SKELETONS AND COINS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 2341, 26 October 1926, Page 5

SKELETONS AND COINS.

EXCAVATED AT WANGANUI.

INTERESTING DISCOVERIES

City Council workmen engaged in putting through the Ridgway Street extension at Wanganui have had two interesting finds of late. The first was a skeleton, which was discovered in sand and had only been buried in a very shallow grave. In this find is evidence of a tragedy of former years, for the skull had been split as if by a tomahawk. There seems to be little doubt that, the man was murdered and buried hurriedly in a cramped.position. From the teeth, which were in a good state of preservation, it is apparent that the skeleton was that of a young man.

The other -discovery was that of a number of silver coins dating from IS 10 to 1819. These were unearthed during the excavations by Janies Brown, of Gonville. This find recalls the disappearance of a consignment of silver coins stolen from ihe s.s. Stonnbird in 188.1, the coin being shipped at Wellington to a bank in Wanganui, and was stolen from the steamer. The box which had been broached, subsequently was located by late Detective Benjamin near the spot where the present coins were found. The box of silver was 100 heavy for the detective to carry so he borrowed a harrow from the stationmaster to take it to the Police Station. Three arrests were made in connection with theft, which at the time created great interest until the mystery was solved.