OLD MAN MURDERED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 56, 15 December 1927, Page 4

OLD MAN MURDERED.

STEWART ISLAND TRAGEDY. THE SUSPECT ARRESTED. (Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, December 14. Andrew Jose, a Malayan, who waa a well-known figure to most visitors to Stewart Island, was found battered to death at the house where he resided at Horseshoe Bay this morning. Jose, who was about 80 years of age, was said to be in comfortable circumstances. The house where the tragedy occurred is in a fairly remote part of the beach at Horseshoe Bay. It is stated that it was with the object of purchasing a property from him that Arthur Valentine, of Bluff, made a trip across to discuss the matter with him, and stayed at the same place as Jose. Subsequent investigations led the police to take him into custody in connection, with the tragedy. Detective-Sergeant Carroll and Sergeant Tonkinson. of Bluff, were responsible for detaining Valentine, and they brought him back to Bluff by the tug this afternoon. He was charged with the wilful murder of Jose, and remanded to appear at Invercargill on (December 22. Valentine, who is an officer of the Bluff Harbour Board, is the man who, on December 1, was found in the Bluff office unconscious with a wound in his head and the r>ay money for the dredge employees missing. Valentine was at the island recuperating after the recent. Bluff robbery sensation. He appeared to be perfectly normal during his stay there.

The tragedy occurred at 4 o'clock this morning, when Mrs Walschleger, at whose place Jose was living, waeawakened by loud noises on the floor of' the room where the old man slept. She says she heard Jose cry: "Help! help! he is killing me for my money." She ruslied out of the house and aroused a neighbour, Mr J. Edwards, who got further help. They found that Jose was dead. Constable Woodley took Valentine in charge. • Mr Edwards said he was awakened shortly after 4 p.m. by Mrs Walschleger, who was crying out that murder was taking place in her house. H«was amazed to find Valentine standing, at the front door dressed in P3'jamas, over which he wore an oilskin coat, which was bespattered with blood. He was calmly smoking a cigarette. On being asked: "What's wrong? VVhafc have you been doing?" Valen*in_e kept on smoking, and replied: Where are all these Germans? • Where's.my sword and gun?'' Mr Edwards and Mrs Walschleger later entered the house and found; Valentine in bed in his pyjamas with bloodstains over them. Valentine said: "Shake hands." Mr Edwards said: "What have you done?" Valentine replied :'4L am in great p.ain. My back! my back!" and then commenced to shake all over. Valentine appeared l to be quite indifferent to what waa taking place. The top floor room in which the tragedy occurred was bespattered with blood and displayed traces of a hard struggle. Blood was" splashed all round the room, and over the bedclothes and pillows. The pillows also showed signs of having been burnt by the murderer m order to destroy the evidence of his crime. Jose was found lying in a pool of blood, his features being terribly disfigured, evidently by some blunt instrument. His wrists were bruised and cut, as if he Jiad endeavoured to shield himself from the blows which must have been" dealt with tremendous force.