THE MAORI CREEK MURDER

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 33, 8 January 1884, Page 3

THE MAORI CREEK MURDER

— :oo: — Arrest of the Supposed Murderer. : ■ (UNITED PEESS ASSOOIATLOS.'X Greymo th, January 7. An inquest wh« held at Dargaville today on the body of James Gifford befoie Mr Strattord, the Coroner. A number of witnessess were examined. Johu Donoghue, iwho has been arrested on suspicion of being the murderer, was not present at. .the inquest. : The eyidence of Dr Morico was that there were twenty two severe wounds on the body. Three were m the throat, any one of which would cause almost instantaneous death. One wound m the breast cut through a rib and penetrated the left lung three and a. half inches. On the body was found a deposit re-. ceiptonthe Union t Bank for £102 lOs* and a silver watch and gold chain. Deceased left McKechnie's store about a quarter past 11 o'clock on Saturday night -to go'invthe direeiioa of New River- Terrace. The' suspected murderer left about the same time to go m the same direction. - Both were quite solder. -'Tells, or shoutH of a' man as' if m agony .were heard some little time aftcrwardf. One aifl who heard the first ithree ciiea fainted,she was so frightened. Two men went m the direction of the .which was only about. 100 yards away, but they had to partially clear the, way. amongst shrub and brambles, and necessarily saw nothing. Evidence was givenito the effect -that. ra person panting as if out of— breath was heard passing' that night the houses of Annett; ahd<£ounto>but the \ person was.: not seen* Between the legs of the :cor]>se was fou«d an umbrella identified as that of Donoghtie. GifTord also had an umbrella when he left hut that has not been- found.- Close to the. body a new billycock hat, aud a shea ih knife with three brass rivets m the handlo were pickeVl up, audit is said that these can be> identified as die propeity of Dono ghue. The jury returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person unknown. body and apparel of Donoghue' were minutely examined. A mark was found on his left eye, and on the cheek aud forehead. The hands were sci-atchedi ' iSonle bruises were found on his back. -His wearing apparel bore sigtißiof an attempt to wash out some stains. At-> the request of Sergeant 'O'Gradyja remand was granted for eight dilys.' Tonogbue has been mining m this colony and Victoria tor the last 17 years, and. is known among acquaintances as mad Jack, on account of his eecent'ric conduct at times. Prisoner was brought into-' town this morning. He is a thick-set, powerful man.