THE TRIPLE MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 143, 28 June 1901, Page 2

THE TRIPLE MURDER.

MURDERER CAPTURED. McLEAN CONFESSES HIS GUILT. SAYS HE MUST HAVE BEEN MAD. (By Telegraph—Press Association.] Christchurch, last night. Early this morning, Constable Ede, of Ashburton, discovered that the missing man, Alexander McLean, who was wanted in connection with the Eyrcton murders, was in the vicinity, and he immediately' set out in search. At Tinwald, two miles south of Ashburton, he found the accused, and arrested him. THE DISCOVERY. It appears that McLean walked into Logan’s Hotel at Tinwald this morning about half-past seven o’clock, and, putting down a sovereign, called for some whisky, which was given him, He then asked to be allowed to go into a room with a fire, and lie was invited into the kitchen, where he was sitting when Mr Logan, licensee, came down stairs, and saw McLean. SUSPICIONS. From a' private description' he had received, ho suspected that he was the man wanted, and ordered his servants to keep McLean under close surveillance. Mr Logan then rang up Constable Ede, who proceeded to Tinwald. A CONFESSION. McLean, on being taxed, admitted the charges, saying that ho must have been mad. He was then conveyed to the lockup in Ashburton. The horse on which accused reached Tinwald, together with the saddle and bridle, was found in a paddock adjoining Logan’s Hotel, and about £7 was found on accused. BEFORE THE COURT. He was brought before the Ashburton Court, and remanded to Christchurch, MURDERER’S COURSE. To get to Ashburton McLean must have travelled in a roundabout .way. Leaving Eyrcton, he had evidently gone straight to Oxford, having dined there last Saturday, and leaving there the same day with the horse and trap, he had<enquired*the way to the West Coast, but had instead come south to Sheffield, where he stayed on Saturday night. A MYSTERY. There seems to be a mystery as to how he reached Tinwald. He had enquired for Greondale and the Bangitata Bridge road, but was seen to turn to the left at Waddington, instead of going over Hororata bridge as directed. From there he must have gone down somewhere near Methven. HIS LIFE. McLean was born in Victoria, Australia, in 1878, and has friends residing at Bendigo in that colony. He has a heavy type of countenance, with low eyebrows, broad nose, and prominent ears, and is of an active and athletic build. BELIEVED TO BE INSANE. It is believed that his mind is deranged, .as he has been depressed for some tiime and has threatened to shoot himself. ‘ His aimless wandering about the country also points to this conclusion. A BAD CHARACTER, He has been long known to the police, and his name is recorded in the Police Gazette for housebreaking in 1897, and also it is recorded that on'May' 28 of last year he was sentenced at Christchurch to 12 months’ imprisonment with hard labor in Lyttelton gaol, for breaking and entering and theft.