THE MURDER AND SUICIDE AT TARNDALE.

The return of Mr. Graham L. Greenwood, from Tarndale, who acted as Coroner in the painful investigation iuto the cause of death of German Charlie, and Ivanhoe Augarde, enables us to give the depositions taken at the inquest held on the two bodies. The Accom-modation-house, at which the inquest was held, is near the head of the Wairau Eiver, on the overland road between Nelson and Canterbury, about ninety miles distant from this city. The spot where Augarde shot Charlie, as far as we can make out from the evidence, was between the Accommodationhouse and the Tarndale station, which are about two miles apart ; and the junction of the Alma with the Severn, where Augarde shot himself, is about seven miles beyond— the latter-named rivers being tributaries of the Acheron, the main feeder of the Clarence. Mr. Carter's station, where Augarde resided, is on the banks of the Acheron, a short distance above its junction with the Clarence, and some twenty-five miles distant from Tarndale station. Wo proceed to give the particulars of the inquests : — INQUEST ON THE BODY OF GERMAN CHARLIE. Minutes of an Inquest held before me, Graham Lord Greenwood, on the body of Charles (known as Smith or Martin), a German, at Tarndale, in I the Province of Nelson, New Zealand, on the Second day of February, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixty-eight. The following persons, having answered to their names, elected Adolph Wiesenhavorn a3 their Foreman : — Adolph Wiesenhavorn (Foreman), George Guillet, Charles Matthews, George Leighton, George Goble, Matthew Green, John Slow, James Rushton, Richard Kemp. David Thow. After being duly sworn, thoy viewed tho body, on which two wounds were visible—one at the back, close below the shoulderblade, and close to tho arm as it would hang naturally from the shoulder, and on tho right side ; tho other on the left side, in front, just below the ribs, about two and a-half inches from the central line down the body. Charles Sparrow, being sworn, said : I am a bricklayer and brickmaker. Last Wednesday, about a quarter to five, p.m., the 29th December, 1867, a stranger to me rodo up to the window of this room, and stopped about four or five minutes at most, on horseback. I was working at the brickyard at the time, with a man known as Charlie tho German, about a quarter of a mile off; he came to mo at the brickyard. I was putting off a barrow of bricks into tho hacks. He said, " Good evening." I said, " Good evening, sir." He said, "Is there anybody at the station?" I said, " No, sir, they are all down at the woolshed, except us two." lie had a gun on his left shoulder, when speaking to me, and while speaking, moved it, and placed it across the left arm, just above the wrist. I was about twenty-five or thirty yards off my mate at this time. He said, " Charlie, I have a letter for you," speaking to my mate, and immediately I heard the report of his gun. He then rode away past me as hard as his horse could carry him. He came within two yards of me. I looked up at him, and he at me, as he passed, but neither spoke. I then went up a slight rise, about ten yards off, to see which way he went. 1 saw him galloping hard towards the Clarence. I then went to Charlie, and asked him what was the matter ; and he replied, " That man has shot me." I then asked his name, and he said, " Ivy Augardo." I said, "Is that the man you had a fuss with a few weeks ago?" He said, "Yes." He said, "Take mo home to the house, if you can." He dropped after I began to talk to him. I asked him if he could walk to the house. He said, "No." I carried him about half way to the house. He said, "Put me down, I cannot go any further; I have such a pain." He saul, "I am going to die; turn mo over on to my face." I said " Charlie, I will go to the Accommodation-house, and see if I can get help to carry you." He said " Yes do, and make haste back as quick as you can." I met Mr. Edward Hope about half a mile from tho house, at the end of the lake. I told him what had happened ; he then rode hard to the Accommoda-tion-house. Mr. Shrimpton was there, and came over witli the keeper of the house, George Goble. I told Mr. Hope I thought he would be dead before we got there ; we went back as fast as we could, and found him dead. Mr. Hope helped with others to •carry him to the house close by. .By a Juror : I found him in the same position as when I left him. When Augarde got to the house we heard him cooey, and Charlie answered him. Charlie said, " I don't know who it is \ it is perhaps some travellers, orsome one from the station ; he has a horse, let him come over here." While standing, before ho fell, Charlie said ho could not see me. Henry Watson, from Mr. Cartor's, was here two days before, and stayed two or three hours talking to Charlie. Ido not know what passed between them. I have heard some talk about a letter being opened, about which there was some dispute, but Charlie never said anything to me about it. I identify the body in the next room as that of Charlie, the German. From the time Augardo spoke to me, to the time I heard tho shot fired, I kept onwith my work without looking up. I did not see him in the act of firing. Whilst carrying Charlie, he said nothing about the cause of his being shot; ho only talked about some land near Melbourne. Charles Sparrow, recalled, said: I have seen a body lying near