same St witlTwhicb bis parents had been HST-Ml Villi" *»* the boy forwarded to Sklorne, and ke was brought ashore at one Skthi- moving, and pMjndif. Dr. Pollen's care. Bobbery waii the evident motive of the murderer, as the cash in the place bad been taken away. Footprints, wared with blood, are all over the place. Tie premises hive evidently been ransacked to money and valuables. The murderer, it Ji thought, had been purchasing goods, as the?. was'a bundle tied up «"*• and a paper was found with the items and Wfceeof the articles. Mr Pook hadmpa Ey been making up the account. There does not appear to have been any struggle, as nethint to speak of was upsets _ iM7Poek was lying lull length on he loor with his wife on Optra >of him. the husband was evidently killed first. lb is supped that while the murderer was asarehini the house he oame across the boy, Ed struck' him on the head with his we. The boy's body was discovered lying on the oor, where he had Whole night. Sergeant taken charge of the premise!. From the class of loedfin the parcel, there is, good reason to felieve that the perpetrator of the murder iaMaori. Mr Pook had been to Tokomaru that day, hating recently taken an hote 1 in that place. The same store was broken into by a Maori with an axe in March last, lie WM arretted for it, bat owmg o want of evidence. Mr. Pook had frequently applied for proteetion since,. as she lived a great dealalone and feared being murdered, Mr BfOth, Bergeant Bnllen, Dr Pollen, asd a Herald representative started for the M .n. of the tragedy by-the •*"*« M ait« this morning, v V eom l n , . A meesagewai wired from Tcloga Bay last night that, on the arrival of the coroner on IWday, a jury was empanelled and a survey Jade of the store in which the recent murden were committed. The inquest then adiourned until next morning. The soene of the mnrder presented a terrible aipeot, Splashes of blood were found all oyer toe afore and dwelling. Apparently the mstru. menta nsed were an iron bar and two new uei. The cash box had been emptied and the contents taken. The evidenoe up to the time the message is leaving wasi of a> 'evolting nature. Fears are entertained that the efforts •f the polioe will be unsucoeisful for the time. There is great excitement on the coast, and a feeling of insecurity amongst toe people. Several Maoris have been apprehended, but there is little evidence to connect them with the crime. The son of the victims died shortly after 6 o'elook last etening. Deoember 10. At the inquest on Saturday on the bodies of Mr and Mrs Pook, the jury returned a verdict of " Wilful muider" against a person or persons unknown. There are now six natives under arrest on suspicion, but against one only do', circumstances appear black. This native is named Hairia tePen. Constable Gerrard discovered that a boot of Peri's exactly corresponds with the footprints about the houie and store. A knife alio discovered is believed to belong to the prisoner.. The police are of opinion that if a large reward and a free pardon were offered it aught bring to light an accomplice who did not take an aotive part in the murder but who knows all the details. It is stated by the relatives of Pook that there must have been £2OO, mostly in cash, in the sjtore. It u ex- '■"- pected, ; that the men arrested will be trie! about Wednesday. Auokiamd, December 7. Mr and Mrs Pook, who hare been mur- . dered at Mateheo, belonged to the Baglan district. Mrs Pook was a daughter of the late Captain Swan, of Baglan, and moo* of * ,-Captain Fairchild, the commander of the ' Government steamer Stelk The wife of Mr Duncan, Auckland, is a sister of the murdered woman, December 10. * ;; Arrived—Maitai, from Bait Coast ports. On the 7th, when the Maitai was at Tuparoa, Sir Geo. Whitemore, who was residing there, bad a blood-stained knife handed him with » Maori name carved upon it. This was found near the soene of the triple murder at Waiparoa. It is believed to be an important clue to the murderer, and will lead to the liberation of the six natives now in custody on snspiciom