MURDER AT LITTLE RIVER.

Evening Star, Issue 7333, 4 October 1887, Page 3

MURDER AT LITTLE RIVER.

[From Orm Own Corrksponjwn't.]

CHRISTCHURCH, October 4,

Inspector Pender received the following telegram this morning:—" Little River, October 4.—A man was found dead on the verandah of the hotel about midnight. He is supposed to have been stabbed. Two men, who are in the lock-up are supposed to be the murderers. The deceased and the two in custody are Russian?. The police at Akaroa are advised. A Reynolds, stationmaster."

A late telegram from the Littje River says the body of Matto Johnson was found dead on the verandah of the Forsyth Arms Hotel at tittle River this morning, stabbed in the heart. A slight souffle had been heard, and George Robinson went outside the hotel wit'-> some others, including a man named Davidson. They saw two men rtmnbg away. Robinson then jumped oh hi 3 horse and caught one of the men, named Andrew Heymann, whom he collared and tied np, and left him in charge of a man named George. He then went in pursuit, of the other, named Nils Jacqbson. The two mm were at once t?ken to the police station, and placed in separate cells. Mr M'Rae t went to Mr Tavender, the only «J. P. avadable, who at once despatched a special messenger to.Akaroa. Constable Crockatt arrived there at 10 a.m. this morning, but a3 yet there are no signs of the coroner or of the doctor. These men had for a length of time been working together, and were supposed tbe best of friends. Oae of the men arrested is tbe unole of the deceased. AKAROA, October 4.

A i note just received from F. Taw nder,! J.P., states' that a man was murdered at Little River last night, and that two men have, been arrested. It appears that three Fins were in company at or hear the hotel, when one of them goi stabbed by his mates. Constable Crockai,fc was j despatched to make full inquiri.es. Chief-detective Neill has been despatched from; here to Little River to make inquiries. ' ', [PerPrkss Association.J CHRISTCHURCH, October 4. The man murdered at Little River was named Matto Johanson. A scuffle was hoard outside the hotel, when George Robinson Went out, with other men, and found deceased lying down, and saw two other men running away. Robinson mounted and pursued them, catching both. Their names are Andrew Heyman and Nils Jacobson. They have been working with deceased for a long time, and one of them was his uncle. Additional Particulars. [From Another Correspondent.] * AKAROA, October 4. " The following extra was issued by the 'Akaroa Mail' this morning about ten o'clock:— On Monday night a murder was committed at Little River on the verandah of the Lake Forsyth Arms Hotel. It appeara that a party of three Russian Fins working at Mr Coop's saw-mill went to the hotel about nine o'clock. Mr M'Rae, the late proprietor, was bidding good-bye to his friends, and there was a good deal of joviality, soDgs being sung. Presently the men came in and stood there while a song was being sung, and then all three went into the dining-room, where they had some refreshments by themselves. Two of the tmn had words. Tho men's names are not known; but one of the men u muuh bigger than the other two, and it is said fiat it was the bigger man who was quarrelling with one of the small ones, while the°othrr held aloof. After a time, however, the quarrel seemed to cease, George Robinson, a halfcaste, having gone in to pacify them, and they went out together at ten minutes to ten by the front door on t.> the verandah. No noise appears to have Iteen heard, but a thort t'me afterwards a man naired Leon on going out saw a man lying on the verandah, as he thought, dead drunk, and the big Fiu standing a shou distance off reaciy for going awoy. Leon spoke to the Fin about leaving his mate, saying that it wv& not a right Ihing to leave his mate there drunk. The Fin replied in his own tongue, as Leon understood him to mean, to the effect that his mats wai all right where he was. L in then went in, but shortly afterwards went out again wii J a man named Ray and a Jad named Hichens. Hichcns lit a match and looked at the supposed drunken man, and. holding it up to his face, uoticed it was ghastly white. There was a goneral exclamation that he was dead, and then they noticed blood on the clol hcs. Looking further they found theclothes wore inplaces saturated with blood from dreadful stabs, one of which appeared to be right in tlie heart and the other in the entrails. They then ran \n and gave the alarm, and it was ascertained that the man was dead. George Robinson then at once saddled a horse end. started in pursuit of the big Fin, and overtook him some 200 yds from the hotel. He went up to him with a bottle, spying " Mate, haVe a drink "; and threw his man quickly, being afraid of his knife, and bound him with a strap; and others coming up the Fia was taken to the lock-up. George Robinson meanwhile went after the other Finn, whom he found between Joblin's store and Coop's mi'l. This map came tack quietly also, nnd were both locked up, after being searched and their coats taken from them. Nothing was found on them but some matches and tobacco. There was a little knife quite incapable of giving the stabs fouud on the smaller man, aad there was a slight wound on the right hand 'of tne bigger man, but this might have been caused by his falling on the ground. It was at once decided to communicate with Akaroa. The telegraph office called " Akaroa," but without avail, and then there was a difficulty in getting horses. It we l " getting on for 3 a.m. when young Mr Hichens got away with the news, flereached Akaroa between 6 and 7 a.m.,and at once informed the police, who sent Constable Crockatt off to the River. The body | was left -where it was UH the arrival oJ the constable. The inquest will be held atnoon to-morrow.