THE PUHIPUHI CRIME.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 21 April 1911, Page 5

THE PUHIPUHI CRIME.

RECOVERY OF THE REMAINS." WHANG AR EI, TJiurs. Sergt. Moore recovered tine 'body of the niu-rdea-ed man, John Freeman, in the Puhipuhi forest to-day. The Maori prisoner led the police party to the spot where the body was found. The head of the ill-fated maw was practically smashed to pulp, ajid the body was in a.n advanced stage of decomposition. It was stated that tliie murder was perpetrated on the st)h inet., and that Freeman .left his whare that day, to go gum-digging, and was followed by the Maori into the bush. The ALaori accosted Freeman, wlio appears to have resented it and defended lw'mself wiftn a gum spear. The prisoner is supposed to have struck Freeman o-iv 'the ride of the head violently with a- stick, felling him to the ground, and afterwards dealing two murderous blows while the man was lying on the ground. The prisoner afterwardis spent money freely in the locality, and at Kaikohe, wlie-re, from a statement made to ot'he-r natives suspicion was aroused, causing hiis arrest to be ma-do. Tlie Maori .prisoner is a- stalwart youth, about 18 years of age. He is described as a ne'er-do-well. FURTHER DETAILS. FINDING THE REMAINS. THE TASK OF THE POLICE. WHLANfGAREL Friday. Farther details of the Puhipuhi murder are that, with. Tahi Kaka in cllcse custody, ithe police travelled into the heart of the bush over precipitous tracks to a deep gully, down which Kaka confessed to having tihrown his victim, after murdering Freeman with, a stick on the ridge above, while the victim was .gumdigging. Tlie murder occurred on the sth inst.

The remains were in such ii decomposed state thait the head had fallen from the trunk. The skull had been frightfully battered. Kaha showed callous unconcern, and actually offered to heqp the police in (their gruesome duties. The remains were placed on an improvised stretcher and conveyed to Hi'kuraJigi, ibanoe into vvna-nga-neL by train. The prisoner was brought down by the same train, apparently tjataKly unconcerned. The inquest/ opens to-day, and probably will be adjourned till Monday, pending the presence of important witnesses.