THE POMAHAKA MYSTERY.

MURDER SUSPECTED.

THE WOMAN'S BODY RECOVERED.

Over four months ago the sudden and mysterious disappearance, under circumstances that were very suspicious, of a woman named Mrs Matson from the Pomahaka,where she had only resided for a short time,gave rise to considerable talk in the neighborhood, and the police were pnt on to endeavor to find some clue as to her whereabouts. The facfcs of the case, which, were published at the time, were as follow : — In the month of Febrnary Mrs Matson sued her husband, a Finlander, from whom she had been living apart for two years, for maintenance, and obtained an order against him for 5s per week. He was at that time rabbiting on the Clydevale station at Pomahaka, and had another woman living with him. For a while he obeyed the order, and remitted the 5s regularly ; but he afterwards allowed the payments to get into arrears. Some letters passed between them on the subject, and Matson j is said to bave offered to receive and ] maintain his wife. She was advised j that she must accept the offer or lose all | claim on the man, and about the middle of February she went by train to Clinton where her husband had promised to meet her. She remained two or three days,and on the 17th February she started to walk to where he was working. On arriving at the Pomahaka estate, she met Mr Maxwell, a settler, who kindly ferried her across the Pomahaka, and subsequently he observed her re-cross the river at the ford and proceed to Mr T. Chapman's house. Here she remained the night, setting out early next morning to look for her husband. Mr Chapman put her across the river and accompanied her for about three miles, after which she continued the quest for her husband by herself. He was the last of tbe Pomahaka settlers that saw her alive.

A CLUE TO HER PATE.

Shortly afterwards, within a week or so, the report spread that the woman had disappeared unaccountably, and word was sent to the police. The case was placed in Detective Herbert's hands,and he, with Constable Broberg, of Dunedin, and the local police, continued to make searching enquiries but without result. Some of the parcels that the woman had with her, comprising a bundle of dresses and underclothing and a tin-box, containing three bonnets, were found in the Pomahaka River, which led to the conclusion that she had met her deafck in, the river, accidentally or otherwise. No other clue was found, however, as to how she came by her death; and it did not appear likely that any further discovery would be made until the winter floods should stir the rher up and disclose its ghastly secret, as has since taken place. Detective Herbert, in the course of his enquiries, just after the disappearance, interviewed Matson; but beyond the statement that he found his wife missing on returning from Clinton on Saturday, 23rd February, and that she left him quite without warning, he could (or would) give no further information. Detective Herbert; and Constable Pascoe prosecuted enquiries energetically at this time, and subsequently Constable Broberg and Constable Lattimer continued the search, but nothing further was discovered. No report was made by Matson to the Police of his wife's disappearance, and no one saw her alive but Matson after Bertha Clark left. When interviewed by the Police he threw out hints and tried to impress them strongly that she had threatened to commit suicide, and he thought she had done so. A short time after the disappearance of Mrs Matson, the girl Clark returned to him, and has lived with him ever since, up to the time of her arrest. otw correspondent's statement.

Our Tuapeka Mouth correspondent writes:— lt has been stated that the girl, whose name is Hannah Bertha Clark, left Matson prior to Ms wife joining him ; but that is not so. She remained several days, and it is said here that Mrs Matson was not averse to her staying and, in fact, asked her to do so, the reason given being that the place was lonely and she was very much by herself. This the girl would not consent to do, as there were constant quarrels between Matson and his wife, and she decided to return to her home in Dunedin. On Thursday, 20th February, Matson drove her in a makeshift sort of a trap he had to Clinton, where she took the train, and on Saturday following he took her box in, not being able to take it with them on the previous journey. His wife wanted to accompany him on the second occasion, but he left her behind, using force in doing so. The girl Clark belongs to Dunedin, and has previously lived with her parents in Walker-streeb. Her mother, I learn, is a country woman of Matson's, who is a Norwegian or a Dane (not a Finlander as has been stated.) Her father is an Englishman, and the prisoner was in the habit of visiting his house for years past. The girl is about nineteen years of age and of prepossessing appearance.

A GRUESOME DISCOVERY.