the Alma, it is the body of the man whom'l believe fired ; Mr. Goble and Mr. Shrimpton were with me. Mr. Goble believed it to be the body of Ivanhoe Augarde. I had been told by Kemp that Ivy Augarde was dead, and went on Thursday morning to see tho body, and remained there by the body till late in the evening. Percy Augarde, being sworn, said : I came here from Nelson, Friday, the 24th January last, and saw my brother Ivanhoe next day, and stopped with him that night, and the next Monday night, and I then, on the Tuesday, went with him to Mr. Carter's station, where wo stopped Tuesday night. He wrote some seven, lettei'B that night; one to Thomas Carter, one to Jnmes Carter, one to George Gee, one to Miss Gee, one to Moffat, and two to myself. I saw the two letters to myself on Wednesday, about three in the afternoon, and read both of them [letters produced and read*]. He said nothing to me of what ho iutended to do to Charlie the German, but mentioned the quarrel, and asked me what he should do. I suid he ought to horsewhip him. The next day Mr. Shrimpton told me my brother was dead, and I started soon after to where he was lying dead. By a Juror : I told no one on Wednesday of what the letters of my brother contained. I told no one till I had heard of his death. I had no motive for concealing the contents. I came to the Clarence because my brother wrote for me to come. I did not suppose he meant to destroy himself. My brother did not ask me any questions about who were at Tarndale. I do not know, and had not heard the contents of a letter to Miss Gee. I found my brother shot near the Altna. Watson and Murphy * The following letters were produced. One of the two to Percy Augarde appeared to be a draft of that given below :—: — "Clarence Station, Jan. 28. "Mr. Percy Atigarde, "My dear Brother— l bid you good-bye. Wo shall never meet again in this world. lam very sorry to leave you, but it must be. I leavo jou all I have in the world ; all is yours. You can get my mare when she comes from the Wairau Valley. You must go to Mr. G. Gee, Wairau Valley, and he will give you the deeds of my land in Renwicktown, and you must nsk Miss Gee for a packet of letters that I gave her to take care of for me. She has got the deed of my land iv the Wairau Valley. I have five months' wages due from Mr. Thomas Carter. You must pay any debts that I have ; the peoplo will send their bills iv when

were at the tent on Monday afternoon when I got there with my brother. Watson said he had been to Turndalo ; as far as I know they only spoke on business. He (my brother) spoke to me of the Cght with German Charlie— said he would not fight English fashion ; that he (Augarde) wanted to fight " rough and tumble ;" that the fight was stopped by some man. My father gave mo a pound when I left home. My brother never said anything about continuing the quarrel with German Charlie. Ho said when wo first met, "It is well you came in time or I should have engaged some one else." I saw my brother last alive between ten and eleven, a.m., on Wednesday. The letters my, brother wrote were all closed and directed. He did not give me the letters, only left them in his box, and gave me no directions about them. When I went to his box I went for a shivt, he having allowed me to put my things in tho box. All the letters were inside on the top of tho shirt. The other letters are in the box still. I was boring posts on Wednesday, and went to change my shirt because I sometimes do so at any time of day. I changed my shirt. I took nothing more than I have stated from my brother's box. I thought from his letters that he meant to do something with himself, but did not think he would kill himself. I made the remark at the brickyard, " Here is where Ivy stood." I had been told by Charles Sparrow. I was in bed when my brother wrote the letters, and waa asleep. I awoke when he came to bed, and he appeared as usual. The only difforence I noticed was that my brother was more gloomy than he used to bo. I had not been with my brother before I came up, for about two years. I know my brother's writing. While coming here on Thursday; with Mr. Stow, I said I supposed my brother meant to drown himself from his letter. Charles Mathews, being Bworn, said: I am a shearer, I was shearing at Jeffrey's, and the deceased came to me and asked me to read a letter. I did bo, this letter was among papers that he took from his pocket, and I opened it and saw that it was an account between him and Mr. Carter. He then took it from me and gave me another, and said this is for Kate. I did not know from -whom it came till I had read part of it. I did not quite finish it, but saw that it came from Ivanhoe Augarde. After I returned it he said, " This will spite Ivy." The letter was directed to Miss Gee. I heard that it was shown all over the place ; Miss Gee told mo so. The jury, after viewing the body, returned the following verdict :—" That the deceased, Charlie the German, died from tho effect; of a gun-shot wound, the bullet entering the back of his body below the right shoulder, and coming out below the heart in front of the body, inflicted wilfully and deliberately by Ivanhoe Augarde." INQUEST ON THE BODY OF IVANHOE AUGARDE. The same Jury, on the same day, held an inquest into the cause of the death of Ivanhoe Stanley Augarde, who was found dead. Eight of the Juroi'3 who had horses proceeded to the spot