THE EPSOM MURDER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4440, 5 February 1876, Page 3

THE EPSOM MURDER.

Momr-thaa a "week-has elapsed-since-the murder of Edwin Packer, at Epsom, by the Maori Henry Wynyard, .M*d, from;the day t UDOn -which the murder, was, committed to the present time no additional reliable information has beenobtairied of the murderer. On Thursday, the" 27th'nit.', the murderer 1 was traced to a dense bnsh.near the Maori settlement of Orakei.. , Sub-Inspector Par.dy,_ and those who accompanied him, found' un-. mistakable evidence of several persons, that Wynyard had passed through Orakei, and one boy said that he had gone, into.. SeUars Bush. Subsequent >, enquiries : have - done nothing ' beyond proving the correctness o£ the opinion then expressed that he had taken refuge'in that place, tin the Saturday after the murder, the bub-In-spector found the man: Paraihi, who then made the same statement as that given by him at the inquest. Beyond this, in results, the search has not proceeded a single step. The police have worked systematically, and with perseverance, but they have obtained the success they deserved. Jhere .f.ave been numberless rumours of his having been seen in various places, but riotfofe upon which reliance can be placed has been given beyond those which refer to his having been towards Orakei. Sellars' Bush, in which the Maori undoubtedly concealed himself, is very extensile and so dense as to make discovery in it impossible. The bush was watched as well as it could be by two men, but he would have no difficulty in leaving it unobserved. We learn that the murderer has not yet leached the King country, and that many of the Kingites hope he will be taken before he reaches their territory, for they have no sympathy with the man; and if protected by them, it would only be for tlie sake of his rolatives.' Detective Jeffrey and Constable Clark left town again yesterday. They., •will, travel towards the King country, and • make careful' enquiries at the Maori settlements in the Wairoa. Sub-Inspector Pardy has returned to town in consequence of laving met with an accident which abso-lutely-prevented his continuing the search ■with any prospect of success. He had received information that a man answering to "the description of Wynyard was at Awhifcu, 'and .was hastening, towards that place in Company .with Sergeant Mulville, when his 'horse fell and threw him, and then rolled on his foot. Mr.' Pardy's ankle and foot were badly " bruised, but he re-mounted and rode to the Waikato Heads, and thence •on'-the following day to" Awhitu. The ■journey was performed with difficulty, .'and wa3 unsuccessful. On returning from Awhitu, the pain increased, and Mr. Pardy then deemed it most desirable to come to Auckland, as he was quite unfit to travel. Had it not been for this accident, Sub- , Inspector Pardy would have continued the '■search, which from the first he has prosecuted in so vigorous and indefatigable a manner.: The difficulties connected with; the pursuit of the murderer are greatly ( nnder-estimated, for so long as he remains ■ in the bush tho whole detective force of '•Scotland Yard would not dislodge him. The ■only chance is that he. may . cross open ■country or be found visiting some settlement for food. '