THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDERS.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXXV, Issue 147, 28 June 1901, Page 2

THE CHRISTCHURCH MURDERS.

ARREST OF McLEAN,

HE ADMITS HIS GUILT,

PECULIAR CONDUCT OF THE"

MURDERER.

Press Association. Electric Telegraph, Copyright.

OnnrsTCHUßcn, June 27.

Early this morning Constable Ede, of Ashburton, discovered that the missing man Alexander McLean, who was wanted in connection with theEyreton, murder, was in the vicinity, and he immediately set out in search. At Tinwald, two miles south of Ashburton, lie fou;:d accused and arrested him.

It appears that McLean walked into Lagan's hotel at Tinwald this morning aboat half past seven ._ o'clock, and, putting down a sovereign, called for seme whisky, which was given him. He then asked to be allowed to go into a room with a fire, and he was invited into the kitchen, where he was sitting when Mr Lagan, the licensee, came down stairs and saw McLean. From a private dcscripiio.i he had received ho suspected that he was the man wanted, and ordered his servants to keep McLean under close surveillance. Mr Lagan then rang up Constable Ede, who proceeded to Tinwald, and McLean, on being taxed, admitted the charge, saying that he must have been mad. He was then conveyed to tie lock-up in Ashburton.

The horse on which accused reached Tinwald, together with the saddle and bridle, was found in a paddock adjoining Lagan's hotel, and about £7 was found on accused. Ho was brought befoe the Ashburtcn Coart and remanded to Christclmrcb.

To get to Ashbiirton McLean nrasb have travelled a round-about way. Leaving Eyreton ho had evidently gone straight to Oxford. Having dined there last Saturday, and leaving there the same day with the horse and trap, ho had enquired the way to the West Coast, but had instead come sooth to Sheffield, where ho stayed on Saturday night. Hence there seems to be a mystery as to how he reached Tinwald. He had inquired for Greendale and the Rangitata bridge road, but was seen to turn to the left at Waddington. Instead of going over tho Hororata bridge, as directed from there, he must have gone down somewhere near Methven and thus to Tinwald.

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 athletic build. It is believed that his mind ia deranged, as he has been depressed for some time and has threatened to shoot himself. His aimless wandering about the country also points to this conclusion. He has been long known to the police and his name is recorded in the Police Gazetto for housebreaking in 1897, and also it is recorded that on May 28tb of last year he was sentenced at Chmtcbureh to 12 months' imprisonment with hard labor in Lyttelton gaol for breaking: and entering- and theft.