where the body was found, in order to view it. On reaching the body, it was found just as left two days before, well covered up with grass, a blanket and stones. Tho body was lying flat on tbe back, with tho legs close together, the muzzle ot tho rifle under tho right leg and the stock on the foot of a cairn of stones close by on which it had fallen. Tho anna were spread out and much discolored. The riflo was a short heavy ono belonging to Mr. Carter, and deceased had apparently placed the butt on tho foot of tho oairn and drawn the trigger with his haud, having placed tho muzzle of the rifle closo to the left eye. Tho explosion carried away the left oyo and, entering the head, took away tho whole of the brain, and the top of the head, a large piece of the scull being found about seven yards off, and the brains iv every direction. Tho scalp was detached from the scull and hung down at the back ot tho head. The father of tho deceased was present and undertook to get the body buried. The Jury then returned to the Accomodation House. Richard Kemp, being sworn, said : I have seen a body lying at the junction of tho Severn and the Alma. I believe I ' was the first to see the body. I looked at it and came on here, and told Mr. Hope. This was on Wednesday about half-past seven in the evening. I have nob seen the body since. I was returning from the Amuri, where I have been with Mr. Woolley on the survey. I left Mr. Woolley on Monday morning. I made Jollies pass on Monday night, and stopped there on Tuesday. I started on Wednesday morning for Tarndale. I called at Carter's station, and had a letter given me by Percy Augarde for his sister afc Stoke. When about a mile from the junction of tho Alma and the Severn, I saw a horse with saddle and bridle on. The bridle was taken off the horse's head and fastened to the saddle where a stockwhip would be hung j I could not see any rider, and thought he must be duck-shooting. I was still looking out for the rider when I rose tho bank by the cairn at the junction and came on a dead body. I stopped about a minute and went on. At first I saw a gin-bottle and thought that he must have been drinking, and was thrown, but on remembering the state of the horse, I came to the conclusion that he had been shooting at ducks from behind the cairn and had shot himself accidentally. With that idea I rode on to Tarndale, where, ' meeting Mr. Hope, I told him what I had seen. Tho body was lying on its bask, and the gun was lying at the feet, the right foot was over the muzzle of the gun, and the stock lodged against the cairn, his felt hat lay at his feet. I described tho body and the dress to Mr. Hope, and ho said there was no doubt that ih was Ivanhoe Augnvde. Mr. Shrimpton was with Mr. Hope at the time and they told mo that the same man had shot a man on the Station that day. Neither of them appeared to know for certain that it. was Augarde. I did not dismount, but supposed the body to have been dead about two or three hours. Mr. Hope rodo on towards Nelson that' night, and I followed in the morning, and stopped at the woolshed where the Tarndale sheep were being shorn till the Coroner came up, when I returned to Tarndale. I saw the brains scattered about, and the blood appeared set when I first saw the body. I did not notice any other part of the body blown away. Edward Hope, being sworn, said : I am employed on Tarndale. On Wednesday, 29th January, I was coming up from the woolshed with Mr. Shrimpton ; we arrived at this house about ten minutes past five, in the evening ; I remained here about an hour, and then proceeded to Tarndale. About half a mile from the Accommodation House I met Charles Sparrow, who told me that his mate had been shot, and that he was running for assistance to carry him to the house, and that he thought he would be dead before we could get to him. I tokl him he had better go back and -render him any assistance lie could, and I would go to the Accommodation House and get Mr. Shrimpton, whom I believed to be a J.P. I did so, and we got back to Tarndale about a quarter to seven. My. Shritupkra. and I were riding, George Goblo walked after us. When we got there we could not find Charlie tho German, at first. We had overtaken and passed Charles Sparrow on the way ; when he came we found Charlie dead. After considering what was best to be done, we saw a horseman coming up the valley on the South Road, which proved to be Mr. Kemp, from the Amuri. He asked me if any one had passed, or had left the Station, as there was a man lying dead by the junction of tho " Alma " and the " Severn," by a heap of stonca. After tbis. wo carried the body of Charlie to the house. We asked Kemp to describe the body lying they hear what has happened. You must pay all that is right. My house i 3 let at present to Mr. John Smart, but you can do as you like with it ; he is only renting it. 'Perhaps Mrs. Smart will givo you a bill for £2, but don't you pay it. Now, my dear Brother, I must bid you good-bye, and I hopo you will get on better than your unhappy brother. Wo shall never meet in this world again, my dear boy. •'I. S. AUGABDE." "Dear Brother — .Never trust her in any one's keeping but yourself [meaning the mare probably.] " Clarence Station, January 28. "To Mr. T, Carter, "Dear Sir — I havo engaged my brother for twentyfive shillings a- week. I hope he will suit you ; he is a smart lad. "I. S. Atoaede."

