THE TRAGEDY AT OPUNAKE. THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE.

Evening Post, Volume XX, Issue 280, 30 November 1880, Page 2

THE TRAGEDY AT OPUNAKE. THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE. -

CONFESSION OF THE MURDER BY TUHI. EXCITING SCENE~IN THE CORONER'S COURT. RELEASE OF STANNARD. From the United Press Association's tele* grams despatched from Opuntvke yesterday, we learn that- a quantity of additional circumstantial evidence against the prisoner Tuhi in reference to the moleskin trouaerp, the bloodstains, the bridle, Ac, was given. One new point elicited was that a threepenny piece given by Tuhi to a storekeeper named Coffey, on the afternoon of the murder, had blood stains and scratches on it. Some further evidence was also adduced tending to clear the prisoner Stannard from any possible complicity in the crime. Superintendent James, sworn, said — I in* spectcd the body on the 27th instant, Saturday Jast. I took samples of hair from the head of deceased. The back hair is a shade darker than the hair from the forehead, and is both in color and texture like the hair produced by Constable Bale, which was found on the clothing of the prisoner. The body, when examined by me, was at the redoubt. The prisoner Ttihi, at this stage of the proceedings, asked, if he might come near the police and shorten the talk. Mra. Ebbet, sworn, deposed— l saw the body of deceaaod at the redoubt last Thurs. day night. I was present when the body was examined. I found a pocket handkerchief and lead ponoil (produoed), but no money. The dress was much Btained with blood. (Witness, at the sight of the olothing produced, was much overcome.) I was too nervous to notice if there was blood on the articles taken from the pocket. There was a collar on the dress (produced.) It il now in the same state as when produoed. I noticed a cut in it when taking it off. Dr. Carey, sworn, said — 1 searched tho body of Miss Dobio with tho assistance of Mrs. Ebbet. (Tho collar, red with blood, was here produced.) I observed a punctured out in the collar of the dr<sa. I found a corresponding wound in the neck of the deceased. J udging from the puncture in tho collar, I should say it was made by an instrument about half an inch in width. I found a large wound immediately below tho lower jaw, four inches in extent. The whole of tho throat was out down to the vertebral column. Two attempts appeared to have been made to cut the throat ; a second wound had been mado abont two inchos below tho angle of tho lower jaw. There was another transverse wound about an inch and a half in extent, also two other small wounds, one half an inch and one five-eighths of an inch long abreast tho lobe of the right ear. There was a fifth Blight superficial wound on tho loft of the nock, two inches above tho clavicle. These wero all the wounds on tho nock. 'Ihero was also a wound on tho second finger of tho right hand about an inch long. Death was tho result of these wounds. I examined every part of tho body, and am positive no attempt at violation had beon made. The undorclothing was intact. Most of the wounds woro on tho right side. The knitc marked ,T.H (produoed), in my opinion, had blood stains on it. That knife would inflict tho injuries described. I received change from Mr. Coffey this morning, sixpence and a threepenny piece. I noticed it had beou scraped as if to erase something, which I took to bo blood. I cannot Bay in what position tho docoasod may have been when the wounds wore inflicted. She would have been able to walk after receiving tho smallor wounds on tho neck, but not after the larger. Tho first wound was a combination of stab and cut, and judging by tho cut in tho collar tho wound could not bo made by a larger knifo than this. lam confident tho wounds wcro not solf-inflictod. The knifo produced is sharp enough to cause such wounds. I probed my finger into the wound oppojito the hole in tho collar to tho depth of three inches. The body would become nearly cold within three to four hours. Sergeant-Major Bullon stated that was the whole of the evidence the police had to bring forward. The coroner then proceeded to road over the evidence, but tho jury said this waß unnecessary, and further Baid it was tho unanimous opinion of the jury that there was no evidence whatever against Mr. Stannard, and it was their wish that ho Bhould bo at once reloased. Sergeant-Major Bullon produced an affidavit from Mrs. Cook, of tho Empire Hotel, Hawera, accounting for somo of the blood found on the clothes of Stannard. The coroner, addressing Stannard, eaid — I congratulate you. You leavo this room entirely free, without any stain on your character. At 9 52 p.m. the Maori confessed, saying — " I did it," when Mr. Hursthouse, tho interpreter, asked him if he had any statement to make. Ho was fairly warned boforo he confessed, and ho said — ' ' It was done by me." Mr. Hursthonso — Do you know what you have really said ? Do you know your position? Tuhi said — I know. I killed tho woman. It was a great sin or crime. I know it. The coroner then said — I do not think, under tho circumstancos, I can a3k you, gentlemen of the jury, to do anything turther. This is not like a Court of Law or Supreme Court, and I think I can hardly atk you for anything further. The excitement was intense. Tha interpreter faltered and was deeply moved, as was tho coroner. The murdoror appeared more composed than most of tho people in the Court. Tuhi, throughout the day, was calm, and looked each witness straight in tho face, and seemed quite collected and cool. Ho asked a few questions, which seemed intended to test the reliability of v/itnesses on points where they conflicted, but in no case did ho endeavor to disputo tho ownership of the trousers, or quottiou tho accuracy of evidence given against him by men of his own race. Tuhi was then again asked had ho anything moro to cay. He repliod, " I desire to be questioned," and this being inadmissible, he said — " I have nothing moro to say, except that I cammittod the murder." Tho scene was most exciting whon Tuhi went up to tho table to sign his confession, and have it attested by the interpreter. r Jhe jury wero then called on to give a verdict exactly at 11 p.m. After a few seconds of whispering, the foreman Baid that the verdict was-" That tho deceased, Miss Mary Dobio, was wilfully murdered by tho prisoner Tuhi (or Te Karea) on tho afternoon of 25th November, between tho hours of 2 and 5 p.m." No political significance is attached to the murder. After his committal tho prisoner said — " I do not wish for any more trials ; I want to meet my death here now." The handcuffs wore then put on him, prisoner preserving the same calmness, looking at all round him straight in the face. The room being cleared, the interpreter, Mr. Hursthouse, immediately undertook to write forJTuhi a letter of farewell to hia wifo and family.