BRUTAL MURDER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2770, 15 April 1890, Page 2

BRUTAL MURDER.

An old man, named Stephen Maloney, living in a small cottage in the recreation grounds, New Plymouth, was found brutally murdered in the scrub, about 20 chains from his house, on Saturday last. The police have arrested a Maari named Mita Kai, recently liberated from gaol, who called at the house on Friday last. The murder is supposed to have been committed with deceased's own hatchet, which bears marks of blood upon it. 5 The motive for the crime was evidently to obtain miney, as one of the pockets of the murdered man's trouseis had been turned inside' out. and the deceased's purse was empty.

(BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) New Plymouth, Last Night. The police are trying to get evidence in the murder case, but so far they have nothing very tangible. A handkerchief was found on the prisoner, which it was thought might afford a clue as deceased was supposed to have one identical, but this proved incorrect as the handkerchief could not be identified. From further evidence it appears the prisoner has been spending money somewhat freely since the time of the murder, and it was known he had no money before. He has so far failed to satisfactorily account for the money, but he says his father in Parihaka, sent it to him, this, howevei, is not believed, as he has made several different statements, another one being that his brother gave him the money. It is now thought probable that deceased had several pounds in his possession at the time of the murder, as a few days ago he offered to lend a person £5 ; the offer, however, had not been accepted. The police have ascertained that a girl going to the High School on Friday mot a Maori in the Recreation Ground, out the prisoner has not yet been identified by the girl as she has not seen him since his arrest. She will be taken to the police station to-morrow for the purpose of identifying him. The funeral of deceased will take place to-morrow. Subscriptions have been raised for the purpose of giving him a decent burial, otherwise he would have to be buried as a pauper.