The body was found on Saturday morning, about 9 or 10 a.m., washed up out of the Pomahaka Eiver, seven or eight miles from the place where the bundle containing her clothes was discoverer some months ago. It was lying in a back-wash or lagoon, situated in a lowlying grass paddock, about 130 yards from the river, and was tied up in two sacks, the head and upper part of the body being enclosed in one and the lower part in the other. The sacks were tightly fastened round the neck and at the ankles with string ; but the mouths of the sacks, which met at the waist, had become separated, and part of the body was exposed. It was fully clothed, with the exception of head gear, and one boot was off. The person who found the body was John Bain, a rabbiter on the Clydevale estate; and on making the fact known, the manager of Clydevale estate at once communicated with the Lawrence police, informing them of the fact. Sergeant Maek&y, accompanied by Constable M* Allan, left at 4.30 p.m. on Saturday, and arrived at Clydevale at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday ; and Detective Herbert, who was stormbound at Clinton, hearing of the occurrence, started from Balclutha, accompanied by Constable Christie, for tke place. Meanwhile, Sergeant Mackay had telegraphed to headquarters at Dunedin, and Constable Broberg was despatched, and came on via Lawrence, being joined at Eaes Junction by Constable Mathieson. The Lawrence police had arrived some time previously, however, and had had the body enclosed in a rough coffin, made at Clydevale station. The place where the body was dißCQYercd was

about five miles distant from the homestead ; and when it had been placed in the coffin, it was conveyed in a dray, kindly lent by Mr J. R. Mitchell, to a part of the road to await the arrival of the police.

THE ARREST.

Detective Herbert and Sergeant M* Allan then proceeded to Matson's hut, where they found the prisoners, and arrested them. The hut is built on a section of sixty acres, held, by Matson on the perpetual lease system; and the scene of the tragedy is described SS & louelyplacte, Matron's rough tenement being the only building for a considerable distance round. The prisoners were arrested about two p.m. on Sunday, and were brought in an express to Lawrence under the oharge of Detective Herbert, Sergeant Mackay and Constable M' Allan, arriving here about one a.m. on Monday. The body had previously been sent on in the dray to Tuapeka Mouth, where it was taken across iv the' punt, being afterwards brought on in the express, with the prisoners and police. i

THE PRISONERS BKOXE THE OOVRT.

On Monday the prisoners — Carl Matson and Hannah Bertha Clark — were brought before Mr F. Oudaille, J.P., and charged with the murder of one Mary Matson at or near Rankleburn on or about the 22nd February. Sergeant Mackay asked for a remand for eight days, which was granted, the prisoners to appear on Tuesday next at 10 a.m. Matson and the girl were taken to Dunedin by the afternoon train yesterday, the accommodation here being insufficient.

THE INQUEST.

The inquest was commenced yesterday at the local courthouse, before Mr R. Pilling, senr. , J. P. , acting coroner. The following jury were empannelled .- — Messrs P. Skinner (foreman), A. Blair, C. Stokes, F. Moyle, R. M'Nab and A. Millar. The jury viewed the body, after which the inquest waß adjourned to Wednesday, 15th inst , to g^ive an opportunity for collecting the evidence. Prior to the inquest a post mortem examination had been made of the body byDrsNicoll (Lawrence) and Sutherland (Milton.) The body of the deceased is to be buried to-day.

THE DECEASED.

The unfortunate woman's maiden name was Maiy O'Shea, and at the time of her marriage with Matson she was a widow, her name being Mrs Kingate. She was a native of Ireland, and was about 40 or 45 years of age. She has some relations in the colony — a sister in Dunedin, a brother in Wellington and a grown-up daughter in Invercargill. COMMENDABLE PROMPTITUDE OF THE POLICE.

Great credit must be given to the detective and police force for the thoroughly systematic way in which the mystery of the disappearance of Mrs Matson has been probed to the bottom. The matter had been well-nigh forgotten by the public ; but the officers in charge of the case were aware that the key to the mystery must be forthcoming, and they have succeeded in establishing the fact that the unfortunate woman has been murdered. Detective Herbert has had charge o£ ikree importaut muTder cases within the past year, and in each he has shown great capability as a firstclass officer. The local officers also showed great promptitude in their conduct of the case since it came into their hands. The manager of Clydevale station ana his employes are also to be commended for the ready assistance they gave to the Police, and for this they are deserving of the thanks of both the department and the public. < Inspector Pardy arrived here from Dunedin on Monday evening, and the case has since been conducted under his personal supervision.