THE EYRETON TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11691, 28 June 1901, Page 5

THE EYRETON TRAGEDY.

ALEXANDER McLEAN ARRESTED. HE ADMITS HIS GUILT. SAYS HE MUST HAVE BEEN MAD. ACCUSED'S PREVIOUS CAREER. [BE TELECRArK.—rRESS ASSOCIATION*.] C'HEisTcuuacn, Thursday. Eablv this morning Constable Ede, of Ashburton, discovered that the missing man, Alexander McLean, who was wanted in connection with the Eyreton murder, was in the vicinity, and immediately set out hi search. At Tinwald, two miles south of Ashburton, he found accused, and arrested him. It appears that McLean walked into Lagan's Hotel, at Tinwald, this morning, about half-past seven o'clock, and putting down a sovereign, called for some whisky, which was given him. He then asked to be allowed so go into a room with a tire, and he was invited into the kitchen, whete he was sitting when Mr. Lagan, the licensee, came downstairs, and saw McLean. From a private description he had received, foe suspected that lie was Lite 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 use-i, adluilted the charge, saying that he must have been mad. lie was then conveyed to the lockup in Ashburtoii. The horse on which accused reached Tiuwald, together with saddle and bridle, was found in the paddock adjoining Lagan's Hotel, and about £7 was found on accused.

He was brought before tho Ashburton Court, and remanded to Christ church. To get to Ashburton McLean must have travelled a roundabout way, leaving Eyreton, he had evidently gone straight to Oxford, having dined there last Saturday, and leaving there the same day with the horse stud trap, he had inquired the way to the West (.'oast, but had instead come south to Shefiield, where he stayed on Saturday night. There seems a mystery as to how he reached Tinwald. He had inquired for Creeudalo and the Rangitata Bridge Road, but was seen to turn to the left at Wad. dingtoli, instead of going over the Hororatn bridge, as directed. From there he must have gone down somewhere neat Methven, and thus to Tinwald.

McLean was born in Victoria, Australia, in 1373, and has friends residing at Bendigo. in that colony. He has a heavy typo of countenance, with low eyebrows. ' broad nose, and prominent ears, and is of an active athletic build. It is believed that his mind is deranged, as he has Keen depressed for some time, and has threatened to shoot himself. His aimless wandering about the country also points to (ids conclusion. He has been long known to the police, and his name is recorded in the Police Gazette for housebreaking in 1897, and also it is recorded that on May 28 of last year he was sentenced at Christchureb to 12' months' imprisonment with hard labour in Lyttelton gaol for breaking and entering and theft. A.SUBI7HTOX, Thursday. McLean said he had received a letter from Australia, which unhinged his mind, and caused him to commit the crime. He was quite ready to die. A larae crowd, which assembled at, the station. Is lie loft Adiotirlon, in charge of the police, heated the prisoner.