MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 274, 25 November 1897, Page 6

MYSTERIOUS MURDER.

BODY CRAMMED INTO A HOLE.

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDERING

HIS MATE,

The bush in the vicinity of Silver Stream, near Wellington, was searched by a posse of police recently for the body of Ernest HaM'thorne, who is believed to have been the victim of foul play. The body was found crammed into a hole too small for it. It was doubled up to some extent, and gave onlookers the impression that it had been jumped on to make it fit in. The features were unrecognisable. The body was clothed in a shirt, trousers, and socks. After exhumation it was placed in a coffin and taken by rail to the Wellington morgue. Deceased's hat, which was found in the grave, had a hole in the brim, which it is thought may have been caused by a bullet. Hawthorne was only about 21 years of age. He was born at Akaroa, where he has a brother now living. His parents are settlers near Feilding. He is spoken of as being very steady, industrious, and exceedingly methodical in his habits. When he disappeared he was working with a man named Philpott on a contract for the supply of 500 railway sleepers to the Government. Of this number 225 had already been supplied. Philpott, who is accused of the Hawthorne murder, is supposed to be identical with a man who in 1883 and ISB9 was twice before the Supreme Court on charges of larceny and robbery from the person. On both occasions he was acquitted. While waiting trial on the latter charge he escaped from a gang working at Moturoa, but was recaptured. He was born at Portsmouth, England.