WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3720, 26 November 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Brutal Murder.

This day.

Miss Dobie, of Auckland, was brutally murdered at Opnnake last night, the head has been severed from the body. Latbb.

The body of the murdered Miss Dobie, was found at 9.30 last night, all her clothing was nearly torn off. A man named Walter Stoddard, from Hawera, has been arrested on suspicion. Blood was found on his hat, clothes, and boots, which he accounted for by hit horse baring cut his nose This morning a pair of fustian hose were found within six feet of where the body was found lying and also a piece of a bridle. Further Particulars, Miss Mary Dobie, sister-in-law to Major Goring, went ont for a walk towards Te ISamu, and not returning, a search party was organised and bonfires lighted along the coast line. Miss Dobie was found forty yards off the main road to Te JNamu pah: Her throat was cut from ear to ear, and life was extinct, her body presenting a dreadful appearance. Stanriard, who has been arrested, said he passed the scene of the murdct at or about; the time. Iloni Pihima's daughter saw ti liorae with saddle tied, at the scon.- <>l I,'ie raurdnr. Col. Roberts, ] Mr Rurstiiuuse, and Hove Pahama hare just 'returned from the scene, and they found Hit old saddle and a bunch of wild flowers evidently gathered by the deceased. Blood was found from ten feet to forty yards off the road, and the ground shows traces of a desperate struggle. The scene is within 100 yards of the uninhabited pah of Te Nganiii, great consternation and sympathy prevails for the relatives, Mr Hursthouse is very energetic in pursuing the enquiry, also Col. Boberts and Honi Pahama. It is understood here' that the wife of a storekeeper at Haweraw iped some blood off Stannard's clothes before he started lor Opunake. The people here do not think him the culprit. Major Paris hat left Hawera for Opunake this morning. Stannard was married by the Registrar early iv the week to a Miss Prosser here. The blood skins on bit

coat were probably due to his separating two men fighting at the hotel in Hawe.-a on Thursday night. Ho (Stannard) has been horebreaking near here, but beats a good name, and is a cultivated superior sort of man, not at all likely to commit such a crime. Capt Wray, the Coroner has gone up.