THE TE AROHA MURDER.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3794, 24 February 1881, Page 3

THE TE AROHA MURDER.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—l wish to make a few remarks concerning the above. It has been a very" cruel crime (perpetrated upon a quiet and inoffensive man, and the miscreant who committed such a deed deserves the utmost penalty of the law. I have been scanning over the items in connection, and,.after mature consideration, I have partially arrived at the conclusion that one man could not have committed the deed, and judge my surprise when I hear that is the same opinion entertained by the Maoris; also of various miners who were up at Te Aroha at the time of the murder. I hare judged the matter from the beginning, and the whole affair seems steeped in mystery, and I hope the Counsel employed will use his utmost endeavours to sift the case and arrive at a proper solution. The prisoner being a foreigner in a strange land ought to secure every consideration to vindicate himself, and I do not imagine but what every man with honest principles would see the law carried out in a perfect and just manner. I write this, as I have heard various rumours in circulation that evidence in favour of the prisoner is being suppressed (I hope such is not"), and that others are implicated in the affair and wish to make this man the victim. I publish a few facts: Sir, the police have had pointed out to them a place showing the position of two persons who had been lying in ambush adjacent to the spot of the murder; also were they shown articles indicating that two men had been there. Regarding the spots of blood upon Procoffi's clothes, also the scratches upon his person, I am given to understand he was wrestling five times that day. That will to a great extent, account for the scratches. Relative to the blood stains, I am led to believe that while he was working in the mine he " grazed" his knuckles; they kept bleeding, and he wiped them on his trousers. Concerning the marks upon his face, also the black eye, I should like to put this question to certain parties at Te Aroha. Did not Procoffi receive the black eye in a billiard room? Was it not caused in this way ? Proeoffi happened to be* in the above room and attempted to

fcrijMa. miner of the name of C. One of w the ftieu&s of the latter remonstrated, and slafe'dthat if he did not "plug him" (this is the expression used) that he would, whereupon C. struck Procoffi between tbe eyes. Concerning the opinion of Drs Huxtable and Kilgour, I very much doubt if they can tell human from animal blood ; they have not had such an extended experience that qualifies them

judging to a certainty; it requires a medical analyst of superior judgment and great knowledge to determine by microscopical examination, especially after the blood has become dry; or partially washed out. If my memory is correct, Professor Taylor—the greatest medical analyst of the world, the greatest authority upon such matters, and who is employed by the English Government in similar criminal cases—states there are no correct methods of distinguishing microscopically or chemically the blood of a human being from that of an animal, when it has been once dried or partially washed out on any article of clothing. Even the learned professor declares that he himself would in the majority of instances be very, very careful in giving an affirmative answer, as he himself has been deceived; and here we have two medical men who positively state it is human blood. I very much question those two medicos, if put to the test, could tell the difference between animal, and

human blood. Suppose six pieces of cloth of similar shape were saturated with blood from the following sources :—No. 1 from a rich full blooded adult, No. 2 from an adult blood impoverished, No. 3 from a dog, No. 4 from a mouse, No. 5 from a rabbit, No. 6 from a cow—then treated by partially washing out, or subjected to the same, conditions as the portions received by Drs Kilgour and Huxtable for microscopical examination, and I think it would be a puzzler for them. It is all very well to puff medical ideas, but where a man's life is .in jeopardy, the greatest care is needed. I write this letter because I can see that the affair is overstrained upon a stranger and a foreigner; I never saw the man myself, but I speak for fair justice for the unfortunate man. Another item—are Drs Huxtable and Kilgour qualified from experience to state whether it is Maori or European blood ; learned savans state there is a difference between white and coloured races. Hoping you will insert this in the cause of justice, I am, &c,

Lynx