THE PRETORIA TRAGEDY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8213, 17 August 1906, Page 3

THE PRETORIA TRAGEDY.

KRUGER'S GRANDbON ARRESTED. J

v DETAILS OF THEj CRIME.

A mysterious disappearance oase, says the Cape Argus, is at present occupying the attention of the pulioe. A well-known citizen named Herman Davis left in a victoria with a giandson of the. late Prueident Kruger for the neighbourhood of Dusponrt,where 1 for a consideration, it is alleged, the latter offered-to bdow Davis a buried treasure. The guide in question sobsequently relumed to town in the victoria, cut without Davis. The inside of the carriage wa9 splashed with blood, while a BULLET-HOLE WAS DISr COVERED in the hood. The guide afterwards Jiaappeared, and a warrant was taken out for his arrest. A search parly discovered the body of Herman Davis iu the veld along tbo Rusteoburg Road, about six miles from Pretoria, with four bullet wounds in the fc§ad. The body was brought into «own. The constabulary arrested in the , Rusteuburg district Stephanus Johannes Paulus Kruaer Smit, a * grandson ot the lnte President Kruger, on a charge of murder in connection with the disappearance of • Berman Davis. Smit was riding a bicycle, apparently on iris way to his farm. He is about 23 years of age, end married. At the inquest on Mr. Herman Davis, who was found on the veld about six miles from Pretoria with lour bullet wounds in his head, Mr. Laanoelot Joubert, the deceased's solicitor, deposed that he had negotiated on behalf of Mr. Davis with the Government regarding certain SUPPOSED BURIED TREASURE. On the day of bis disappearance Mr. Davis told him that he was going out with a certain individual - to verify statements regarding the treasure. A witness named Morris Miller testified to seeing and speaking to Dafe and Smit, who were in a trap, on We Rustenburg Road, on the morrfing of June 20. Mrs. Maeuriok, sister-in-law to Stephanus Johannes Kruger Smit (the accused man), stated that Smit borrowed her trap and horse on the morning of Ju-ne 20 to take a man out about some land transaction. She stated that Smit returned in the evening with the trap and horse, which hart evidently been driven hard. The next morning Smit came and said "Good-bye," stating that be had to clear AS DETECTIVES WERE after him, and also asked her not to tell anyone that he had had the trap. She was subsequently examined about the trap and gave the . information required. The medical evidence ascribed the death to a gunshot cr pistol wound in«be neck and to wounds in the belli inflictd with a heavy weapon. Captain Trew, S.A.C., gave details as to the state of Davis' body. He 1 said that he had traoad a bloodstained spoor some -750 yards off the main road, ibe condition of deceased's pockets suggested that ROBBERY HAD TAKEN PLACE. There were blood stains on the cushion and floor of the trap and what appeared to be a bullet hole in the back of the hood of the trap. The magistrate returned a verdict of death due to gunshot and other wounds, and SBid that tnere were reasonable grounds for suspicion that the wounds in question were inI flioted by Smit, who was committed p for trial o'a a charge of murder.