THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3725, 2 December 1880, Page 2

THE OPUNAKE MURDER.

• Statement "by Prisoner. Ofukakb, Wedneday. The following statement of the facts connected with the murder of Miss Dobie was made by Tohi, the murderer, privately yesterday to Mr C. W. Hursthouse interpreter:—" I left Opun&ke with no indention of committing any crime, but to look for a horse on the other side of Te Namu. I met Miss Dobie and got off the horse and tied it to a flax bosh at the roadside and followed her back. When I overtook her she was frightened, and took 6s 4d from her pocket* and gave it to me. I took out my pocket-knife, opened it and stack: it in her throat. She fell down but was not dead. I then dragged her to the first flax bush. She struggled. I cat her throat again and dragged her to another flax bush*.and afterwards to where she was found, whero she died. I took off my trousers there and threw' them into a flax bush, and then went to get my horse which had ' got loose. Whilst catching it, Hone Pihama and party passed along the road. I hid myself from them. Afterwards I caught the horse and followed them and quickly overtook them near the Telegraph Office. I galloped in amongst them, pausing some j before they noticed me. The knife I I used is the one produced in evidence ! marked T.H. I did not throw it away; it most have dropped from my pocket. The blood on the moleskin trousers is hers, also that on the coat. The blood on the other trousers is a pig's. I don't know how so little is on the coat. I had 5s in the morning. When I came back after the crime, I spent 3s 4d in the hotel, gave 3s 6d to another man, and spent 3sd, including a threepenny piece, aft Coffey'a store. After she died, I washed, my. hands in a small stream. I told nobody what I had done. I want now at once to be killed without further trial. May not her relations kill me, or may I kill myself? She called out once before I stabbed her. She saw me get off the horse, but did not run away. She merely walked on as if unsuspicious. I had no desire but to kill her. It was a momentary impulse, and I acted on it. It is only now I want to die, not before.— Star.