AN OLD MAN'S DEATH

Evening Star, Issue 15481, 1 May 1914, Page 6

AN OLD MAN'S DEATH

, BELIEVED TO BE A CASE OF MURDER AN ARttBST. [Per United Press Association.] TIMABK. April 30. On Sunday last an elderta man -Darned Adam Stevenson was missed from a camp on Kelman's farm, near Orari Bridge. B>"s mate, Harry Cripps, said that Stevenson left the camp on Saturday evening to go to Geraldine. As .Stevenson could not ne traced a search wac instituted, and wa ( followed up from time to time. This afternoon Constables O'Grady and Morplvr. with others, were searching the Orari River bed, when the former, at 4 o'clock, found Stevenson's body among some gome in the river bed, a chain from the road, and about a mile from camp. A sack had been.put over the head and drawn down as far as it would go, and a rug and two other sacks were placed on the body. Constable O'Grady, satisfied that theio had been foul play, went back to the camp and arrested Cripps, who had made contradictory statements about Stevenson. A doctor was sent for to Geraldine to see the body before its removal, and he found four wounds on the head, apparently caused by a blunt instrument such as ahammer. Anv one of the wounds would have been sufficient to cause death- The body was then removed to Geraldine. Stevonson was 70 years of age. He wa* said to be married, but was not living with his wife. He wae well known m th# district as a teamster and ploughman. Cripps is about 27 years old, single, and his mother lives at Winchester. Ho is" said t-> be of weak intellect. He wa* in Geraldine playing billiards on Wednesday night. BEFORE THE COURT. TTMARU, May 1. Cripps, charged with murder, came before the Ourt at Geraldine this morning. and was remanded. The inquest was also adjourned.