Horrible Tragedy.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 731, 22 February 1877, Page 2

Horrible Tragedy.

Samuel Morgan's Throat cut by a Maori. A.RREST OF THE MURDERER.

(The following was issued as an extra edition yesterday morning.) Waikato Times Office, Wednesday, 10 a.m. Last night, the whole district was arou-?ef! by the information 'that a murder had been committed by one prisoner on another, in the Gaol. at Ngaruawahia, and that the murderer having broken prison, and stolen detective Doolan's horse, was en route for the King country. ;The news was brought into Hamilton by Mr E EitzPafcrick, who alarmed the local authorities here, and a mounted man was at once ; despatched to Alexandra and after waking up the telegraphist at Hamilton it was endeavoured to [communicate with Alexandra by wiie. When they did so, however, it was found that communication had been had direct from Ngaruawahia, and that the Alexandra police and settlers had already turned out en masse to intercept the murderer, and that all the fords were watched. To return to the scene of the murder, it appears that a native named Te Patue, in gaol for lar- : ceny, and Morgan, who was committed recently from Alexandra for a months' imprisonment under the Vagrant Act, occupied the same cell in the gaol at Ngaruawahia. .They had been shut up for the night on j. Tuesday evening, and the warder returning about half-past 10 o'clock, 3 found some of the gaol windows f broken, and on opening the cell door found Morgan \ WELTERING. IN" HIS BLOOD, lying in his bed partly covered with the bedclothes, which were drawn down to his waist, and lying with > his THROAT CUT FROM EAR, TO EAR The tomahawk with which the dread " ful deed had been perpetrated, was found near the spot. ' • The warder took in the whole affair at a glance, and rushing to the stable, found what he expected, that a horse and saddle Were gone. He at once aroused the town of Ngaruawahia-j and a large number of the inhabitants, every one who could raise a horse, turned out in pursuit. lie then went to the telegraph office and the telegraphist immediately attempted by repeated calls with the instrument to arouse the now sleeping telegraphists at Hamilton and Alexandra, and sue ceededin waking up Mr Roberts afc the latter place/ It was now about 1 a m, this morning, but scouts started in every direction. Amongst these was Constable Kirk and another man, who went in the direction of Logan's Creek, and had not long arrived at the crossing when the murderer on horseback, CARRYING A FOWLING PIECE. Appeared in sight. The two men, nothing daunted, seized his horse, and took him, as we are told, without any resistance on his part. Te Patue, had had also on him a sheath knife at the time of his arrest, which had the appearance of seyerals drops of blood upon it. He stated, with regard to the murdered man. Morgan, that he killed him because Morgan had called him a Taugata tahi (a thief); and other opprobrious terms. Te Patue is said to be a relative of Morgan.s native wife.

Great credit is due to the local authorities throughout the districtft'om the warder, who, on discover, ing the escape, took such prompt measures to rouse the country side, to Constables Kirk and Norgrove, who so gallantly and neatly exeouted the" -capture of the murderer, and to the telegraphists, and to Mr FitzPatrick and the settlers generally,, wboreadily turned out to assist in upholding the supremacy of the law