at the junction, and his description ngroed with that of tho man seen by Charles Sparrow, and who was supposed to have shot Charlie the Gorman. Tho drew was that usually worn by Ivonhoe Augarde. I asked Charles Sparrow for a description of tho man who hod shot Charlie the German. He gave it to me, but did not know his name. He said Charlie tho Gorman, aftor he was shot, askod him to take him to the house and not to let him die where he was. Sparrow said that Charlie had montioned tho name of Augarde as that of tho man who had shot him. I wont off that night for the nearest magistrate, and returned to Tarndalo on Saturday night. I have seen the body at tho junction to-day, and know it to be that of Ivanhoo Augardo. I recognised, the rifln by tho body as one I had scon at Mr. Carter's. John Show, being sworn, said : lam keopor of Mr. Carter's Accommodation House, on the Clarence. On Tuesday evoning, 23th January, Ivanhoe Augarde and his brother Percy camo in and took their tea together with mo. After tea they wont together to their bedroom ; balf-an-hour afterwards Ivy came to mo and aßked for a pen. I was writing at tho time. I gave him tho pen, and ho then went to tho sittingroom and began to write. About halt-an-hour after ho came to mo and asked mo how to spoil Blenheim. I told him, and he wont baok into tho room. After that I wont to bed, but was disturbed by his coming into the kitohen soon after. I saw him take a cup and mix up some soda and acid in water and drink it. He sat on tho table looking about him for about half-an-hour. At last he put on an old coat of mine and went back to his room, I believe to write. I was disturbed anain somo time in the night, I cannot say at what time, and saw him take tho teapot and drink from it. He left the'kitchon again, and I saw him no more that night. I heard no conversation that night botweon him and his brother. I rose tho next morning and found threo horsos by the kitchen door, and turned them down tho bank by tho house. I then prepared the broakfast. Percy Augarde was the first I saw thatjmorning. Ho was trying to drive the horses away over tho river. I went out and saw his brother helping him. Ivy Augarde followed the horses on foot, and brought them baok into tho yard. I then went and told them tho breakfast was getting cold. They camo and took their breakfasts. Ivanhoe ate heartily and appeared as usual, and after breakfast holped his brother find somo tools. He then came to me and said, " John, will you help Percy repair tho stockyard f " I told him I could not vory well, os I had some hay to get in. He then said, II Poroy, you must do tho boat you can till John can holp you." He then went to his bedroom and stopper! thero some timo. His brother then went to bore somo posts. I then saw Ivy going to his brother. I wont to my work, and did not bco him alive after j that. Ho was a passionate man. I camo down the hill with a back load of hay, and after getting rid of it looked for Percy on the bank, but ho was not there. I wont to Ivy Augorde'a window, which was open, lookod in, and saw Percy Augarde sitting on the bed reading some papers, that looked like letters, with wbioh the bed was strewn. It was about half-past eleven. I asked him if ho was reading love letters. Ho scrambled them up, aud put them in his brother's box. I then went for more hay loaving him in the bedroom. Iroturned again and got the dinnorready.looked for him but ho was not at work. I wont to the bedroom window again, and found him still reading letters. I told him dinner wa9 roady. He came, and we sat down to dinner together. I looked at him and asked him what was the matter, as his eyes looked red and bloodshot, as if he had been crying, lie told mo " nothing was tho matter," so I thought it might bo Bomothing olso. Ho thon went to his work and I went to mine. Whon I roturnod, perhaps about three in tho afternoon, he was again in hia bedroom. It was raining slightly. He did not go to his work again that afternoon. I went to his window again and found him greasing his boots. About five or six ho started towards the Acheron, but ctune back, and wo thon went together celmg. While fishing he told mo he should havo to otart in a fow days for Blenheim on his brother's uccount, and also to tho Wainiu to get somo monoy from a man named Drew. We returned and went to bed. About one or two, Mr. Kemp passed on his way to Nelson, and offered to take letters. He took one for Percy. Next morning wo went togethor to work at the stockyord for about two hours, when I missed him again. 