THE MYSTERIOUS HAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2185, 5 January 1886, Page 2

THE MYSTERIOUS HAND.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Wellington, January i.

The mysterious hand affair, which has caused some little sensation in Christchurch, has been solved by the arrest at Petone of Howard, who was supposed to have been drowned near Sumner. It appears that the large reward offored had put the police here on the <jw vki, and this afternoon Uonstaljle Harnett, who is stationed at the Hutt, made several enquiries respecting a man named Watts who had been working at Petone. Following up the enquiries, Harnett became assured that he had bagged his bird, and about four o'clock he. arrested John Watson as beyig the man Howard from Ohristchurch. The identity was not denied, and by the six o'clock train this eVening Harnett brought the prisoner to town. Watson, or rather Howard, had been working for one day at the Woollen Factory, at Petone,- and liad-to knock offin consequence of tin, injured arm. He had been liying in private lodgings. Tomqrtow.tie will appear, before the Magistrate. Erqin Harnett's account it appears that on New Year's Day Howard was at the Young Men's Christian Association picnic, and Harnett from that time waß on his trail, Gradually he connected the links, and finally he found a storekeeper at Petone who remembered a customer somewhat resembling a foreigner, and minus the thumb on the right hand. This exactly tallied with the description of Howard, and waiting his chance the constable accostedtocused, who had his hands ill l)js pockets, On being asked to take them' out' he willingly 'complied ,au'd Harnetf'' arrestecl' him, feqivirwl waq wearing a wig, and had his' moustache, dyed. '" '