PUKEKAWA MURDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume LIII, Issue 5584, 13 September 1920, Page 4

PUKEKAWA MURDER.

LABORER ARRESTED. / ACCUSED MAN FORMERLY MANAGER OF EYRE’S FARM. AUCKLAND, Sept. 12. An arrest was effected on Saturday afternoon at Tuakau of a farm laborer named Samuel John Thorn on a charge of murdering Sydney Seymour Eyre at Pukekawa on the night of August 2L Thorn was conveyed to Auckland in custody on Saturday evening, and will be brought up at the Police Court tomorrow morning. The arrested man is 33 years of age. He is married, but lias for some time been living apart from his wife and family.of six children. While Eyre was on active service for over two years Thorn managed the farm for Mrs Eyre. In July, Eyre having returned, Timm went to work at Gleinmirray, IS miles frbm the Eyre homestead. He had 1 een working there for about six weeks vhen the murder was committed, and during that period paid three visits to the Eyre's residence. A double-barrelled shotgun and some ammunition were found m Thorn’s whare, and these have been submitted to ail expert, whose report i s : u tho hands of the police. It is understood that the authorities are satisfied that only one shot was fired, and that a special kind of cartridge was used. Some pellets found in the murdered man's room are in the possession of the pol ce. It is understood that the police investigations have established thre A points: (l) That the murder was not committed for robbery; (2) that the perpetrator must have been acquainted with the house and its surroundings; and (3) that the shot was fired outside the house.—Press Assn.