SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT THE PATERSON.

Auckland Star, Volume V, Issue 1502, 3 December 1874, Page 2

SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT THE PATERSON.

A correspondent writing from the Paterson on Saturday evening last, furnishes the following to the Nciccastle Pilot : —" A feeling of honor has been created throughout the community by the discovery to-day of a murder, which has apparently been committed within the past two or three weeks. The victim is unknown, and up to the present there is nothing beyond a portion of partially destroyed clothing to lead to a solution of the mystery that surrounds the affair. I am, therefore, able to furnish you with scant information only, as but a few houi'a have elapsed since the finding of the murdered man's remains, and any subsequent steps leading towards a clue that m&y have beeu taken by the police have not yet transpired. It seems that the body—which is that of a full grown and well nourished man —was found floating on the river, close to Paterson township. The head had been cut off, and notwithstanding the moat diligent search it has not up to the time I write been found. A rope had been tied round the waist, and attached to this was a large stone, evidently used for the purpose of sinking the body. The remains were placed in charge of the police, who at once took the necessary steps to hold an inquest. Various rumours are afloat, for which, so far as I have been able to ascertain, there i 3 no foundation. It has oeen reported that the tragedy is in some way connected with the recent l-ape case at the Paterson ; but it is well that the public should be informed that absolutely so thing has transpired to justify this assumption. It is rather more than probable that the unfortunate victim of this most terrible crime may have been murdered for plunder, and this supposition is based on the fact that he must have been a stranger to the Pateraon, a3 no resident of that locality is known to be missing." ~