1 went to tho house to look after him again, and found that ho had been at tho house, and on going out saw ho had returned to his work. I then prepared for dinner. I called him, and he had just got in when tho dog 3 barked. I went out and saw Mr. Shrimpton coming down the hill. When he came up I and Percy were standing side by side. He asked me to allow the lad to go and tether his horse. I wont to get a ropo, and Poroy asked him if his brother was at the tent at the Acheron, and Porcy 6aid to mo, " John, he says Ivy is not at the tent." He thou took the horse up the hill to tether. Mr. Shritnpton then asked me if there was anybody else in the house. I said no. Ho thon took me on one side, aud told me there was a most horrible thing had occurred at Tarndnle. He said, " Your overseer has gono to Tarndalo and shot Charlie the Gorman, and shot himself." Mr. Shrimpton udvised me say nothing to Percy, but to shut up house and go to Tarndalo. Percy on coming off the hills went into his room and began readiug again. I went; to him und askod him to get the horsos. He said, "Why ! what, what is the matter, I know something has happened," and shewed mo the lotter produced today from hia brother. I then accused him of knowing about tho contonts of the letter before the time he stated, which he denied. Ho then went for the horses and in his absence I showed Mr. Shrimpton tho letter. When he came in, I told him what had occurred. He said, "My brother haj had satisfaction out of Charlie at last." Wo saddled the horses and set out for Tarndale about half-past one. We camo to where the body of Augardo lay, and Percy fot off and looked at the face. I did not dismount, 'eroy said at once it was his brother. Charles Sparrow was thero about threo hundred yards off, minding tho body. Ho camo on with us to Tarndalo. I saw Percy first reading letters leaa thau an hour after his brother left. He had a good many letters bosido him, also a pocket-book and a portcxnonnaio. I do not think ho had any idea of what ■was likoly to occur when his brother left, but that he had soon after, from reading somo letters. I first obaorved him to bo agitated on Wednesday at dinnertimo. Ivanhoo Augarde and 1 did not talk much togethor, not being vory good friends. On one occasion I mentioned to him having heard that thero was a row between him und Oliarlie, and ho made the remark that it was not over yet. I never heard him say ho would do for him or anything to that effect. Charlio tho Gorman was working at Mr. Carter's for about 17 mouths, during a great part of ■which timo he and Augardo worked together. They mod to quarrel very much. Porcy Augarde being usked what letters ho was reading beforo dinnor on Wednesday 29th January, said that was uftor dinner; on being warned by the Coroner and tho question being pressed said : I forgot to toll you that ono of my brother's letters to me was not with tho rest, it was stuck behind v small box in which he kopt powdors mid small things, in such a way as to catch my eyo when I cutne in. I got this lotter shortly beforo diuner, but did not like to show it to John Show. By a Juror : At tho timo I wos reading it, I had no other papers by mo ; I loft work beforo dinner beoauso it was neur dinner-time. While I was reading it Jaok came, and I put it back in the box. I had no other letters or papers about ut tho time. I do not remember having a pookot-book or portmonenaie by mo at the time. I cannot be certain if I was disturbed by John Show ut any time during the afternoon, while in my room. I hud been crying before dinner, on account of tho lettor I had read. I understood it — some of it. I thought he}intendcd to go away, or make »way with himself, or something. . The Jury returned tho following vordiot :— " That the deceased, Ivanhoe Augarde, met his death by committing premeditated suieido, by blowing out his brains with a riflo." Aftor tho Acting-Coroner had formally discharged the Jury, Mr. Wiosenhavorn, at the request of his fellow Jurors, expressed tho high sense they entertained of Mr. Greenwood's energy and zoal in conduoting the painful business of the day, under circumstances, which, from tlio nature of the country and the distances to be travelled, were of a peculiarly cifflcult and trying charactor. They had a rough and j augwoiu ride, v the rivers wore rapidly riling. '