OPUNAKE.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3722, 29 November 1880, Page 2

OPUNAKE.

Sunday, The Murder of Miss Dobie— Inquest on the Body. An inquest was held on the body of the murdered Miss Dobie yesterday. It commenced &t 6 o'clock on Saturday night and proceeded until midnight, when it was adjourned until Monday. Inspector James, and Sergeant-major Sullen conducted the inquiry. The evidence was nofc favourable to Tuhia, the native arrested on suspicion. It was shown that ],c was seen riding in the direction j,Miss Dobie went on that day, and the trousers found were sworn to be similar to those the prisoner wears. The trousers he had on when arrested had blood on them and human hair corresponding in color and texture to the deceased's. The prisoner, it is supposed, had two pairs of trousers on, the moleskins being outside. When Hone Pihama's people were passing, the daughter exclaimed, " There is a horse, saddle and bridle," and in pointing out where the horse was tied it turned out to be nearly the exact spot where the body was found. The horse is a black one, and similar to the one ridden by Tuhia on that day on transit to Opunake. A knife bearing signs of blood was found near the same spot with " T. H." on the handle, which looks like the prisoner's. Colonel Reader received a telegram this morning that 23 witnesses were examined, and strong circumstantial evidence given against the prisoner Tuhia. Saturday. The following is a brief condensation of the evidence taken at the inquest. Twenty-six witnesses were examined, and a large number —including the doctorare yet to be examined. Major Goring, Inspector in charge at Opunake, deposed that Miss Mary Dobie was a spinster, aged 19; be last saw her on the morning' of the 25th. ■ Her body was found by a search party at 930, and was lying about a quarter of a mile from Opunake, and was cold. Deceased wore little jewellery, and did not carry much cash,, and what she wore was found on the body. Her clothes were much disarranged. At this stage the prisoners—the Euro* pean, Stannard, and Tuhia alias Te Kara, a Maori—were brought in and charged with the murder. Wilson Hurstbouse was sworn in as interpreter and the evidence taken was translated, and read to both prisoners. Eyes (the foreman of the jury), deposed that he saw Miss Dobie buy a pencil and have it sharpened at his store on the 25th, and proceeded along the Taranaki road. He saw the Maori prisoner about half an hour later riding back on a horse in the same direction. He observed that prisoner, had apparently two pairs of trousers on, an old moleskin pair outside, and wondered where he was going riding so fast. He (witness) saw him later at his (witness's) whare, about 4| miles south of Opunake. Prisoner then appeared frightened. He (prisoner) saw this witness.

Thomas Riley, laborer, deposed that he left his work about six miles north of Opunake to come to town for provisions. He arrived there about 2.30 p.m.,'and met Constable McGrath and the prisoner Stannard on the road about eleven and a half miles from where the body was found. He did not meet the lady on,the road. At 4.40 p.m. he returned to his place of abode, and on his return journey he met Stannard leading a horse and riding a bay horse. The led horse was restive.

Constable McGrath, sworn, said he left Opunake with Stannard and passed the young lady with two black dogs about forty yards from the telegraph office. He travelled with Stannard about eight miles, and saw no blood on Stannard at that time. They arrived at Bishop's at Waitotara about 3.30 p.m. Constable Wilson, sworn, deposed that there was a hat underneath the body when found, and a pair of trousers were also found iv tbe flax bush about three yards from the/ body. They were cut and much stained with blood. (The trousers produced were much cut and stained.) Constable Lowland deposed that he was present when Hiokey found the hat, and also when the bridle was found. (The bridle was produced.) : Constable McGrath here stated that there was no bridle on Stannard's led horse.

Constable Taylor deposed that he knew Tahi, and had noticed him on the 25th with two pair of trousers on ; the inside trousers were like dark tweed. One of the trousers came so low down that he could not see if they were cut on the ankle. The prisoner then had on a light cotton one, not like the present one.

Tahi here said " no, this is upt the coat I then wore."

W. H. lives; re-called, said he did not recognise the trousers produced aa Tah'i's tbey were not so much torn when he saw him on the day of the murder. , Constable Shearman deposed that he saw Tahi wearing very ragged tweed trousers about 6 a.m. at Opunake on the 25th, and he had only one pair on then It would not be necessary , for him to come along the main road to reach Opunake from Te Ngamu. The prisoner was then leading a black horse.

Caroline Packi deposed that on the 25th she was coming from Parihaka in the afternoon, and she saw a black horse tied up near Te Ngamu. She saw no one near the horse. The hotelkeeper of Opunake would know the time she arrived as she did not know the time. The horse produced was very much like the horse she saw near the scene of the murder. At the second bridge from here she did not see him come on to the road./ Honi Pihama deposed he first heard Tahi. speak behind him on Thursday afternoon, when he (witness) w»s driving into /. * . ' '■■'■'

Opunake. He asked witness on his arrival to" buy him a pair of trousers, but he did not buy him a pair. Hugh Middietori, hotel-beeper at Opunake, deposed that he believed Tain had two pair of trousers. He thought after dinner Tahi said he wanted to go to Te Ngamu for a horse, Witness did not see him again until about 430. when Honi Pihatna arrived. The prisoner then asked for a flask of brandy, which he took into the stable, and broke it. He kept on asking witness to buy him a pair of moleskins. He also asked witness to lend him a bridle, as his was broken. Prisoner appeared quite sober, and did not auk for the trousers before returning with Honi Pihama.

Martin Coffey, a storekeeper, deposed | that he believed the trousers produced were a pair Tahi was wearing when Miss Dobi9 came into the store and bought a pencil from witness. Tahi appeared under the influence of drink. Other evidence given by this witness corroborated what was previously adduced. • A. Harvey, servant at the hotel, saw Tahi about 11 o'clock on Thursday. He was then on the spot, and saw him frequently up till 1 p.m., but not later until the evening, when he came to the stable for a bridle. Witness lent him an old bridle, but none of the broken pieces produced corresponded' with the one he lent him. Tahi had trousers on similar to the ones produced. Witness first noticed his dress at eleven in the morn* ing. Constable Snowies deposed that he and other members of the Force brought Tahi from Punehu on Friday. They did not search the prisoner, and they halted three times; at the last time prisoner could have got rid of anything in his possession. F. Hickey deposed that he was 11 years old, and he found a knife yesterday with one blade on or near the place where Constable Knowles said he stopped with the Maori prisoner; about 17 yards from the exact place. He saw blood on the knife when he picked it up. His father said it was blood. The knife had the letters " T.H. "cut on the handle. Constable Knowles corroborated this evidence, and the father of the boy, C. Hickey, gave similar evidence. Dr Carey deposed that he received the knife produced, and it had what he took to be blood stains on the blade. He produced it in the state which he received it. .' ■•'■..